Jamaicans are a passionate people, so perhaps it’s no real surprise that one of their most remarkable contributions to world cuisine is a bold, full-bodied cake that leaves you wanting more.

Rum cake is a delicacy with deep cultural and historical roots: the sugar, molasses and rum which make the cake so unique, rich and enjoyable are also a reminder of hundreds of years of Jamaican history, rooted in the island’s colonial past.

Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes are no different, made to a secret family recipe passed down from generation to generation, mother to daughter, brim full of juicy fruits and real Jamaican rum.

Agnes Viola Henry, aka “Vie”, was a strong, kind Jamaican woman, a descendent of slaves whose ancestors worked the island’s sugar cane fields.

Like many who travelled to Britain in the 1960’s hoping for a better life, she settled and worked hard for her family, but never forgot her Jamaican heritage, becoming renowned for her very rummy rum cakes.

Sadly, Vie is no longer with us. However, her youngest daughter Elaine was determined to mark her passing with a fitting tribute to her inspirational mother and Jamaican heritage. The idea of Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes was born.

Elaine was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, spent most of her adolescent years in Ash Vale, Surrey and lived in France for over 20 years of her adult life.

When she moved to the tranquil surroundings of the Lake District in 2019, she certainly wasn’t expecting to find one of the key ingredients for Vie’s cakes right under her nose, let alone a whole host of links to her Jamaican roots.

Exploring her new home, Elaine took a visit to the coastal Georgian town of Whitehaven, discovering The Rum Story and Jefferson’s.  Founded in 1785, Jefferson’s is a family wine and spirits business. The company plied its trade across the globe until 1998.

Like many merchants from Cumberland and Westmorland, including the Lutwidge’s (of Lewis Carroll fame), Jefferson’s had interests in the Caribbean, interests with deep-seated links to the ‘Triangular Trade’ (slaves, sugar and rum).

Jefferson’s 1785 Dark Rum bears testament to that. Jamaica and Cumbria have a shared heritage which links them indelibly, even to this day, with references across the island to these deep-seated connections: Westmoreland, Kendal, Carlisle Bay and Cumberland.

Inspired by her journey of discovery, Elaine set about working with expert cake maker Lisa Smith from Ginger Bakers, to craft a superlative range of cakes - some made with Jefferson’s rum - to honour her mother Vie, her roots and Cumbria’s shared heritage with Jamaica.

Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes launched a crowdfunding campaign in July to raise £5000 to buy a van for the blossoming company.

Company founder Elaine Rémy chose the 6th July as it is her parents’ wedding anniversary and the secret rummy recipe that inspired the business was her mother Vie’s.

Elaine explained further: “My parent’s were married for 54 years and gave me so much in their lifetime, their wedding anniversary just felt like the right day to launch.  “In all I do, I want to honour them and in particular my mother, Agnes Viola Henry, aka “Vie”.

“Her family recipe passed down from generation to generation is now being enjoyed by so many people and I’m sure if mum was still here she’d be very proud.”

The campaign was successful with 131 backers raising over £6,000. This was matched by NatWest Back Her Business who donated a further £5,000 bringing the grand total to over £11,000.

Elaine adds: “It’s an amazingly uplifting feeling to be supported by people who want to see Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes succeed, especially as many of these people are strangers.

“I am incredibly grateful to all who have supported me so far.”

Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes are baked in The Lake District, Cumbria in an award-winning bakery which has achieved “green certification”.

They are hand wrapped and sustainably packaged using biodegradable, compostable, cellulose (cellophane) food grade bags, raffia and card. Box filler is shredded paper.

The cakes have a shelf life of 6 months from production and the 600g fruit cakes come whole and are best cut into 6 100g slices using a cake knife.

COMPETITION:

First Prize :  Any 3 Cakes

Second Prize :  Any 2 Cakes

Third Prize :  Any Cake

For your chance to win one of 3 prizes of Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes just answer the very simple question below!

What is the name of the family owned Wine and Spirit
company that Elaine found when she moved to the Lake District?

a) Jefferson’s

b) Murphy’s

c) Henry’s

Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject “Vie’s Rum Cake Competition”.  Competition closes at 23.59 on 18th December 2020. There is no cash alternative.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters may sue the Metropolitan Police after the protest ban was ruled illegal by the high court, said Dr Rupert Read, a spokesperson for XR and a lecturer at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

The ruling that was handed down said the section 14 order imposed on XR protesters last month was unlawful.

Dr Read, a reader in philosophy in UEA’s School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies, is also a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion.

He said: “The ruling emphasises that assembly for peaceful purposes is not a crime.

“We are in an emergency. The right to peacefully assemble is therefore more crucial than ever. This judgement vindicates that right.”

Much-loved wine brand Black Tower has the perfect offering for Christmas with their Smooth Red wine, soft, fruity and bursting with red berry flavours.  Easy on the palate, the wine has notes of blackberries and a subtle spice, making it perfect for the colder months.

