Caryle’s sterling work with Elmbridge CAN provided SI Weybridge with the invitation to host the Cream Tea at the Weybridge Society’s Community Fair. Judy Sarsby, Councillor, worked with Weybridge Society to ensure the week long Weybridge Festival was even more successful than last year. She told us that an estimated 8000 visitors attended events. It was without doubt an incredible effort and major boost for the community. Carlye, Brenda and I worked closely with the lead from ECAN especially volunteer Georgina. We spent 12 hours in planning meetings together and many more on the ‘phone refining the task checklist. The community Centre was given for free for the pop up but we had limited access… so the list of “we might need” was very long indeed! Our tasks?
Jeannie updated the pop-up banners, Brooklands College supplied 140 delicious scones, Anne G another amazing 48 (plus gorgeous iced buns). Chris did some very tasty lemon curd butterfly cakes in Ukraine colours. MaryLe baked fairy cakes as did Alison. Several members gave cash to account for any expenses and/or prizes. Ann D, Alexis, Cathy, Chris and retired members Pam and Maggie visited to help man the SI stand.
We had a selection of items for a Lucky Dip table, Carlye brought a whole table of plants to sell, the children’s count competition was on our table and we had the most amazing chocolate banana cake and heart shaped blueberry cakes donated by Celia who has attended our meetings. Valentina a young Ukrainian mum baked delicious cream cakes and a Ukrainian chef at Oatlands Park Hotel baked fabulous Gateaux which were flying off the fridge shelf. We set up at 9am rearranging the room, then the wonderful and very chic Ukrainians arrived for waiter training. At Noon a group from SI and Ukraine went to the opening ceremony platform as a thank you was announced.
When the clock struck noon we were off straight away, we were at times overwhelmed visitors rest their feet and waited.. After more announcements about the Tea the queue was constant. We think we must have served over 200 maybe 250. Meantime the remaining Ann’s (D&G, Alexis and Carlye) circulated and managed the visitors to the SI table very ably with everyone looking chic and blue and yellow nail varnish in sight! Cathy, Chris and Carlye highlighted the Prosecco and Lucky Dip and plant sales working alongside Angela and Shirley from the centre who were promoting it and setting art works.
It was such a pleasure to see the Ukrainians speaking to visitors, they shone like stars and seldom took a moments rest for hours. On the day I think by the time we locked the building up SI members had spent nearly 50 SI hours on our feet. Over the weeks leading up to the festival we had lots of hash tag links on social media and maybe it became tiresome but it worked; we felt the term Soroptimist could not have been missed in Weybridge. Visitors asked after Dorothy, 2 prospective members popped along to chat, 2 more expressed interest to members.
The SI table raised £223 for the Weybridge Foodbank account. The gifted Prosecco sales raised £200 for ECAN. It looks like the total profit from the cream tea was £1000+, we await the final breakdown.
It was the nicest of days and whilst we sweltered at times in the kitchen, when walking and talking to guests everyone said the tea was fantastic. This was a sparkling event for all parties and well worth the effort. Brenda, Ann and Caryle want to say how much we and Elmbridge CAN value the generous help with baking, club donations, hands on support and advertising for the event, well done everyone. Special mention though to Carlye whose existing work with ECAN resulted in our being asked to help.
Thanks to all the volunteers who made it a success, for the enthusiasm, gifts, baking, time and smiles, a true team affair!
From the Team