ILMINSTER NEWS: Do you remember when David Cameron came to town for bacon butties?

THE departure from No 10 Downing Street today (Wednesday, July 13, 2016) of David Cameron will bring back memories to when the Prime Minister made a surprise stop for breakfast in Ilminster.

It was back in the summer of 2010 when Mr Cameron shocked café owner Chris Hawkins by popping in along with his wife Samantha and children for some bacon sarnies on the way to their holiday in Cornwall.

The Prime Minister and Mrs Cameron, who was eight-months pregnant at the time with their youngest child Florence, dropped in with children Nancy and Elwen along with their nanny and Mr Cameron’s police protection officers.

Mr Hawkins, who back then run the Square 1 Brasserie in Ilminster, said: “It was a shock to see them walk in. Samantha looked absolutely radiant. They were lovely and very pleasant.

“The Prime Minister even took time to talk to my customers, who were pretty surprised to see him.”

The Camerons had bacon butties and toasted teacakes with cappuccinos, and hot chocolate for the children.

After their meal, the PM left his wife in the restaurant to pick up the tab while he went outside for a quick walkabout. She paid the £24.95 bill in cash and left a tip of about 10 per cent.

After their 45-minute breakfast, the family strolled among shoppers in Ilminster before getting back into their chauffeur-driven Jaguar.

The surprise stop-off came as the family made the five-hour trip from their country home in Buckinghamshire to Cornwall.

PHOTO - TOP: Prime Minister David Cameron with cafe owner Chris Hawkins back in 2010 when he stopped with his family in Ilminster.

PHOTO - RIGHT: David Cameron stands down as Prime Minister today (Wednesday, July 13, 2016).

The Square 1 Brasserie is no longer in existence with the premises having changed hands a number of times since the visit of Mr Cameron and his family.

The premises in the centre of Ilminster are still used as a café/restaurant under the name of The Retreat which officially opened in 2015.

Mr Cameron’s visit to Ilminster in 2010 was just a few months after he had become Prime Minister with the Conservatives having formed a Coalition Government with the Liberal Democrats.

He announced last month following the referendum about the European Union which saw a vote in favour of Britain leaving the EU, which he opposed, that he would stand down as Prime Minister in September 2016 to allow time for a new party leader to be elected.

But he announced on Monday (July 11, 2016) that with Theresa May being elected as party leader – following the withdrawal of all remaining candidates for the Tory leadership – he would offer his formal resignation to the Queen today (Wednesday, July 13, 2016).

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