Bucklebury holds successful Macmillan Cancer Support coffee morning at Victory Room

Bucklebury held a very well-attended coffee morning to raise money for a cancer charity last week.

The coffee morning was organised for West Berkshire Macmillan Cancer Support at The Victory Room in Bucklebury Village Hall on Thursday, September 28 from 10.30am until 2pm.

Coffee, cake and stalls were on offer — raising £1,700. The gardens of Bucklebury House were opened exclusively by kind permission of Willie Hartley Russell.

The world’s biggest coffee morning is an established annual event in late September and is now in its 33rd year.

Guests included Thatcham mayor Mark Lillycrop and fashion designer and royal couturier, David Emanuel, who is a Macmillan ambassador.

“The Newbury Committee has been fundraising actively for Macmillan for many years,” said West Berkshire Macmillan Cancer Support chairwoman Keren Carolan. “It was awarded a certificate of commendation in 2022 for its ‘years of fundraising and awareness in Berkshire’, during which it had contributed £811,475 directly to the charity.”

Mrs Carolan added: “We are now relaunching the Committee as the West Berkshire Committee, reflecting the reach of the activities we organise and the efforts we make to raise awareness of the range of support which Macmillan offers to people affected by cancer.

“This is an important occasion for us as it also marks the moment at which the chair, Erica Tipton, stands down after 30 years of service.

“Erica was awarded the BEM in the King’s New Year Honours in recognition of her ‘services to charity and the community’.

“I am delighted that she will remain on the Committee as I take over the chair.”