{"id":461121,"date":"2025-11-12T18:25:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=461121"},"modified":"2025-11-12T18:25:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:25:09","slug":"tributes-pour-in-for-cake-maker-margaret-who-baked-joy-into-camberwell-community-for-over-40-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/tributes-pour-in-for-cake-maker-margaret-who-baked-joy-into-camberwell-community-for-over-40-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Tributes pour in for cake maker Margaret who &#8216;baked joy&#8217; into Camberwell community for over 40 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>An elderly lady who ran a cake shop in Camberwell for almost 40 years and was described as baking joy into the community sadly passed away this month aged of 82.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tributes have begun pouring in for Margaret Akrong, the beloved baker behind Margaret\u2019s Cakes of Distinction, who died suddenly on November 1. <\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The octogenarian worked five days a week and was said to rarely take a holiday running her shop right up until the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret came over to Britain from Ghana in the 1960s as a student and made Camberwell her home in 1980 when she moved to the Wyndham Estate with her husband William \u2018Bill\u2019 Branch.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjM5MDUzMzI4MSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"xuPBRI798dYojeyGJl\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"5hAKSXdMQK\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/residents-move-into-13-new-council-flats-in-camberwell\/\">Residents move into 13 new council flats in Camberwell<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Residents move into 13 new council flats in Camberwell&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/residents-move-into-13-new-council-flats-in-camberwell\/embed\/#?secret=dNgsJfzaIY#?secret=5hAKSXdMQK\" data-secret=\"5hAKSXdMQK\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1989 the two went into business together, opening up a cake decorating shop on Camberwell Road, fulfilling a lifelong dream of Margaret&#8217;s.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"916\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.05.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-461122\" style=\"width:572px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.05.png 916w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.05-489x280.png 489w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.05-768x439.png 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.05-255x146.png 255w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.05-750x429.png 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 916px) 100vw, 916px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Margaret and Bill opened their cake shop on Camberwell Road in the late &#8217;80s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cMargaret was in charge of the cakes, while her husband Bill took care of the business side,\u201d remembered Stephen Bourne, a friend and customer.  <\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzc3MTcxMzc4NyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret\u2019s beloved Bill passed away in 2018, which she \u201cnever really got over\u201d according to Stephen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She baked all kinds of goods, from sumptuous Jamaican rum cakes to classic sponges.  Each cake was beautifully hand-decorated by Margaret herself, adorned with flowers, woven baskets, footballs and other personal touches tailored to the lucky recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLast year, on my birthday, she called me and told me she had something for me,\u201d recalled Stephen.&nbsp; \u201cWhen I visited her shop, Margaret gave me the most beautiful birthday cake which had been pre-ordered by a mutual friend.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I was thrilled but said, &#8216;Oh Margaret, I cannot eat this!&#8217; She looked confused. I explained: &#8216;It is too lovely to cut into. It is a work of art!&#8217; With that she burst out laughing.&#8221;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtODQ5NjIyMjY0IiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHUtMTAgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCI+PCEtLSAgLzE1NDcyNTA3MCwyMjY5NDE5Njk2OS9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzL3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3MgLS0+DQo8ZGl2IGlkPSJkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTEwIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTEwJyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.52-769x560.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-461123\" style=\"width:563px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.52-769x560.png 769w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.52-384x280.png 384w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.52-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.52-200x146.png 200w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.52-120x86.png 120w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.52-750x546.png 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.10.52.png 920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Margaret was known for her beautiful cakes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>But it wasn\u2019t Margaret\u2019s beautiful cakes that made her such a well-loved figure in the community, although this certainly didn&#8217;t hold her back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> \u201cShe was kind, considerate and hard-working,&#8221; continued Stephen.  &#8220;She was a much-loved member of the Camberwell community and will be missed.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marie Staunton, the Secretary of the SE5 Forum and who knew Margaret for many years, added that Margaret did more than just create delicious baked goods:&nbsp;\u201cMargaret baked joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShe was always accessible, knew all her neighbours by name, traded stories with people, and quietly stitched our community together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"758\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.11.49-758x560.