UPDATE - Issue 24 - Winter 2005
Another successful luncheon
A most enjoyable Ninth Annual Luncheon took place eight years to the very day after our much smaller but very brave first attempt at a corporate event. The 2005 Lunch was held at the Dorchester Hotel on the 200th anniversary of Trafalgar and was hugely successful.
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester again graced the Luncheon with her presence and was greeted at the Ballroom entrance by the President and Mrs Kilmister.
Joe Kirby, one of the 'Heroes of Hadrian's
Wall', presented the charity's
patron, the Duchess of Gloucester, with a cheque for £173,000 and
thanked all those who had given generously in sponsorship.
STOP PRESS: The total is now over £235,000.
Sir David Frost, the television personality and businessman, made a most amusing and well received speech.
Delightful table presents (credit card holders) for all attendees were generously provided by Aslam Merchant of the Pelican Manufacturing company of Stanmore which added to the festive feeling.
The Guest Speaker, Sir David Frost, here speaking to
The Duchess of
Gloucester, underlined how wonderful it was to see young people getting
involved in fundraising. He said it was very appropriate, as it would be
the younger generations that would benefit tomorrow from the research
being paid for today.
Generous supporters, Andrew Braddon, Bernard Edmunds and Etienne de Villiers were among those who provided very exciting items for Auction.
A game called Heads and Tails raised £3000 and resulted in Bury St Edmunds resident Mrs Serena Wyman winning a magnum of champagne and an hour long flight in a light aircraft piloted by Paul Bazire.
Memorabilia from this summer's gripping Ashes series
were among the prized
items up for auction. Three hundred guests attended and under the masterful
direction of the auctioneer, Eric Knowles, they were charmed and cajoled
into
parting with more than £17,000.
One person whose friends will see plenty of him in the future is veteran diplomat Sir John Fretwell GCMG for he purchased at the auction his portrait to be painted by renowned artist Johnny Jonas who painted the official portrait of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother for her 100th year.
To John Anderson and his staff go warm thanks for another memorable Lunch. Great stuff!
Our thanks to Tony Kilmister and Laura Martin for contributing to this article