On a typical wet and blustery November morning, November 28, to be precise, people from the local community and surrounding areas, came into the warmth of the Young Farmers' Hall at Cresselly, where the atmosphere was anything but Novemberish, in fact it was distinctly Decemberish! So, you have gathered, the theme was Christmas, and it was a coffee morning held in aid of Cancer Research UK, organised by the Carew and Cresswell Quay local committee. Mr. Gould was there at the door to greet everyone and accept their donations. The stalls, as usual, were ably manned by members of the committee, aided and abetted by a few males (husbands who had been lured by the promise of some home- made mince pies!). Tantalising the tastebuds were the home-made cakes on the cake and produce stall. Janet 'the Quay' and Carol, affectionately known as 'Mrs. Pickles' ran a stall laden with Carol's home-made chutneys and a profusion of pickles, hence her name! The Christmas stall had an inspiring array of Christmas gifts for sale (all your present buying solved in one go!). Joan 'our resident maker of all things artistic', had created some beautiful Christmas wreaths to grace anyone's home, and these added to the wonderful display of goods. The kitchen 'staff' did their best to keep up with the demands for tea, coffee and mince pies, and at times were in danger of sinking beneath the mounds of washing up. Two excellent raffles were held with 22 prizes in total, all generously donated. The first prize in the main raffle was Tesco vouchers won by Diana Phillips, while other prizes were a meat voucher, whisky, Martini, chocolates, biscuits, cuddly toys, candles, mugs, jams, photo frames and album and a Christmas wreath. Prize- winners of these were Gwyneth Herbet, Mr. Harper, Dianne Hodge, Vanessa Phillips, Marjorie Davies, Miss Bird, Carol Chandler, Maurice Cole, Richard Mason, Kurt Harris, Sue Jenkins, Mrs. Brace, Mrs. George, Pat Harbud. Thanks to Netty, Marjorie and Dianne for running the raffle. In the other raffle, held on Janet and Carol's stall, the first prize of a Christmas food hamper was won by Graham and Jane, of the Lawrenny Arms. More whisky, wine, biscuits and chocolates, cuddly toy and another Christmas wreath were the other super prizes, and prize-winners were Gwen Jenkins, Mabel Merriman, Tony and Dianne Phillips, Vince Price, Alan and Sue Jenkins and Margaret James. A Christmas cake was won by Peggy Jenkins for getting the closest to guessing its weight. During the course of the morning, Carrie Barlow, who is the representative for Cancer Research UK Cymru, received a big cheque for £11,175, the sum of money made during this year's fundraising events. She received it from Netty Williams, president, and Mary Scourfield, chairman. Carrie thanked everyone for their hard-work and particularly for the amazing total of £80,000 which they had raised over the last six years. Maurice 'the Quay' presented Cancer Research with a big cheque for £4,720 and to Joan Mathias, representing Paul Sartori, a big cheque for £3,500. All this money was raised from his tireless efforts in running the popular bookstall outside the Cresselly Arms during the summer season. Sadly, the summer of 2007 was to be the last summer for Maurice running this stall, but as Joan Mathias said in accepting the cheque, his name will go down in the history books! The total raised at the coffee morning was £1,580. Thanks go to all those who helped and supported. To sum up, it was a marvellous morning filled with the generosity of spirit that abounds in this area, and the genuine enthusiasm of people hoping that cancer becomes a thing of the past.