St Mary's Bakery in Brecon is celebrating not only 150 years of business, but also their win in the town’s Christmas Window Competition.

This year’s Christmas Window Competition, part of Brecon with Bells On, had a ‘Make Do and Mend’ theme, which was epitomised by the St Mary’s Bakery display.

To accompany the display that they had worked on, the team also baked a giant gingerbread man. Local children came in and helped decorate the gingerbread man on Saturday morning (22 November). Many school children performing at Brecon with Bells On in the Market Hall were provided with gingerbread to enjoy, for it not to go to waste.

After much deliberation from judges Cllr Marie Matthews, Mr Alan Roberts, and the Rich Brothers, who later turned on Brecon’s Christmas lights, they decided St Mary’s were the worthy winners. Beacons Wholefoods and Brecon Youth Club at Found Gallery were awarded second place, with Beacons Crafts awarded third place.

The bakery were announced as winners in Brecon Market Hall as part of the Brecon with Bells On festivities.

Talking about the display, Cindy Williams from the bakery said: “Our window display was designed around the ‘Make Do and Mend’ theme, inspired by the resourcefulness shown during the war, when families were encouraged to save a loaf of bread each week to support rationing efforts. A lot of it is about nostalgia.

“We created the display using donated and recycled materials, including buttons and handmade decorations, to reflect that spirit of ingenuity. The loaves featured in the window were made using traditional wartime sourdough recipes, baked on a tray that is over 150 years old. We also crafted a giant gingerbread man with some stitches fitting with the make do and mend theme, decorated in collaboration with local children and shared with the community as part of Brecon with Bells On.”