Jamie Oliver helps 9-year-old Exeter girl create special birthday

Jamie Oliver helped a nine-year-old Exeter girl create a very special birthday for her terminally ill dad.

Katie Cowell wrote to the celebrity chef saying she and her dad were big fans and could he help make her dad’s birthday one to remember. Jamie immediately sent a signed copy of his latest book Comfort Food personalised to the family.

“Katie was so excited when the book arrived and wanted to give it to her dad Chris straight away but she agreed to wait until his birthday today,” said mum Clair.

Chris is a Hospiscare patient so when Katie decided she wanted to make a special chocolate birthday cake for her dad, Hospiscare volunteer Jessica Macan stepped in and made a gorgeous chocolate cake to Jamie Oliver’s recipe. Both Chris and Katie love chocolate.

As a special treat Hospiscare asked Exeter chocolatier Katie Jones of Choccie Bar to help Katie decorate the cake. Katie arrived at the West Clyst home with a bagful of choccie goodies and the two Katies spent this morning making different flavoured ganaches, decorating chocolates with special paints and sprays and created a fabulous, seriously over the top chocolate cake, complete with sparklers!

“I just wanted to make something special for my dad,” said Katie. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Dad’s always looked up to Jamie Oliver and we’ve got all his cook books, except the one he sent us! Dad and I absolutely adore chocolate cake, it doesn’t stay long around here.”

Clair said: “This has been a wonderful morning. Katie has gone to school to tell all her friends about it, and was met by the head teacher who asked how she got on, I cannot thank Hospiscare enough and Choccie Bar for making Katie’s wishes come true, and Chris is sat now telling his friend all about the lovely cake.”