The Cake - Summer 2022

THE CAKE CHATS WITH…
Gaynor Hatch
Trisha Fermor talks to Gaynor Hatch who has overseen the sale of thousands
of pounds worth of goodies in a charity shop
For Gaynor Hatch every day was
“like Christmas” when she and her
“fantastic team” sorted through
donated bags at the Hospice in the
Weald shop in Cranbrook.
For more than 10 years, she was responsible
for everything that arrived at the Stone Street
outlet, from amazing costume jewellery to
handbags and clothes and china to books and
CDs.
But on 20 May, she celebrated her
retirement with her volunteer staff, just a
week after putting her last price tag on a
donated item.
Gaynor, 57, who lives in Northiam with her
husband, Tony, a retired plumber, has spent
nearly all her working life helping others,
including time with Cancer Research and
Barnardo’s. She was also head house keeper at
the Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells where she
met her then husband-to-be who was head of
maintenance.
After a “full on” spell with a Crowborough
cleaning company, which offered a 24-hour
service, she decided it was time to move on.
She was looking for a job in the charity sector
A Hermes scarf raised £400 in May's
silent auction
and soon found herself working for Hospice in
the Weald.
Speaking just days before her retirement
party, Gaynor said: “Every day is like
Christmas. You don’t know what’s in that
bag. We get a lot of brand new clothes coming
in still with their tags and the standard of
clothes we sell is very high. I only put the best
of what we get on sale and people like us for
the quality.”
The silent auctions held occasionally at
the shop are hugely successful, the May one
raising a record £2,105. Top of the bidding
was £400 for a Hermes scarf while a cheese
dish went for £75. A group called the Welly
Walkers, who each donate £1 for each walk,
recently handed over £70 to the charity.
Gaynor said: “The auctions are really
successful and people are very generous with
their bidding.”
While much of her life has involved helping
others, she has been the recipient of muchneeded
care when she had part of a kidney
removed due to cancer.
She said: “Six years ago, I had packed up
smoking then began to get pains. If I hadn’t
packed up the cancer would not have been
found. Smoking saved my life. I had keyhole
surgery and three months off. Hospice were
brilliant.”
Gaynor was full of praise for her team
of volunteers, from Audrey, 92, to younger
members of the team, including the Three
Degrees (Marian, Benice and Pam) who are
responsible for the “time consuming” window
dressing. In all, there are about 27 people who
give up their time to man the shop.
Gaynor was keen to point out that dogs are
allowed in too and are given a treat. On the
day The Cake visited, everyone was delighted
that a robin had taken up residence and
would eat out of Gaynor’s hand.
42 The Cake • Summer 2022