River Cottage cook Philippa Corbin found dead at parents’ home

COMMUNITIES have been left stunned and saddened by the sudden death of a 27-year-old rising star in Axminster’s River Cottage team.

Philippa Corbin is understood to have died at the Rocombe home of her mother, preserves expert Pam “The Jam” Corbin and father Hugh, on Friday night.

Police confirmed they attended the address at 10pm and that a 27—year-old female was pronounced dead at the scene by an ambulance crew.

They said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Philippa, a former Woodroffe School pupil, who lived in Axminster, was a leading member of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage team for a number of years, working in the kitchen and helping with shows and markets.

Today a spokeswoman for River Cottage said colleagues were still reeling from the devastating news and trying to come to terms with it.

Philippa formerly lived in Uplyme where her parents ran the village’s Thursday Cottage Jam company for many years.

She spent two years in Ireland, first at Ballymaloe cookery school and then continuing her chef training at Ballymaloe House.

Later she launched a slow food venture in Exeter with fellow food enthusiast Freddy Dudbridge.

Announcing the new venture she said at the time: “The Slow Food movement supports good, clean and just food and opposes the fast food culture that is increasingly prevalent in today’s society.”

It is understood prayers were said for the family at Uplyme Parish Church on Sunday.

Minister Rev Gavin Tyte said they wanted to respect the family’s privacy at this time.