Smooth Red is now available to buy in Tesco supermarkets nationwide, along with Fruity White, priced at £5. ASDA, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s also stock a range of Black Tower wines.

Black Tower white and rosé wines can be served cold or lightly chilled for the most refreshing glass to satisfy your taste buds, while the red should be served at room temperature. 

Enjoy a glass of Black Tower on its own or with your favourite food

For your chance to win one of many bottles of Black Tower Smooth Red wine, just answer the simple question below.

What flavour notes does the Smooth Red wine have?

a) Strawberries & cinnamon

b) Blackberries & subtle spice

c) Cherries & lemon

Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject “Black Tower Competition”.  Competition closes at 23.59 on 18th December 2020. There is no cash alternative.

The film that gave the world one of its greatest movie heroes, Indiana Jones, is back and better than ever before! Relive the magic on the silver screen with the original great adventure… Raiders of the Lost Ark, with John Williams’ epic score performed live to picture by a full symphony orchestra!

For your chance to win a pairs of tickets to see Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert! at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on the 21st September, just answer this simple question!

Which actor portrayed Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark? a) Tom Hanks b) Harrison Ford c) Sean Connery

Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject “Indiana Jones Competition”. Competition closes at 23.59 on 19th September 2018. There is no cash alternative.

Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage, one of the UK’s leading arts development agencies, announces the launch of MY CITY, MY HOME, a major, specially commissioned, international writing competition for women and girls from diverse communities in Birmingham (UK), Bangladesh and Pakistan.

MY CITY, MY HOME is part of Transforming Narratives, a ground-breaking three- year project to establish Birmingham as a global centre for contemporary arts from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

MY CITY, MY HOME will reach out to emerging female writers from all three locations resulting in a publication of selected works, together with live readings at events in the UK and other countries.

Piali Ray OBE., Director of Sampad said: “The identity and role of women is as diverse across cities and countries as is 21st century society. Cities are a melting pot of cosmopolitan cultures yet, there is a distinctiveness and roots that connect to the past.

“By launching MY CITY, MY HOME in what is Sampad’s 30th anniversary year, we want to give women and girls the chance to tell their story. We need to hear it from them.”

The competition is open to women and girls aged 16 and over and can be a response to, or a reflection on the phrase MY CITY, MY HOME. Run online, women can enter a poem, short-story, or other prose.  A maximum of two pieces of work can be entered and will be accepted in English, Urdu, and Bangla languages.

MY CITY, MY HOME will work with Project Associates in Pakistan and Bangladesh connecting online with diverse groups of women and girls in their countries and supporting them to participate.

Sophina Jagot, Transforming Narratives Project Manager added: “The Transforming Narratives programme is all about making connections between artists and creative practitioners in Birmingham, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and it seemed to us now more than ever we needed to support the cultural sector in making those connections.

“Sampad’s MY CITY, MY HOME promises to make and develop many new connections with groups of women and girls creating opportunities for them to participate and create for themselves. We look forward to hearing their stories.”.

Closing date for entries is 30 December 2020. Winners will be informed between 22-26 February 2021 and will each receive £200.00. Publication of winning entries and further selected pieces will be launched in Birmingham, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in summer 2021.

Supported by Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council, British Council and Transforming Narratives, MY CITY, MY HOME, is part of Sampad’s Sakshi (meaning Witness in Hindi) strand launched in 2018. Running until 2022 Sakshi will deliver a series of projects which focus on girls and women, to involve them in creative projects and to get their voices heard through the arts.

The Festive Gift Fair, the fabulous Christmas Shopping Fair is coming back to the NEC in Birmingham from the 16-19th Noveber with even more new and exciting stalls than ever!

Christmas means gifts for your loved ones, hanging decorations on the tree, excitement on children’s faces, party games, movies by the fire and a table fit for a festive feast…! Often the most time-consuming part is finding clever presents. There’s no need to be stuck for ideas, start with a trip to the Festive Gift Fair and you’ll see how fun and easy Christmas shopping can be!

From the moment you arrive, you’ll be caught up in the excitement of the day, exploring 350 stalls overflowing with thousands upon thousands of cracking gift ideas and decorations that don’t cost the earth.

The variety is HUGE, with presents for all ages – from babies to teenagers, and parents to grandparents.

When your bags are full, you can drop them off at the Present crèche and continue to shop, or stop for a bite to eat in one of the four sparkly catering/entertainment areas, where you can enjoy watching a great line-up of live musical acts – to get you rocking round the Christmas Tree!

No wonder The Festive Gift Fair is one of the most popular Christmas shopping events in the UK!

We’ve teamed up with the Festive Gift Fair to give away 10 pairs of tickets to the event to our lucky readers.

For your chance to win a pair, get your Christmas brain into gear and answer the question in the box below via email!

For your chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to The Festive Gift Fair at the NEC Birmingham, just answer this simple question!

Which Famous Reindeer had a very shiny nose? a) Prancer b) Blitzen c) Rudolph

Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject “Festive Gift Fair Competition”. Competition closes at 23.59 on 3rd November 2017. There is no cash alternative.