Tenby Cancer Research UK volunteer Maureen Lower MBE is looking forward to a relaxing Christmas break after a busy few months preparing 95 homemade Christmas cakes in her kitchen in Jameston.

Maureen, who volunteers at the Cancer Research UK shop in Tenby’s Tudor Square, decided in the early autumn to continue her annual tradition of making homemade Christmas cakes for charity.

She began baking cakes during her 42 years living in Berlin and, by the end of her time there, was selling up to 150 cakes a year to such illustrious organisations as the Bundestag, Germany’s national parliament, and the British Embassy in Berlin.

Maureen said: “The Christmas cakes take six weeks to mature, so it’s been a busy few months sourcing the ingredients and baking.

“Being new to the area and baking cakes here for the first time, I wasn’t sure how popular they would be, but 95 cakes have been ordered and baked, so it’s been a huge success.”

In total, Maureen’s efforts have earned £655 which will go towards life-saving research to help achieve Cancer Research UK’s ultimate goal of beating cancer sooner.

South Wales area support manager for Cancer Research UK, Caroline Keech, said: “Maureen’s efforts have been incredible and we are so proud of all of her hard work.

“The amount of money raised will be so helpful in helping fund vital research.”

Maureen would like to thank some local residents and businesses, including Inge Beaumont in Lydstep, who donated money to help buy ingredients, Upton Farm Frozen Foods Ltd. for their generous donation of marzipan, Images of Tenby, JRJ Frames in Tenby for their donations of material for the bases of the Christmas cakes and, of course, the customers of Cancer Research UK in Tenby for their orders and for supporting Cancer Research UK.

Maureen cannot rest for too long though; she already has had enquiries about Christmas cakes for next year!