Former Triangle baker Graham Cotton was awarded the ‘City of Southampton Award’ at the council’s mayor making ceremony on May 20.
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The scheme recognises individuals or organisations who have given particular service to the city.
Outgoing Lord Mayor Cllr James Baillie awards Graham Cotton. Photo: SCC
The Lord Mayor’s Office said Graham had made a long-standing contribution to Southampton and Bitterne Park through nearly five decades running Cotton’s Bakery in the Triangle, which opened in 1974 and closed in 2022.
It said the bakery had become a local institution and a familiar part of community life, serving generations of residents and remaining a constant presence in a changing city.
The office added that Graham’s contribution extended beyond baking, with many young people gaining their first work experience and learning practical skills at the bakery.
It also highlighted his support for schools, churches and local traditions, saying his legacy continued through the memories, opportunities and sense of community he helped create.
Graham Cotton's bakery at the Triangle photographed in October 2020
“Cotton’s Bakery may have closed in 2022, but Graham’s contribution to Southampton lives on in the memories, opportunities, relationships and sense of place he helped create over nearly fifty years,” it said.
Writing on LinkedIn, Graham’s son Neville Cotton said his father’s contribution had gone far beyond running a bakery, highlighting his support for community groups, opportunities for young people and practical help for families, including work experience for those with additional needs and specialist dietary support before gluten-free products became widely available.
He also pointed to Graham’s involvement in community projects and bread-making workshops beyond Southampton.
He added: “Dad has always been more comfortable doing things than being celebrated for them, which makes this recognition all the more deserved.”
• Subscribers can listen to our 20-minute interview with Graham Cotton on our digest+ channel, recorded in 2023. He talks about the Triangle as it was when he arrived in 1973, and reflects on his 49 years running a bakery, community events at the time and much more >>