MALDON Little Ship Club is celebrating the end of its tenth winter holding soup lunches having raised more than £20,000 for charity.

The club, based on Hythe Quay, first began serving their homemade soups to customers in the winter of 2008, additionally helping to raise money for different charities.

On Tuesday March 13, the last winter soup lunch was held at the club.

Di Rogers, who has been the main organizer, said: “The soup lunches have been hard work but great fun and very rewarding when you see a room full of happy people enjoying the homemade soup in our delightful setting overlooking the Hythe Quay.

“Amazingly, the lunches have become a popular institution and community meeting place for our numerous regulars who seemed so disappointed when we reminded them that the next soup lunch will not be until October.

“I could not do all this without the support of the MLSC committee for use of the clubhouse and also my huge band of helpers made up of friends and club members.

“Incredibly we have only missed one month during the ten winters and that was through snow.

“We are pleased to say that during this time more than £20,000 has been distributed to charities, so we hope this has helped to support the good work they do in the Maldon community.”

The next charity event will be a Cream Tea event at 31 Acacia Drive in Maldon on Friday June 15 in aid of the Essex Air Ambulance.

To get involved, email diana.rogers2@btinternet.com.