Best in North Devon? Trimstone RNLI Cream Tea will help save lives at sea

People in North Devon know if you are in a jam at sea the cream of the RNLI will come and save you – so all are invited to go along to an RNLI Charity Cream Tea at picturesque Trimstone Manor near Ilfracombe on Saturday, June 22 and give a little back.

The event will be supporting Ilfracombe RNLI and runs from 12noon to 3pm, with visitors welcome to drop in and enjoy what has been described as ‘possibly the best cream tea in the whole of North Devon’.

Proceeds from every cream tea sold will go to support the Ilfracombe lifeboats. Visitors are also welcome to enjoy the beauty of Trimstone’s gardens, as well as meet the resident peacocks, emus and goslings. Dogs are very welcome if kept on leads.

There will also be an RNLI stall on the day with souvenirs and volunteers will be on hand to chat about the charity’s work saving lives at sea.

The event has been organised by Trimstone housekeeper Rhianne Mockridge, who bakes the scones herself – and they are highly rated by those who have sampled them!

It is being hosted in the run up to National Cream Tea Day, which is officially on June 28.

Cornish clotted cream connoisseurs Rodda’s have kindly donated the cream for the Trimstone tea and Tiptree has donated the jam.

Above: Ilfracombe RNLI crew Gillian Cole and Stuart Carpenter sample a cream tea at Trimstone, served by Rhianne Mockridge. Credit: Trimstone

Rhianne moved to the area a few months ago and was struck by the sterling work of the RNLI and the events for its 200th anniversary year.

She said: “We chose the RNLI as our charity because of the fantastic work they do in the area; they are always out and they are always busy and they can always do with the funding.

“My grandmother was a big fan of the charity and my uncle’s name is among those on the Norfolk-based Shannon class lifeboat Duke of Edinburgh.

“It’s an honour to be holding this event in support of such a vital service protecting both local people and visitors on our coasts and beaches.”

Ilfracombe RNLI crew members Gillian Cole, inshore lifeboat helm and all-weather lifeboat navigator and Stuart Carpenter, station mechanic and coxswain, visited Trimstone for a little cream tea quality control before the big day.

Stuart said: “I'd like to thank Trimstone for supporting the RNLI with its cream tea. I'd like to encourage everyone to come and enjoy it on the day on June 22.

“It's important that all the community gets behind the RNLI, just as the RNLI gets behind the community.”

Support your local lifeboats with the RNLI Cream Tea at Trimstone Manor on Saturday, June 22, 12noon till 3pm. The Manor is just off the A361 half a mile from Mullacott roundabout near Ilfracombe.