FUNDRAISING in memory of an Ilminster teacher has topped £5,000 after the community turned out in force at a vintage cream tea event.

The monthly charity event is organised by Helena Jones, the community champion at Ilminster Tesco, and supports a different local causes each time.

The latest vintage cream tea has held on Sunday in memory of Linda Towill, who taught at Swanmead School for 20 years.

Linda died last year after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Previously, her husband Matt Towill has collected around £2,000 at a celebration of Linda’s life, and his motorcycling friends donated another £1,000.

Along with £2,600 from the vintage cream tea, the money has all gone to St Margaret’s Hospice.

Matt said: “We married in 1983. We live in Seavington, but Linda worked at Swanmead for 20 years before she died.

“She was absolutely very much involved in Ilminster, and our children play football and cricket for Ilminster.

“Linda was a very keen equestrian, she did a lot of events, three-day events, stuff like that.

“She had bowel cancer. She was cared for by St Margaret’s in Yeovil, who are just an unbelievable place.”

Carole was a driving force behind Sunday’s event, and helped organise for local Lloyds Bank worker Bernadette Loader to hand over a cheque for £500 on the day.

Matt added: “We knew we had to do something for them because of the care they gave her and St Margaret’s is purely funded by what we do.

“I am bowled over. There is so much cash it scares me.

“Linda’s very good friend Carole helped organise this, and a lot of people who came to support are her friends.

“A lot of my motorcycling lot were here too.

“A lot of people wanted to come and support us raising money for the hospice so that other people can benefit like I did with Linda.”