On Monday, September 30th, our team was spoiled for choice, with a feast of sweet and savoury goodies that made for a truly indulgent start to the week, all in aid of charity.
Cakes for Charity
The Macmillan Coffee Morning, fondly known as the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’, is a cherished tradition at Cromwell every September. Like many businesses across the UK, we hold a bake sale in support of the fantastic cancer support charity, Macmillan. This year marked our 8th consecutive Coffee Morning, and once again, the Cromwell team rose to the occasion. Many of our talented staff took to the kitchen to bake some delicious creations, while others contributed equally scrumptious shop-bought treats, ensuring that no one went without a tasty snack.
Staff from all departments brought an array of offerings – from cakes and cookies to sausage rolls and pork pies – ensuring there was something for everyone. After making a donation to the charity, staff were invited to fill their plates and indulge. But it wasn’t just about the food; we also hosted games and competitions to raise even more funds for Macmillan.
Getting Competitive
At Cromwell, we love a good quiz, so of course, we had to include one! This time, the challenge was to guess the celebrity hidden behind the cakes and cookies icons, with famous faces from the world of sport, film, and baking making an appearance. Some proved trickier than others, but it was our Business Development Manager, Adam, who emerged as the Quiz Champion with a perfect score of 16/16!
Alongside the quiz, we brought back a crowd favourite – ‘Guess the Sweets in the Jar’. With guesses ranging wildly from 86 to 500, it was Warehouse Operative Luke who guessed the exact number of 253 sweets, securing the win for the second year in a row! Clearly, this wasn’t his first rodeo!
The day’s most anticipated contest, however, was the battle for the 2024 Star Baker title. Anyone who contributed homemade bakes was in the running, and with 11 entries, the competition was fierce. From cakes and biscuits to cookies and rocky road, the treats were all delicious, making it tough to pick a favourite. After much deliberation, the results were in:
Joint 3rd: Katie’s ‘Rocky Road’ & Edward’s ‘Banana Bread’
2nd Place: Luke’s ‘Chocolate Orange Cheesecake’
1st Place: Helen Warner’s ‘Lime and Blueberry Cake’ – made from her home-grown blueberries too!
This resulted in Helen being crowned star baker of 2024, winning herself the ‘Cromwell Star Baker’ apron, arguably much better than a Paul Hollywood handshake!
The Final Result
After four hours of delectable treats, fun games, and some friendly (and very tasty) competition, we’re thrilled to announce that we raised an impressive £183 for Macmillan Cancer Support. It was a fantastic event, and we’re proud to continue supporting the incredible work that Macmillan does. We look forward to hosting our next Coffee Morning and hope that our contribution helps make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
Here’s to next year’s event – and maybe even more competition for the Star Baker title!