Very few people are still around who would remember Marguerite’s wartime Kitchen Front recipes programme’s but that was only the start of an extremely long career in cookery which really only ended four years ago when, at the ripe old age of 95 she had a serious stroke.
I got to know her when I was chair of the Guild of Food Writers back in the 1990s when she was always charming, supportive and happy to offer advice, support, recipes and lovely conversation. Sadly, when I segwayed into allergy and freefrom food, we rather lost touch but I was very sad to hear that her stroke had finally ended her love affair with food.
The Guild of Food Writers has just uploaded a lovely obituary with links to an excellent 2011 article in the Telegraph about her career and to a 40 minute Woman’s Hour interview with her in 2009.
Marguerites Family Cooking was the first recipe book I ever bought. I was twelve and it was on display in the window of the railway station papershop I passed on my way to school. I had never seen anything so lovely as vegetables piled high in a copper pot before..I saved for and bought the book, led to a lifetime interest. I found her inspiring and delightful and I’m sure she will be missed.
Whenever I see her name, it reminds me of my Mum, whom I lost aged 10. She was a fabulous cook and always had a Marguerite Patten book out, happy memories! RIP Marguerite.