Tributes pour in for baker who made exquisite cakes for almost every royal occasion including the Queen's Golden Jubilee and King Charles' first wedding to Princess Diana after his death aged 91
Tributes have today been paid to a master baker who made celebration cakes for almost every Royal occasion, after he died aged 91.
Eddie Spence's renowned icing skills earned him the chance to decorate nine cakes for major royal events during his 71 year career.
These included Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981 and Queen Elizabeth's Silver and Golden Jubilees in 1977 and 2002.
He also decorated the cake for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's Golden Wedding anniversary 50 years after he beat the eggs for their wedding cake as an apprentice baker in 1947.
Eddie Spence's renowned icing skills earned him the chance to decorate nine cakes for major royal events during his 71 year career
Eddie Spence standing next to his creation of Charles and Diana's wedding cake
Eddie - who was jokingly said to have royal icing piping through his veins - said his cake for Princess Margaret's wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 was his favourite.
His last royal commission was for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's 70th wedding anniversary in 2017.
Eddie, who was awarded an MBE for services to sugar craft in 2000, finally retired in 2018 and has now passed away aged 91 at his home in Bournemouth, Dorset.
He is survived by second wife Tracy, three children, two stepchildren and grandchildren.
Tracy Spence said: 'My Eddie, my/our hero, will be sorely missed so much by his whole family, his grandchildren and his two little doggies.
'He is the sweetest, kindest man you could meet, you cannot help but love him.
'I always said he had royal icing in his veins and was born with a piping tube in his hand. I have placed a piping bag in his hand at the chapel of rest so he is ready to teach the angel his skills.
Eddie Spence demonstrates his piping skills in 2018 when he retired aged 85
Eddie, who was awarded an MBE for services to sugar craft in 2000, finally retired in 2018 and has now passed away aged 91 at his home in Bournemouth, Dorset
'It has been my honour to breathe the same air, walk the same steps as our hero. I would give anything to mix the icing for him again and hold his hands.
'It is wonderful to be loved by the one you love. I have been very lucky, we were like two teenagers madly in love with each other.
'I will miss him every second for the rest of my life until we are together again.'
Renowned baker Dawn Pennington was trained by Eddie and described him as the 'most generous of souls' who will be 'sadly missed by all who knew him.'
She said: 'His amazing talent needless to say won many medals and awards over the years. The greatest achievement receiving his MBE in 2000, for his tireless dedication to sugar craft and teaching.
'Eddie devoted his life to his beloved profession and continued into his eighties to give back by teaching his craft and love of Royal Icing to hundreds of students all over the world.'
Eddie was born on Edinburgh's Royal Mile and christened at St Giles' Cathedral in the city.
Eddie was born on Edinburgh's Royal Mile and christened at St Giles' Cathedral in the city
He started baking at Mackie's confectioners bakery in Prince's Street, Edinburgh, at the age of 14.
After serving his apprenticeship, which lasted more than six years, Eddie was promoted and by the age of 22 he was teaching baking at some of the most prestigious colleges in the country.
He continued to work at Mackie's and at one point was making 50 wedding cakes a week.
Eddie said: 'I started there at 14 because my parents couldn't afford to keep me in school and straight away I loved it.
'Most people started their apprenticeships at 16 but I got a two year head start which put me at an advantage.
'The apprentices worked downstairs in those days and not long after I started I went upstairs to deliver some ingredients and the man in charge asked what I was doing.
'It turned out they were working on a cake for the Queen's wedding and I was given the job of hand-beating eggs for the job.
'It took all day but it was definitely worth it.
'That was my first experience of making cakes for the Royal Family but after that I went on and ended up making cakes for the likes of Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and Princess Margaret - whose cake was my favourite.
Charles and Diana's wedding cake by the royal cake maker Eddie Spence
'I remember receiving a letter telling me she wanted it to be traditional, so that's what we did. The detail on that cake was amazing and it took a lot of hard work.'
Among Eddie's most impressive cakes also ranks the beautifully detailed gold carriage he created in 1977 for the Queen's Silver Jubilee.
The exquisite cake weighed a whopping 56lb and measured 21in tall. It featured lashings of gold icing and was created in stunning detail.
The carriage featured a number of golden angels as well as a staggeringly accurate red interior. The exterior of the coach also carries a number of portraits as well as a beautiful purple roof.
He was also behind the iconic Charles and Diana wedding cake.
Eddie moved to Bournemouth in the 1980s where he continued to teach the art of royal icing as well as baking in general.
In 2010 he released a book 'The Art Of Royal Icing' and he even made a number of TV appearances including on Loose Women.
His proudest moment however came in the year 2000 when he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours list for services to sugar craft.
