Thirst aid

Maggie Philbin paints a teapot for the Big Tea Cosy

St John Ambulance is asking everyone to have a cuppa for them and get involved with the Big tea cosy, the charity's national fundraising campaign.

Throughout November people are being encouraged to administer "thirst aid" to their friends, families and work colleagues by hosting tea parties to raise money for the first aid charity.

Tea party hosts can request a fundraising pack which will contain everything needed to get the party started. Containing fun ideas, invitations, posters and more, it will help your event to be as successful as possible.

Maggie Philbin decided to base her teapot on icons of Berkshire. She came in to CHQ and painted the Reading FC kit, while endulging in a cup of coffee and broadcasting live on BBC Radio Berkshire.

Becky Trotman
Sales and Marketing Executive

Charity auction

The Big Tea Cosy campaign will be rounded off at the end of November with an auction, where a number of teapots decorated by celibrities will be for sale on eBay. Local residents Rolf Harris, Clare Balding, Chris Tarrant, Gerry Francis, Robin Gibb and Maggie Philbin (pictured above) are all busy painting teapots, the proceeds of which will benefit St John Ambulance Berkshire.

Kim Adrian, County Fundraiser, is delighted with the number of celebs wh have agreed to support them: 'Without their help, there wouldn't be an auction, however we still need the public to get behind us and bid for these one off collectables. All of the teapots have been donated by Caroline and Tom Jewell of Hodgepodge in Twyford, so we are really grateful to them too.'

Anyone wishing to make a bid can visit eBay at the end of November.