2023 Winner
Florence Coke
Local legend who has devoted herself to helping the most vulnerable in when times are hard.
Grandmother Florence Coke is treasured in her community. Known to all as ‘Mama Flo’ the 68-year-old is best known for her much-loved Caribbean takeaway shop in the heart of Stockport where she not only feeds her regulars, but makes sure no-one in her community goes hungry.
As well as providing free meals during the pandemic, she offered free lunches to children through the summer holidays last year as the cost-of-living crisis kicked in for families and fed pensioners for free over Christmas.
But, said Flo, going the extra mile to provide for others is far from a new idea for her. “When I was a small kid growing up in my community in Jamaica, my dad and my mum were very, very hardworking farmers,” she said. “My parents would put loads of plates and line out all those plates to feed people in the community. I grew up with this mentality of doing what I saw my parents do, so I’ve been doing this for years. Years.”
And with extra demand for support in recent years, Flo would encourage others in a position to help their communities to do what they can. She said: “If you give five meals for the day, you’re not going to get broke, I’m telling you. I’ve given away thousands, thousands, thousands and I’m still here going strong because people see what I’m doing, so people supported me. Please everybody, please share the love.” Flo’s Buxton Road restaurant, Mama Flo’s, which serves mouthwatering Caribbean classics including curried goat and jerk chicken, has been given the thumbs up by famous faces including footballers Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire.
“A lot of famous people come through my doors,” said Flo. But it’s her community – and her food – that means the most to Flo. “Cooking is my passion,” she said. “Cooking is love. Everything that I do in my cooking comes from pure love.”
Flo’s granddaughter Caprice Coke added: “My nan is a role model, she’s a Queen, she’s everything and I’m grateful to have my nanna in my life.”