And just like that, our Fabulous Summer Tea Party is over for another year! Throughout the week of Monday 20th – Sunday 26th June, people across the country joined in with our national fundraising event, gathering with their families and friends to celebrate and support Horatio’s Garden.

  

Being that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the charity, those who were part of a Fabulous Summer Tea Party truly felt as though they were involved in something special, regardless of where they were in the UK. 

This included Alexandra, a garden designer living in Wiltshire, as well as Leonora, who united with her whole family to host the first boat-based Fabulous Summer Tea Party that we know of! 

With the weather holding up, Alexandra welcomed her nearest and dearest to her home and stunning garden for an afternoon of summer celebrations. As friends, family and neighbours (along with a few dogs!) gathered in the sunshine, there was a brilliant atmosphere, with everyone sharing that it was a very happy afternoon.

 

Naturally, there was a plethora of tea and cake to be savoured too, with no one wasting any time when it came to treating themselves!

 

Meanwhile, the Herring, Ecclestone and MacLaine families all came together for the first time in years, merrily making their way down river whilst catching up and raising lots of money too. With Leonora organising the occasion, she, her sister Melanie and their mother, Mary, who was previously a patient at the spinal centre in Stanmore, were absolutely delighted to see everyone having such a wonderful time.

 

Having previously spent time in Horatio’s Garden London & South East with Mary, Leonora was equally thrilled to see everyone coming together to successfully raise £315 for the charity. Remembering how much the garden had meant to her mother during their visit, Leonora and the whole family know exactly what a difference they, and everyone else’s, generous donations will make.

Speaking of the gardens, the week-long event was perfectly marked in each of our horticultural havens too, with all the Horatio’s Garden teams and volunteers making sure that everyone had a chance to join in with the fun!

 

Every one of our sanctuaries celebrated the occasion, not only with tea and irresistible homemade cakes, but also with fantastic live music performances. Among them were Calum McIlroy & Megan MacDonald in Horatio’s Garden Scotland, supported by LiveMusicNow Scotland, as well as Just Us Two in Horatio’s Garden Midlands and the Steve & Ben Somers Band in Horatio’s Garden London & South East.

 

We we’re also excited to see the fantastic Digby Brown team in Horatio’s Garden Scotland again too, who not only came clutching their incredible annual donation to the garden, but also stayed to lend a helping hand throughout the afternoon!

Patients, their families and friends, as well as NHS staff, were unanimous in how much they’d loved their afternoons in the garden, sharing that it was even more of a treat than usual to be able to spend time outside in the sanctuaries.

We are enormously grateful to everyone who helped, hosted, performed and supported our Fabulous Summer Tea Party week and know there are a few more to come too. If you’re someone who has yet to par-tea, we hope you all have a truly fabulous time!


Would you like to join in and host a Fabulous Summer Tea Party next year? 

If so, please click here to find out more and register your interest