The stack begins to topple at pancake number 214. From left: Woodpeckers Companionship Team Leader Jane Bunker with residents Eileen Morgan, June Farrow and Sheila Burn.
Chefs at a New Forest care home flipped hundreds of pancakes so residents could attempt an audacious bid at a Guinness World Record for stacking.
As a fun way to spend Pancake Day afternoon, residents at Colten Care’s Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst managed to place 214 pancakes on top of each other.
Staff had earlier found out that the official Guinness World Record for the tallest stack of pancakes is 213 pancakes, achieved by two chefs at Centre Parcs in Sherwood Forest – so they decided Woodpeckers would try and go one better.
Woodpeckers Head Chef Brian Pearce said: “We actually made 325 pancakes in total so there were enough to play around with.
Work in progress on assembling the pancakes. From left: Woodpeckers residents Eileen Morgan, June Farrow and Sheila Burn.
“We sourced 12 kilos of powder mix from a dairy and one of our chefs spent eight hours making it into pancakes for the day.”
Residents then went hands-on, lifting the nine-inch diameter pancakes out of trays and assembling them into the stack.
One member of the construction team, Eileen Morgan, said: “We thought at first that it would be really easy to stack them but as it went on, it got harder and harder. It was like a game of Jenga.
“When we discovered there was a record to beat, we became more determined than ever. It was a fabulous afternoon. We really enjoyed having a go at it.”
Work in progress on assembling the pancakes. From left: Woodpeckers residents Eileen Morgan, June Farrow and Sheila Burn.
Companionship Team Leader Jane Bunker said: “We realised very quickly that there is an art to stacking pancakes.
“At 100 the tower was wobbling but no one wanted to give up and with a steady hand and encouragement from fellow residents, we made it to 214 pancakes.
“Luckily it stood long enough for a photo before it tumbled.
“Much fun and laughter was had throughout and afterwards the residents all enjoyed warm pancakes with traditional toppings of lemon and sugar or maple syrup.”
Those helping the stacking alongside Eileen and Jane were residents June Farrow and Shelia Burn and Companionship Team member Sian Harris.
Sian said: “We didn’t manage to get anyone in to officially verify this as a Guinness World Record but we might revisit it next year. It was really all about having a fun afternoon for Pancake Day.”
The Woodpeckers construction team enjoy a well-deserved cup of tea after their stacking attempt. From left and wearing stacking challenge rosettes: resident Eileen Morgan, Companionship Team Leader Jane Bunker and residents June Farrow and Sheila Burn.
