Jubilee Afternoon Tea raises nearly £2,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research

Volunteers have raised nearly £2,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research after hosting a Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea to celebrate the Queen’s 70-year reign.

Organised by the charity’s Galtres volunteer group, guests were treated to a traditional afternoon tea including sandwiches, scones and cakes, before guest speaker Julian Hick gave an insight ‘behind the closed doors’ of Kensington Palace.

Julian, who has worked at Kensington Palace for 25 years, explored the history of the royal residence, including Queen Victoria’s life at the palace and how it came to be the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Wendy Stirke, chair of the volunteer group, said: “Following an enforced absence during the pandemic, and it being two and a half years since our last fundraiser, as a committee we were a little apprehensive about organising an event, but we could not let such a moment in history go by without our celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. We need not have worried as our Afternoon Tea was a sell-out.”

As well as ticket sales, funds were raised through a raffle and a stall selling women’s bags and scarves. The money raised from the event will help prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in Yorkshire.

The event was the first held by the committee since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Wendy continued: “It was encouraging to see everyone enjoying themselves whilst raising money for Yorkshire Cancer Research. This was reinforced by a great deal of positive comments from our guests. Despite these difficult times it is still important that we raise money for research into cancer.”

The Afternoon Tea is the latest event in a long history of fundraising for the Galtres volunteer group, which was first formed in 1970. In the 52 years since it began, the volunteers have raised more than £400,000 to help fund pioneering research in Yorkshire.