SCHOOLS, businesses, community groups and organisations across the Henley area took part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The annual event, held last Friday, is the charity’s largest fund-raiser and encourages people to host coffee mornings and ask for donations from their guests.

The Old Post Office coffee shop in Wargrave hosted an all-day event which raised almost £2,500.

A silent auction with seven lots concluded on Friday evening. A trip to Marrakech for four people went for £500 and Keith Doward won a competition to guess the number of coffee beans in a jar.

Café owner Tony Colborne said: “Getting involved with the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning was suggested by a customer and I thought it was a really good idea.

“Charity events are popular and well supported and we are donating 10 per cent of our proceeds from the whole day to the charity. It is a good thing to do.”

Books, plants, gifts and bric-a-brac were on sale alongside teas and cakes at an event at Sonning Common village hall, which raised £466.37. Waitrose in Caversham donated tea, coffee and sugar. Organisers Linda Webb and June Fisher said: “Everyone

played their part, as is usual in this village.”

About 60 people attended a coffee morning at the Christ Church Centre in Henley which raised £430.

Heather Clark, who helped organise it, extended the event into Saturday in order to sell leftover cakes to visitors to the Henley Literary Festival.

A white chocolate and raspberry gateau made by Zenna Stark raised £22.

Staff at Barclays bank in Hart Street, Henley, took it in turns to man a stall selling coffee and cakes to customers.

They raised £214, which was match-funded by the company. Coffee was donated by Starbucks in Market Place and many of the

cakes on sale were made by staff.

St Mary’s School in St Andrew’s Road, Henley, raised £300 by selling coffee, cupcakes and second-hand uniforms.

Emma Vanstone, who chairs the school’s parent-teacher association, said: “We’ve been trying to create a social network for parents in the school and this event helped to further that sense of community.

“It was all for a good cause as well and it was lovely to see so many people come along.”

Coffee was donated by Vanessa Lakatos, a parent who owns Deep Clothing Company in Reading Road, Henley.

Ms Lakatos, who has helped out with the event for the past four years, said: “I’m very happy to support this cause because my father died of cancer and I know Macmillan is a great charity.”

Leena Wisely held her 10th annual coffee morning at her home in Grove Road, Sonning Common, raising more than £300.

About 50 people attended the event where Nirvana Spa products, clothes, jewellery and cakes were among the items sold, with a percentage from each sale donated to the charity.

Mrs Wisely said: “It has steadily grown over the years.

“Macmillan is just such a worthwhile cause as it has helped so many people affected by cancer.” Pupils and parents from St Anne’s School in Caversham raised £216.54.

Nicki Coombs, the school’s deputy head who organised the event, said: “It was a great opportunity to bring the local community together for such a deserving charity.

“Everyone was so generous with their donations and it was such a lovely morning — helped along by the delicious cake.”

A cake sale, raffle and coffee morning at Kidmore End Pre-School raised £123.77.

Published 06/10/12