HELD on July 10, this year’s charity lunch at the Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum raised a fantastic total of £1,762 for Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF) and the England Deaf Rugby Union (EDRU).

As well as the meal, there was a cake stall run by Gill and Sophie Lyon. Jamie Stuart, auctioned a wooden sign to demonstrate what Chris Burrow would make for someone’s gate, garden or house, plus a blackboard in the shape of a cow, both auctioned to raise further funds for the charities.

Host Jean Burrow said she was delighted that the event raised so much money and thanks everyone for their generous support.

There was also a grand raffle with more than 200 prizes, run by Marion and David Turner, and the bric-a-brac run by Sylvia Perrett and Sue Grigg.

Belle and Rick Rickard were on the door. Everyone agreed that the staff were wonderful.

Sophie Lyon (20), who is partially deaf and studying at Exeter College to become a Sports Therapist, is a keen rugby player and besides playing rugby for Crediton Ladies, also helps to train the Under 13’s girls.

Sophie has been picked to go on the England Ladies Deaf Rugby tour, for which part of the funds raised at the lunch were in aid of, will be held in South Africa.