To celebrate the anniversary of the Macmillan Advocacy project here in Dorset, we wanted to plan something which would bring people together and reward our volunteers for their time and commitment to the project.
A warm welcome for our volunteers at Comins Tea House
As our county wide project is managed from two sites – Help & Care in the east and Dorset Advocacy in the west of Dorset – we looked for something we could do in a geographically central location. We were thrilled to be able to invite volunteers to Comins Tea House in Sturminster Newton right in the heart of Dorset. Comins Tea House was set up about 2 years ago by Rob and Michelle Comins whose commitment to quality teas has led them the travel the globe in search of teas to import and share here in the UK.
On the day, a combination of 16 volunteers and Project staff met at the Tea House and were guided through a tasting of 6 different teas from the lightest white tea to the darker, more traditional Assam. Not a drop of milk or a spoonful of sugar in sight, we were introduced to the delicate flavours and the traditional methods of brewing and drinking native to each tea’s origins. After the tasting everyone was offered a tea of their choice and a selection of very delicious cakes.
Advocate Peer Volunteers Bob and Maddy Smith share their tasting notes
Rob Comins was inundated with questions from the assembled tea tasters but his extensive knowledge of the teas, their productions, history and brewing was easily up to the task. It was generally agreed that the whole event had been a great success and I saw of lot of people leaving clutching their new teas.
At the end of our first year, here at Dorset Macmillan Advocacy we were pleased have the opportunity to not only pause, look back and reflect on what we have achieved so far but also to look forward to what we might achieve in the next 12 months now that so much of the project’s foundations are laid.
Jenny Rimmer, Dorset Macmillan Advocacy
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