CHAWTON House Library has held its first Macmillan coffee morning – and the elegant panelled drawing room was filled with customers enjoying a delicious variety of cakes and scones.

The idea to hold the fundraiser came from Andrew Bentley, the garden manager, who since his arrival in January has been working to bring the house, once owned by Jane Austin’s brother, closer to the community.

“We are planning a lot of events and we hope people will come along and join us. Also Chawton House has now joined the National Garden’s Scheme, whose main benefactor is Macmillan, and we will be opening our garden four times a year.

“So I thought ‘what better way to start to support Macmillan than to hold a coffee morning at the house’.”

He said he was delighted with the response and about 50 people had enjoyed coffee and cakes at tables set out in the elegant room on September 30.

Mr Bentley, who was accompanied by James MacBain, chief operations manager, said the delicious cakes were made by members of the staff, Corrine, Mandy and Kerry, who had also made an exact replica of the spotted cake on the Macmillan poster.

Mr Bentley has created a new herb garden in the grounds after being inspired by a book written in the 18th century by Elizabeth Blackwell called “A Curious Herbal” of which Chawton House has a first edition.

As a tribute to her and to his new herb garden he made chocolate brownies laced with mint for the coffee morning.

At the end of a very well attended event Chawton House had raised over £300.

Another successful Macmillan Coffee Morning, an all-day one, was held at Melody Care in Alton, and again it was a first for property manager, Lucy Vaughan, who was helped by deputy care manager Kerry Metcalfe and care co-ordinator Kirsty Jones.

With balloons on the door to welcome visitors they had a marvellous array of cakes that filled large desks in one half of the office.

Customers enjoyed coffee with a selection of cakes, some made by carers and staff, including mouth-watering cup cakes.

Lucy Vaughan told the Herald that she was pleased with the response for this their first coffee morning which had raised £63 for Macmillan.