Wellspring Methodist Church in Cheadle held its annual Macmillan Coffee Morning on 26 September, combining the charity fundraiser with a lantern-making workshop as part of Cheadle's upcoming arts festival.
Macmillan Coffee Mornings across the country raise funds to support the almost 3.5 million people in the UK living with cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. The Cheadle event featured tables of tea and a selection of home-made cakes served by team members including Jane Ratcliffe and Coral Robinson, alongside Minister Julie Hassall and Cheadle Town Council Mayor Phil Routledge.
Lantern-Making Workshops
Outside Arts has commissioned lantern-making workshops across Cheadle as part of the arts festival, which concludes with a lantern parade down the High Street. Participants of all ages are invited to create lanterns using willow withies—long thin tapered strips of willow specially cut for weaving.
One of the simplest shapes to create is a pyramid, built with a sturdy base and side designs. The workshops prepare candle arrangements in advance, which are added alongside a special paper cover for the sides to protect the flame from being extinguished in a draft.
This Year's Theme
This year's Cheadle Arts Festival celebrates 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne's classic character and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.
The lantern parade takes place on 24 October. Workshop details are available on the website cheadle-arts.co.uk.
