World record attempt to be held in Devon for largest cream tea event

Organisers will also count how many scones get done the Devonian or Cornish way

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 5th Jun 2022

Around 1,500 people in Devon are hoping to break the world record for the largest 'cream team'.

China currently holds the record, after just over 1,000 people gathered in 2019.

Afternoon tea events are being held across the country to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this weekend but this one has a very important question, jam or cream first?

The organisers of the event will actually count how many scones get done the Devonian way or the Cornish way.

The world record attempt has been organised by Vic Drinkwater.

She told us people will be allowed to eat their cream tea in both the Cornish or Devonshire way - and reckons the results will be quite interesting.

She said: "It was on the back of Covid really, we haven't been able to gather as a community together for a while, there was a plan to do a Jubilee village event anyway and we thought it would be nice to have an extra special touch to it.

"Some people locally are quite keen to put the cream on first and do it the Devon way. That's the only thing in the Guinness World Records which isn't actually specified, they can put it whichever way they want to. So we are hoping to do a poll on the day to see which way round was most popular in Devon, but it is open to interpretation on the day.

"The Queen actually prefers her the Cornwall way I do believe, but I think she is quite partial to a scone with jam and cream, so it is quite fitting tribute to the Queen on the day I think."

Bill Clarke is the chairman of Trewithen Dairy in Cornwall. He reckons jam first is the right way.

He said: "It's important that we do bring this world record title back, but just because in Devon they have more being done the Devon way doesn't prove anything. The reality is the Cornish way is the best way.

"When people come here to Trewithen Dairy and visit us and we present it to them, virtually no one ever says no. They all love it and so often come back for a second one, it's the flavour and the look, it's the right way to do it."

Etiquette expert William Hanson says rumour has it the Queen does indeed prefer it the Cornish way, but what does Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall prefer?

He told us: "Her eldest son of course is the Prince of Wales, otherwise known as the Duke of Cornwall, however it has been noticed that the Duke of Cornwall might prefer his scones the Devonian way. Her Majesty actually also doesn't reportedly really like scones, so the whole thing is a bit of a moot point.

"Just do it the way you want to do. I, to be diplomatic, will sometimes do cream on first once and jam on top, then the other side jam and then cream. That's often the best way to do it because you have everybody pleased and you have ticked all the boxes."

The event, which people had to pre-register for, is taking place on Sunday (5th June) in Lympstone. We'll be there to bring you the results!

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.