In 1915 Wilfred Bond Johns started his bakery business in Bridgwater, Somerset, with a 10 shilling loan from his Mother. Shortly afterwards he was called up to serve in WWI, where he was discharged after receiving a serious injury to one of his legs. On his return home, Wilfred’s business grew, and later involved his 13 children, who were known as “The Baker’s Dozen”.

 

In 1964, Wilfred’s youngest son, David, moved to locate his family in Torquay, building a substantial retail and wholesale business, "Links Home Bakery Ltd".

 

In 1977, he encouraged his son Philip, to learn the craft. Philip attended Exeter Bakery School at Exeter College, where he earned 6 City & Guilds Certifications as a day release student, over 5 years. Links Home Bakery relocated back to Weston-super-Mare in 1984, and continued to develop a strong wholesale business, producing frozen patisserie products to national chains under their own marketing brand name of “The Bavarios Gateau Company” whilst also supplying the national companies with similar products, using their brand names.

 

Sadly, the business did not survive the recession in the 1990’s.

 

In 2003 Philip joined the Police service, serving as a front line officer, retiring with enough savings in 2016, to go back into the trade and rekindle his passion for the craft. Philip, and his wife Deborah named their new venture as

 

“The Little Bakehouse”.

 

The Story Continues...