Mary Quicke

Cheesemaking at Quicke's has been tied to farm, herd, and clothbound cheddar practice since Mary Quicke became cheesemaker there in 1984. The work moved into company direction in 1987, when Mary Quicke became Managing Director at Quickes Traditional Ltd, extending the same production base into long-term stewardship of the business. Cheese education entered the same line of work in 2013, when Mary Quicke co-founded the Academy of Cheese.

“That whole microflora in the soil—there’s a whole universe that we're just beginning to understand. Or not even understand it, but understand how important it is.” Mary has said.

Farmstead cheese at Quicke's Home Farm in Newton St Cyres, Devon, is built around traditional clothbound cheddar, goat cheddar, and home smoked cheeses. Mary Quicke owns the farm, where the named cheeses include Elderflower Cheddar and Oak-Smoked Cheddar. The farming practice also carries an environmental brief: protecting over 200 acres of grassland and aiming for the farm to be net zero carbon by 2030.

Signature cheeses include Elderflower Cheddar and Oak-Smoked Cheddar.

Trade recognition for Mary Quicke includes Dairy Industry Woman of the Year (2019), Exceptional Contribution to Cheese Award (2015), and MBE (2005).