Stansted worker who made resignation cake is ‘shocked’ by social media uptake
Chris and his seven week old son Ben - Credit: Archant
MANY people fantasise about leaving their job in extraordinary fashion – and for a Border Agency worker at Stansted Airport, it was a sweet affair.
Chris Holmes handed in his cake on Monday - Credit: Archant
Christopher Holmes handed in his notice on Monday – his 31st birthday – following the birth of his son.
But he sweetened the news by writing his resignation letter on top of a homemade cake.
After uploading a picture of the cake on his Facebook page and it being Tweeted by a relative, the story has become a social media sensation, receiving hundred of thousands of re-tweets.
Mr Holmes told the Broadcast: “It was a total shock. I put it on my personal Facebook page because I thought my friends would enjoy it and one of them tweeted it. The next thing I know, it’s all over the internet.
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“I really am quite shocked at the hype it’s received. I just thought it was a nice thing to do.”
Mr Holmes handed the cake – made of carrots, pecans, sultanas and coconut with a Seville orange butter cream filling – to his employers on Monday. He cited the birth of his son Ben, now seven weeks old, as the main reason for leaving the job.
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“It has put things into perspective and I really want to be around him and my wife as much as I can,” he said.
“I’m currently on my notice period of four weeks but I’ve taken out a lot of annual leave to coincide with the birth of my son, so although I am technically employed by them, I think I have now worked my last shift.”
Mr Holmes set up his cake company, Mr Cake, in 2010 and will now work full-time as a chef from home.
He spent three years juggling careers before making the jump from working at the Border Agency – a job he held for seven years – to operating his business out of the kitchen at his Victorian cottage in Sawston.
He hopes his passion for cooking will send a positive message to his son.
He said: “I would not have left if the business wasn’t making enough money, but I’m making a reasonable amount and I’m hoping it will send a good message that you should pursue things you are interested in and enjoy.”
Bill Form, Border Force assistant director at Stansted, said: “Chris handed in the cake, along with a more formal letter, on Monday.
“He leaves with our very best wishes and we wish him well.”