Bake Off star creates gingerbread tribute to Richard Hughes

He was the chef-director at the venue and died on September 1 following a long illness.

Kate Barmby, a full-time respiratory nurse at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, created the magical model.

Kate Barmby was a contestant on The Great British Bake Off in 2016 (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

She met Richard in 2016 after appearing as a contestant on Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off. 

Richard Hughes, chef-director of The Assembly House, died in September (Image: Denise Bradley)

The gingerbread Assembly House is lit from within and includes the Georgian building's rainbow lighting, Christmas dining igloos and a host of personal details for Richard.

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The gingerbread tribute is on display at The Assembly House over the festive period (Image: The Assembly House Norwich)

He was involved in the design of the 3D 6ft-long diorama, giving Kate a list of loved ones he dreamt of seeing created in gingerbread.

This included his grandchildren, head of pastry Mark Mitson, front-of-house manager Jamie Gooda, his wife Stacia and daughter Stacey.

The gingerbread tribute to Richard Hughes is 6ft-long (Image: The Assembly House Norwich)

Kate said: “At a time when lots of people were after a bit of the Bake Off glow, Richard and Stacia treated me with respect and kindness.

"He guided me in how to give my cookery classes and I could not have asked for a better mentor. "

The enormous gingerbread house took her three months to build and is a scale replica.

The Christmas tree in the gingerbread model (Image: The Assembly House Norwich)

She added: “There are lots of nods to Richard throughout the display, including Fab lollies on the Christmas trees.

“Richard loved Slade so who better to play in one of the igloos, however I underestimated how hard they would be to make in tiny biscuit form!”

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It includes a gingerbread model of Richard Hughes by the entrance (Image: The Assembly House Norwich)

Richard’s wife Stacia Briggs, who alongside stepdaughter Stacey is now director at The Assembly House, said: "Stacey and I are absolutely blown away by Kate’s hard work and incredible talent.

“We miss Richard so dreadfully and to know that he worked alongside Kate to bring this dream to life is such a Christmas gift to us all.”

The Assembly House model will be on display throughout the Christmas period.