Town-wide coffee morning raises funds for Macmillan in Uckfield

The popular coffee morning initiative was adopted across the town last Friday (September 27) as cakes and savouries were sold for the charity as part of its annual World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event.

Yvonne Walter and Rebecca Grimes organised the grand fundraising event in an attempt to beat last year’s fundraising total.

They said: “This was a fantastic day and an amazing £693.67 was raised. Thank you so much for everyone who helped and all the generous people of Uckfield.”

Rebecca will be taking part in a sky dive for Macmillan Cancer Support in October to fundraise for her local branch.

A large number of the Uckfield Macmillan Cancer Support Committee turned out for their annual coffee morning at Pizza Express in Uckfield High Street.

They praised Pizza Express staff for helping to prepare the restaurant and serve drinks, while the committee provided the cake.

Committee members thanked the residents of Uckfield for ‘braving the weather’ to attend the event.

Uckfield funeral directors Fuller & Scott held a Macmillan coffee morning in memory of artist Sheila Hay.

Sheila’s work was on proud display in the window for all to see at the open event. Ellie McGrath, Sheila’s granddaughter, stayed all morning. Jeremy Field, an owner of CPJ Field, and principal funeral director, Howard Coote, also attended.

The Kenward Trust also held a coffee morning at the Malthouse. Established 50 years ago, the charity helps those with drug and alcohol addiction to rehabilitate.

Uckfield mayor, cllr Spike Mayhew, and deputy mayor, Jackie Love, came along to the event and talked to people who have been supported by the Trust.

Members of the Trust, Katie and Patricia, also came along to the coffee morning and talked to attendees about how the trust was founded and its current work.

Spike and Jackie were thankful for the invite and hope to visit the Trust soon and learn more about its work.

A coffee morning organised by the Sheepsetting Lane Residents’ Association at the Heathfield Community Centre raised £416 in two hours.

After the event, leftover cakes were donated to the Centre’s NHS health visitors, helping them pass a pleasant afternoon in spite of the heavy rain.

Macmillan coffee mornings take place all over the UK, with a nation-wide event held on September 27 2019.

The first coffee morning took place in 1990 with a simple idea- Guests donated the cost of their coffee and cake to the cancer charity.

Coffee morning events raised £26,914,382 in 2018 and have raised £200 million since they began nearly 30 years ago.

Elsewhere, at The Bluebell Railway, a Macmillan coffee train carried 84 passengers.

They enjoyed tea and coffee on the journey and brought cakes to sell in aid of the charity.

Footplate rides were auctioned at the event to give attendees the rare opportunity to ride the train from the driver’s perspective.

The Railway also organised a cake competition at the Bessemer Arms.

Due to their efforts, the Railway raised more than £1650 for Macmillan.