Chatterbox Jane Jarvis gave her colleagues the silent treatment – but it was all in a good cause inspired by a workmate.
Staff at the cafe in the Marks and Spencer store at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre, in Wrexham, were taking part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning organised by Macmillan Cancer.
Coffee barista Jane Jarvis, of Rhos, didn’t say anything for her entire shift as she completed a sponsored silence to boost the efforts of the store.
According to Jane, who has worked at the Eagles Meadow store for four years and has been with M&S for eight years, staying silent is the hardest thing she has ever done.
Her determination to keep schtum was fuelled by the story of colleague Lynn Lamb who has suffered breast cancer herself.
Lynn said: “It is so important if we are to beat this dreadful disease that we all raise as much as we can.
“The efforts of my colleagues, together with our wonderfully generous customers means we, as usual, here at M&S Eagles Meadow have raised a fantastic amount of money in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.”
Jane wore a large bracelet on which was printed the words ‘Thank You’ so she could show customers as well as having a notice around her neck explaining what she was up to.
She said: “I was born talking, I just can’t shut up, so to keep quiet for a full shift was murder. My colleagues were all trying to get me to break my silence but they failed miserably although it was so hard!
“I have to say our customers, as usual, were so generous and really boosted the amount we raised on the day.”
“I needn’t have worried about upsetting anyone with my silence, in fact our regular customers seemed quite pleased I was giving talking a rest!
“I am just so pleased to have been able to contribute to the amount we have raised as a store.
“I have been lucky as cancer hasn’t troubled my family but many of my friends and some of my colleagues have had to deal with the disease and, of course, everyone dreads it.”
Jane’s fellow M&S coffee barista, Dianne McMahon of Marchwiel, who has worked at the Eagles Meadow store for three years, joined in the fundraising fun by dressing up as a Victorian tea lady for the day.
She said: “I wanted to do something to help our fund-raising efforts and raise awareness of this dreadful disease. My own daughter had a cancer scare and I have lost my mother-in-law, an auntie and my grandmother to the disease.
“I have to say our customers have been so supportive and have really boosted the amount we have raised, which is more than £200 in the café alone with funds still coming in.
“We have had a lot of fun while raising funds for a very good cause thanks to the generosity of our customers who have been absolutely superb.”
