Unbeleafable - all clear at Frimhurst!

For the first time in living memory (ok, since this brilliant event first took place five years ago) it rained on the CMP annual volunteering day known as 'Festive Frimhurst'.

On this chilly, damp day, over a hundred volunteers turned up to clear the millions - yes, millions! - of leaves which, if left uncleared, will damage the grass across the entire 8 acres of the Frimhurst Family House grounds. But CMP volunteers are hardy souls, not easily deterred and, fortified by mince pies, hot sausage rolls and lashings of mulled wine, the challenge to shift the autumn leaves began.

Soon rakes were raking, brooms sweeping, grabbers grabbing, blowers blowing and by mid-morning, the rain had stopped (ish!) and the sun peeped through the grey winter skies. The task made even harder by the wet - heavy bags of leaves weigh much more when they're soaked! - but soon the intrepid teams made headway and the grass could now be seen.

Murielle Double, who runs Frimhurst Family Home, was delighted by the outcome of the day's work: 'We are a small team here and this is a large site for us to maintain. The efforts of all these wonderful people have made a huge difference not just to our lives but of course to the many families who come to Frimhurst. Thank you all.'

A dozen Members companies were represented at this epic event. Well done all of those who contributed from:

Amazon Filters Aviator BMW Group (UK)

Energi People Farnborough Airport Herrington Carmichael

HR Dept Porter Garland Siemens Healthineers

Signwrite Studios UK Connect Valiant

By the end of the day, the volunteers - most still smiling in spite of their aching backs - could look with enormous satisfaction at the huge progress that had been achieved: play areas emerged, gardens took shape, a road appeared where once there had been a slippery path!

Afterwards, Rachel Austen who manages Festive Frimhurst on behalf of CMP, was beaming:

'What a day - absolutely incredible. As a collective, the volunteers put in around 350 hours of hard labour clearing leaves. It would have taken the small Frimhurst team around three and a half weeks to achieve what was completed in just a few hours. That really puts into perspective the huge impact you all had.

The team at Frimhurst were absolutely thrilled. It means they can now focus on supporting the families they work with, and the grass will be beautiful again next year for everyone to enjoy. When we drove out, the grounds and road looked amazing!'

The strength of the human spirit, muscle and guts had overcome adversity in true CMP style - well, until next year of course!

See you in 2026 for the next instalment of Festive Frimhurst