ROPLEY hosted one of the liveliest Macmillan coffee mornings of the many that were held in and around Alton last Friday as organiser Stella Hawkins and her team of volunteers filled The Coffee Rooms with an array of cakes, games, a tombola, and a prize-filled raffle.

It was a busy time as villagers arrive to support the charity as well as enjoy coffee and cakes and trying out the guessing games.

There was a good choice such as ‘put the cherry on the gateaux’ and there was a stall filled with Christmas cards and decorations at bargain prices.

As usual Jean Simons, 94, and Fred Archer, 92, were in charge of the raffle, something they have done for several years as their way of helping to raise money for the charity.

Mrs Hawkins, who has run the village coffee morning for more than 10 years, said how grateful she was to her volunteers for their help and to the villagers for supporting them and as a result they had raised over £600.

And The Friends of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Alton, held an “extended” Macmillan coffee morning which was held in the church hall and the cakes they didn’t sell provided a treat for the youngsters at the 11am service on Sunday.

Organiser Pauline Fell said the coffee morning had not been as successful as last year’s as they didn’t get many “outsiders”, but around 40 parishioners gave their support and as well as enjoying the tea and cakes had a go at the competition ‘Guess The Weight of the Cake’.

As no one did Pauline said: “We took that up to the church on Sunday as well and quiet a few of the congregation had a go.”

She also thanked all the helpers, and especially Tracy Short, “who made some delicious savoury muffins”. The amount raised was ££420, “and every penny goes to Macmillan”, she added

The next event at St Mary’s is the annual jumble sale, on October 27, from 2pm-4pm.