Steve Cockayne

Steve Cockayne

Delicatessen and Butchery Manager / Quality Assurance Manager (odd job!)

Steve started out life in Hemsworth (pronounced with a silent H, 'emswuf' according to him!) where he lived for 13 years. Leaving school at 16 he was determined to become a car mechanic... so that's why he took up a two year course in baking at 'Thomas Danby'.

Having determined car maintenance wasn't for him, he took up a job with a local supermarket company, GT Smiths, where he eventually took charge of running their in-store bakeries. Working here he gained a broad knowledge of many aspects of how the supermarkets work. It was during this time he met his wife to be and best friend, Joe, while working at the Kippax store, a town they were to later make their family home. Being ambitious, he moved on to Brays Bakery in Leeds, and then later on to Country Style Foods. During this time he developed both his management skills and understanding of bakery plant and machinery.

After joining Thomas the Baker Steve quickly took on responsibility for a number of the production departments and soon became part of the fixtures and fittings. Not one to reach a hasty decision, it took five years for Steve to decide he wasn't going to move closer to Helmsley, because he thinks a daily drive to work of 106 miles is not unreasonable, particularly when you don't start until 06:00am! Steve happily confesses that he is not an academic, but to his own amazement quickly proved himself wrong when he qualified with a double distinction at BTEC National Certificate in Baking Technology – mind you, he says he sweated blood and tears to achieve this.

Due to Steve's particular skills set (he once worked in a supermarket!), he was 'volunteered' to run our deli/butchers in Helmsley for 6 months when we were short of a manager. He has now been there since 2016, and he says that although every day is a challenge, really enjoys the role.

Steve loves to spend time with his family, with four children and four grandchildren. He loves to take them away on holiday whenever the opportunity arises, it used to be Scarborough and Filey, but more recently Steve has expanded his wings, and now likes to travel to more exotic locations like Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Florida and has already booked for Jamaica next year!

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