The Lefrancois/McMeiken Family:Information about William DENNIS Edward Swift
William DENNIS Edward Swift (b. March 18, 1936)
More About William DENNIS Edward Swift:
Endowment: good education;.
Fact 12: Swifts Patisserie founded May 12, 1983;.
Occupation: R.A.F.; Highway Board; Baker; Head Chef in hotel, now has his own shop;.
More About William DENNIS Edward Swift and Jean Kewley:
Marriage: April 5, 1958, Douglas, I.O.M..
Marriage Notes for William DENNIS Edward Swift and Jean Kewley:STRANGE MIX FOR PATISSERIE COUPLE DENNIS AND JOAN...
JANE Asher may well have landed the exclusive contract for cake design with Sainsbury's but for Dennis and Jean Swift designing and making cakes has been their life's work. Well more or less.
Dennis originally served a five ycar apprenticeship with baker and confectioner Robert Christian before receiving his call-up papers.
While Dennis was with the RAF he acquired his City and Guilds qualifications, which he put to good use after his de-mob papers came through.
For the next nine and a half years hc worked with a Swiss pastry chef.For the first year he wouldn't teach Dennis anything,' Jean explained. 'He put a cloth over all his work, but gradually he considered Dennis to be a worthy pupil, and went on to teach him a lot of what he knows now.'
Manx by origin, Jcan and Dennis dccided to come home, and set up a small business making gateux and cakes for hotels and restaurants, in the summer. But during the slack winter months Dennis worked for the then Assessment Board--quite a change for someone whose career to date has bccn baking and confectionery.
But in the end the summer job became the priority, and business premises were found at 8 Station Shops, Pcel Road, Douglas, where you will find them today.
Increased demand meant the upstairs bakery was no longer big enough, so although the shop remains the same, the bakery has moved to a larger site near Noble's Hospital. Dennis now has two apprentices to cope with outlandish cake orders. Nigel Goldsmith is their son-in-law and the newest recruit is Jason Swift (a pure coincidence I am told).
So where does Jean fit into the pattern of things? Well, apart from working 17 hour days alongside her husband, when they first opened Swift Patisserie, she is chicf washer-upper, book-keeper, delivery girl and shopkeeper all rolled into one.
Daughter Kerry also plays part in the family business and you will find her serving behind the counter 9am2.30pm, Monday to Friday (closing at lpm on Thursdays) and 9-5pm on Saturdays. After several breaks away from the family firm she ended up back home once again.
With prices for the cakes starting at£12.70 and rising in £2 increments, what do you get for your money?
Well, anything would appear to be thc answcr. Wcdding cakes are obviously high on the list of regular orders but slightly more unusual may be a cake like the Taj Mahal or a Boobs cake complete with black camisole. They have been askcd for 50 names to be writtcn on a cake and a cottage with two figures outside, one setting fire to the cottage. A bit peculiar you may think, but for Rick Astley the pop star, what do you expect.
There have been jumbo jets, Bacardi bottles, willies (you know what I mean!) nude torsos, and even a cake with boils on a bottom. Jean's reaction? 'Well, how could you eat that?' But the most bizarre request to date was a lady who requestcd a chubby gentleman on a cake, with a girl with a long pony tail and a boy with red hair next to him. The children had to have rosy cheeks and the cake also had to signify giving up smoking and keeping fit.
'No problem,' said the Swirts. 'But it is icing sugar and plasticine.'
Now, I have personally put in quite a strange request for a cake. It is a Land-Rover climbing up a vertical hillside, as I bclieve they do. I'm sure it will be a great success and by the time you read this, maybc the recipient will have thought so too!
Children of William DENNIS Edward Swift and Jean Kewley are:
- Kerry Jean Swift, b. February 17, 1960, London, England.
- Stacey May Swift, b. March 7, 1968, Douglas, I.O.M..