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-461124\" style=\"width:567px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.11.49-758x560.png 758w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.11.49-379x280.png 379w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.11.49-768x567.png 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.11.49-198x146.png 198w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.11.49-750x554.png 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.11.49.png 1002w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stephen Bourne (L) with Margaret (R)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Margaret first came to Britain as a little girl with her dad for a holiday and was endlessly enthusiastic about the country she adopted as her home and its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interviewed for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JCRDGN-BSto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">short video segment<\/a> about her life back in 2013, Margaret said she was inspired by the opportunities available in Britain: \u201cAnything you want in this world is there, but you just have to work hard for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cToo many people who come to Britain don\u2019t take the opportunities that are on offer.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening a cake shop was her dream &#8211; and she had unrealised ambitions to also start a second branch back in her home country of Ghana:&nbsp; \u201cBack in Ghana people are more willing to learn.&nbsp; Over here, not so much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But where she might have felt the English fell short in their cake-decorating skills, they made up for it elsewhere: \u201cThe people here are very nice, very tolerant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret was also an energetic participant in the annual Eat Around The World Festival in Camberwell Green, teaching free cake-decorating classes with \u201chumour, patience and flair\u201d, according to Marie, who also added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs a trader and friend, Margaret championed local business, showed up for good causes and lifted others to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"764\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.12.07-764x560.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-461125\" style=\"width:492px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.12.07-764x560.png 764w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.12.07-382x280.png 382w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.12.07-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.12.07-199x146.png 199w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.12.07-750x550.png 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-12-at-16.12.07.png 928w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 764px) 100vw, 764px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The SE5 Forum will be holding a minute of silence next Monday (November 17) in honour of Margaret&#8217;s life at their meeting at the United Reformed Church in Love Walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are also in discussions about organising a plaque and a memorial event to honour Margaret&#8217;s contribution to the Camberwell community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyone who would like to share their memories of Margaret or make a suggestion about how to commemorate her is encouraged to drop by the community market stall on Camberwell Green which is there on Saturdays from 10\u20133pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Margaret Akrong passed away on November 1st 2025 at the age of 82.  <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"PI4dFfBHbECXOYRZniogNqUtVpuDrJzGmeS8Mlaky921w7v3LhcKQ0Aj\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"oQbtEaWqwd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/herne-hill\/support-south-londons-best-roti-spot-in-their-13-year-long-telecom-box-struggle-at-an-event-this-saturday\/\">Support &#8216;South London&#8217;s best roti spot&#8217; in their 13 year long telecom box struggle, at an event this Saturday<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Support &#8216;South London&#8217;s best roti spot&#8217; in their 13 year long telecom box struggle, at an event this Saturday&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/herne-hill\/support-south-londons-best-roti-spot-in-their-13-year-long-telecom-box-struggle-at-an-event-this-saturday\/embed\/#?secret=fywM4wnLMi#?secret=oQbtEaWqwd\" data-secret=\"oQbtEaWqwd\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An elderly lady who ran a cake shop in Camberwell for almost 40 years and was described as baking joy into the community sadly passed away this month aged of 82. Tributes have begun pouring in for Margaret Akrong, the beloved baker behind Margaret\u2019s Cakes of Distinction, who died suddenly on November 1. The octogenarian [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19207,"featured_media":461123,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"She opened her cake decorating shop on Camberwell Road in 1989 fulfilling a lifelong dream "},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"42"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,7375,13539,13602,17333],"tags":[18087,18484,18403,18186],"class_list":["post-461121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camberwell","category-community","category-featured","category-news","category-obituaries","tag-camberwell","tag-community","tag-obituary","tag-update-me"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19207"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=461121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/461123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=461121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=461121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}