Biggest ever coffee morning success for local organisers

The event was held across the country to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

As ever separate coffee mornings were organised around Bexhill so that various groups could show support for this cause, and some achieved their best result ever.

Una Prett of Pembury Grove raised an astonishing 1,393 in what was her 12th year of organising this event in her home.

She credits friends and neighbours with helping achieve such great success every year.

"It is fantastic," she said of the total.

"I didn't expect to do as much this year because several people went on holiday, but the people who didn't come gave me donations, and I did have some very generous donations."

She thanked Rita Martin, who was in charge of doing the coffee, Ann Hoy, Elizabeth Powell and Carmel Kelly.

"They have been there all the way and even make sure they don't go on holiday and miss it.

"My friend Vi Curtis makes cushions and raffles them, another friend makes cakes, and takes them into work, and gives me the proceeds, and Ann does the tombola.

"Carmel does the cakes, her daughter Patricia looked after the raffle, and her son Neil helped with the tombola. Elizabeth also helped out.

"These people have been with me right through over the years - they have been marvellous, and I couldn't do it without them.

"I had a donation of a basket of fruit from Tony Wilkinson, who gives one every year, and H&H Confectionary gave me some lovely sweets, and came to the coffee morning as well."

Local artist Stella Harris donated a painting to the cause which was raffled and the money put into the coffee morning kitty.

Una's son Neil also did his bit this year by holding a game called Name The Rabbit.

Approximately 60 people visited the house during the morning.

Una decided to hold her first coffee morning in 1988 when she was treated for breast cancer and received great help from Macmillan nurse Pam Shadbolt at the Conquest Hospital.

Una wanted to "try and repay" and heard that coffee mornings were being held to raise funds to support Macmillan nurses.

She said: "I did it that year while still having treatment. Friends from my church came - Our Lady of the Rosary - and that was the first one. We made 224. Each year it has gone up and we have made over 8,000 now in the 12 years."

Janet Gadsden held a coffee morning at St Paul's Evangelical church Hall on Wickham Avenue which raised 220.

"We had more than we did last year - we had a good number. It was encouraging. Everyone appreciated coming to the Macmillan coffee morning because most people have been affected one way or another."

Pam Magson said of the coffee morning at Little Common Methodist church, which raised 177: "It was very good indeed. We had far more people than we normally have. We had a raffle and a cake stall and a sale of card and books. We did extremely well."

John Bird from Nan Wilding Day Centre for the Elderly said: "We raised 104 on Thursday September 24 with a raffle for Macmillan Cancer Support. Thanks must go to members and helpers for a great result."