HCA Business – Afternoon Tea with Jenny Lee

Wednesday 7th November saw the launch of Jenny Lee Teas a local initiative that looks to support the Arts amongst other focus areas. I was delighted to be invited to find out more and mingle with guests, including artists, local businesses and of course the founders of Jenny Lee Teas.

Guests indulged in a scrumptious afternoon tea, with cakes freshly made by venue and event supporters Broadfield Court and tea by local company Trumpers Tea. A harpist entertained, whilst guests passed the cucumber sandwiches amongst an array of british flowers by local florist The Great British Florist.

This new fundraising initiative is named after the original Jenny Lee, who wrote the ‘Call The Midwife’ trilogy of books on which the acclaimed BBC television drama series is based. She worked in the Poplar area of London’s Docklands in the 1950s with her friend John Eastaugh, former Bishop of Hereford, where they both had a passion for empowering people, communities and establishing social projects.

Jenny’s niece Joanna and John’s daughter Katie, who both live in Herefordshire, are committed to continuing this legacy of social responsibility and have developed Jenny Lee Teas as an easy way of enabling grass roots projects to thrive through charity events.

The projects Jenny Lee Teas support help the lives and social concerns of Jenny Lee and John Eastaugh.

Their era was about vocation and personal commitment to making a difference to the lives of
people in the heart of local communities. They call these qualities ‘The Poplar Principles’.

Jenny Lee Teas focus areas are:

• Health
• Community
• Youth Enterprise
• Social Welfare
• Arts
• Individuals/groups seeking to make a difference.

Wendy Tolley