Angela Radley holds the first Time to Get Together event and raises over £400

Part of the Springfield Support Group, Angela usually organises regular events in aid of Farleigh Hospice, but has not been able to do so since March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This was the first community get together she has organised since the pandemic hit. Angela was thrilled to be able to get to work planning the long-awaited event as soon as the announcement came that outside organised gatherings of up to 30 people could be held as part of stage three of lockdown easing measures.

The community coffee morning was held in Angela’s back beautiful garden in Springfield on the 24 June and was incredibly popular. The event was attended by Jennifer Tolhurst, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Essex as well as the Mayor of Chelmsford, Jude Deakin. In addition to coffee and cakes, the event had stalls selling plants, books and bric-a-brac as well as a raffle and a tombola to raise money for the hospice.

Angela commented: “It was so good to be able to hold a coffee morning again, it has been such a difficult year for everyone and it was so nice to get people together. For many who attended it was their first time out mixing with people since March 2020, so it really was a significant occasion for our community. I was delighted that the Mayor of Chelmsford and the Lord Lieutenant of Essex were able to come. They Mayor brought two local councillors with her too, it was such an honour to host so many local dignitaries in my back garden!”

For one of the attendees, Margaret Yallop, the coffee morning was a much-needed dose of normality after having COVID-19. Having been admitted to hospital with respiratory problems and contracting COVID-19 while in hospital. She was very ill with the virus for some time, Margaret is now home but is suffering from the effects of long COVID. The illness has caused her to lose the use of her legs. Jennifer Tolhurst, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Essex, took a particular interest in spending time with Margaret and hearing her story. Of this Angela says: “It was really heart-warming to see, there was a real warmth in how the Lord Lieutenant interacted with everyone, it really was great to experience.”

The coffee morning was such a huge hit that people were asking Angela as they left when the next event would be. Angela has hinted that she may hold an afternoon tea in August or September!

If you would like to hold your own get together in aid of Farleigh Hospice visit www.farleighhospice.org/events/time-to-get-together for more information. To request a fundraising pack contact the Fundraising Team on 01245 457411 or email fundraising@farleighhospice.org