Alumni business spotlight

Nicole (1993–2006) and Lauren Dodds (1990–2005)

Alumni sisters Nicole Dodds (1993–2006) and Lauren Dodds (1990–2005) own Afternoon Crumbs, a cake shop in Claygate. In their shop they sell cupcakes, hand-make bespoke celebration cakes and biscuits. They have also created a range of fun and colourful gifts, cards and wrapping paper featuring treats they’ve made. Nicole tells us about their journey from Claremont Fan Court School to proud cake shop owners.

“We both started Claremont in Nursery and have fond memories of crafty classes, summer picnics and hugging Harry The Horse Chestnut Tree. We loved the Middle School and all the school trips, fun projects and of course the Year 6 plays!

But it was my time in the Senior School that highlighted to me the value of creative expression. The arts were championed and we were encouraged to explore different outlets from Food Technology and Textiles to after school Life Drawing and celebrated Art Shows, which definitely gave me the confiidence to pursue a creative path. I went on to complete an Art Foundation course and then study Art History at Sussex University (certainly inspired by Mr Howard Farrar’s slide show assemblies - I was particularly fond of his one on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers).

I had a lot of spare time on my hands at Uni so started baking and blogging about my creations. I continued this after I graduated alongside taking a number of courses and carrying out an amazing internship with Zoë Clark at The Cake Parlour in Wimbledon.

Meanwhile, Lauren had completed a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Health Psychology and was working at an Online Marketing company in London.

In November 2016, with Lauren having left her job and my business growing, we opened our shop on The Parade in Claygate.

It was amazing to take the online business and put into four walls. I hand-make everything from my

kitchen at the shop and Lauren is the friendly face you see behind the counter each day and runs the business side of things (she loves a spreadsheet!).

As two women in business, we have often reflected on the confidence given to us by seeing so many female role models when we were at school. From our female Principal, Mrs Farrar, to Head of Middle School, Mrs Cox, and women heading up most departments. We still talk about how rare that was and how lucky we were to grow up surrounded by this kind of representation which definitely empowered and inspired us.

The shop has allowed us to meet so many lovely people and help them to celebrate the everyday and the bigger occasions. We love that we are so local and have many familiar Claremont faces (teachers and pupils, new and old) popping into the shop. We have been honoured to make cakes for lots of alumni, for birthdays, weddings and now even their children’s birthdays, and hope to be able to continue to make cakes and bring joy to new generations of the Claremont community.” Be sure to follow @afternooncrumbs on Instagram for the latest sweet treat updates. You can also visit their website: afternooncrumbs.com or contact them at: hello@afternooncrumbs.com

Thank you to Nicole and Lauren for contributing to the magazine. If you would like your business featured in the next annual review please do get in contact.