A TRADITIONAL cream tea is one of summer’s great joys

But when legal eagles from a town centre firm sat down to tea and freshly-made scones earlier this month, they were helping to bring relief to thousands of Swindon residents.

Legal firm Bower & Bailey Solicitors raised £120 towards the Brighter Futures appeal – munching their way through 17 cream teas.

The Regent Circus firm ordered the boxed cream teas direct from Brighter Futures.

It is the third year in a row the hospital fundraising team have run their popular Cream Tea in a Box initiative – raising £1,405 from firms across Swindon by selling their cream teas.

Natasha Brooks, a chartered legal executive at Bower & Bailey, spotted the cream teas advertised on social media.

“As soon as I saw it on Facebook, I thought that’s a great idea – and something that we could do,” Natasha said.

Despite their busy work schedules, several of the firm’s lawyers and legal executives were able to take time out to enjoy their scones – and a refreshing cup of tea.

Carol Pick, a legal assistant who helped organise the tea, said: “Having our own radiotherapy centre in Swindon will make a massive difference to those in our community affected by cancer.”

“Sadly, a radiotherapy unit in Swindon will be too late for my mum,” said chartered legal executive Lesley Stone.

“Just the thought of having to travel to Oxford and back on a daily basis when she was very unwell upset her and she couldn’t face it.

“Many of us are or have been affected by cancer and when your loved ones are suffering you want to make their life as easy as possible.”

Companies across Swindon bought cream teas from the Brighter Futures team.

The boxes, which contained jam and clotted cream donated by the Cream Tea Society and scones baked by hospital caterers Aramark, were delivered to 19 businesses and charities around the town – including Vodafone and the research councils.

Each box was sold for £5, raising a grand total of £1,405 for the radiotherapy appeal.

To donate to the Brighter Futures appeal, fill in the form on this page or log on to: www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk.