MORE than £700 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Research at a coffee morning organised by Stella Hawkins, who held her first such event nearly a quarter of a century ago and has made hundreds of pounds for the charity.

It has almost become a community event and on the morning of Friday, September 29, Ropley Coffee Room was crowded and as well as coffee and homemade cakes there were produce and Christmas card stalls plus a tombola and raffle.

Another fundraiser was a silent auction of flowers donated by Village Flowers in Four Marks. It raised £30. Stella, who was backed by a team of helpers, said “Our coffee mornings are always fun to do. I held my first one nearly 23 years ago when I lived in Petersfield, as my mother had cancer of the esophagus and wasn’t doing well until a Macmillian nurse came to help her.

“I am glad to say she recovered and is still with us so I wanted to do something to help Macmillian and decided to hold a coffee morning. I continued doing them, every September, when I moved to Ropley.

“I am very grateful to all those who came and supported us so generously.”