FOR Sarah Bourne- Taylor it was a sweet gesture that she hopes will speak volumes.

With the help of pupils at one of the schools where she teaches, the music teacher has been baking Christmas cakes for soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

Her son Robin, 28, a captain with the Household Cavalry, is currently fighting in the country.

Mrs Bourne-Taylor, of Paines Hill, Steeple Aston, near Bicester, has been in email contact with him since he left last month.

In one message, Robin asked for home-made food to be sent out – and mentioned that some of the soldiers did not get letters or parcels from home.

This got Mrs Bourne-Taylor, 51, thinking.

She said: “When he left in October I was trying to think about how I could keep myself occupied.

“Then in one or two emails he was saying about getting friends to rally around and send stuff out to soldiers, some who didn’t get anything.

“Children’s voices speak volumes – I work in so many schools, so I would put it about to see what the feeling was.

“People were amazing, I didn’t want to dwell on the politics, but show soldiers we're thinking of them.”

Mrs Bourne-Taylor, who works for the County Music Service in several schools around Oxfordshire, said: “Robin said I should send some yummy things, so that’s one of the reasons for baking.”

She sprang into action, getting Sainsbury’s to donate ingredients, Hobbycraft the ribbons, and Banbury’s Bag and Box Man to supply packaging.

Then staff, parents and children at Middle Barton Primary School, one of several where Mrs Bourne-Taylor teaches, spent a day making 160 fruit cakes.

Each cake has been iced and has a red star in the middle.

Robin Bourne-Taylor was already well known to the pupils as they had followed him during the Beijing Olympics when he rowed for Great Britain.

Jack Cox, nine, said: “I think it’s nice for the families of soldiers who are out in Afghanistan to know they won’t miss out completely on Christmas.”

Lewis McCaskill, nine, said: “The soldiers will miss out on a proper Christmas feast at home so I think it’s a good idea to send them a cake.”

Alannah Ford, eight, said: “I think it’s a good idea to make cakes for the soldiers who are not home for Christmas. The mixing was quite difficult because the butter was hard.”

The cakes will be sent in the next few days.

Mrs Bourne-Taylor also got children in Bishop Loveday School in Bodicote to make poppy garlands and medals, which will also be sent out to troops.