The Exmouth RNLI Fundraising Team raised over £500 at their Cake Bake event on 26 May. Prize-winning entries were sold at auction by East Devon MP and RNLI council member, Hugo Swire.

The charity’s volunteers accepted entries from 9am at the lifeboat station on Queens Drive. The sight of the all-weather lifeboat, Margaret Jean on the slipway attracted a steady trickle of visitors on the sunny bank holiday weekend. In total, by the deadline of 11am, there were 20 entries including RNLI crew volunteers Roger Jackson and Mark ‘Max’ Champion. The three nominated judges, two of whom had Women’s Institute competition experience, graded each entry according to taste, quality and appearance.

Amongst the winning entries were shop volunteer, Sue Walmsley’s carrot cake and Emma Gibbons’ beautifully decorated cupcakes. The event’s star of the show was the cake entry by 15 year-old Jack Sharland. Jack’s life ring cake won the best decorated cake and was awarded high marks for taste and quality. Jack heard recently that he has been accepted at Michael Caines Academy at Exeter College to begin a culinary career.

Hugo Swire, MP stepped into his role as auctioneer at 3pm to raise more funds. He selected 12 year-old Lavinia de Saram as his auction assistant for the occasion. The auction raised £124.20 from the judges’ favourite nine cakes. Three of the cakes won at auction were donated to local residential homes in the community by the winner.

The dedicated RNLI shop volunteers serving cakes and teas all day raised £302.78. The final total for the event, including entry fees, came to £536.78. Organiser and Fundraising Team Secretary, Beryl Cole commented;

‘We could not have had better weather and the sea front and beach were crowded with lots of people enjoying the sunshine. The event was a team effort and thanks go to all the helpers. It was a FUNdraising day!’