Having previously joined forces with The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Adopt a School Trust for a magnificent and successful banquet hosted in Bristol in 2017, it was an easy decision to unite again to promote and raise funds for our respective charities.
Acclaimed and much-loved Chef, Brian Turner, who played a significant part in the success of our previous charity occasion, acted as auctioneer for the fabulous range of prizes donated by our sponsors and supporters.
Auction prizes featured tickets for La bohéme at the Royal Opera House, a spectacular seven-night Caribbean holiday split between Anguilla, St Martin and Antigua, as well as overnight and weekend stays at many superb hotels and spas in lovely settings in the UK. We were honoured to have Ocean racing legend and skipper of Team Britannia, Alan Priddy with us, who for sailing enthusiasts, provided a trip on the Solent on Team Britannia's Super Boat Excalibur!
We particularly enjoy events when Wayne Sleep, one of our Patrons, is with us. Thank you Wayne! For BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour lovers, it was great to have the support of Dame Jenni Murray, along with many others whose company we thoroughly appreciated.
We owe a debt of gratitude to our generous supporters for donating the wonderful range of prizes. These were Belmond Cap Juluca Anguilla, Belmond La Samanna St Martin, Admiral’s Inn Antigua, Coworth Park Hotel, Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, The Savoy, Lucknam Park Country House Hotel, Eckington Manor Worcester, La Gavroche, Intercontinental London Park Lane, Peabody Hotel Memphis Tennessee, Rudding Park Hotel Harrogate, The Dorchester and The Langham. Thanks also must go to Severn & Wye Smokery, King’s Fine Foods and Harvey & Brockless who provided the wonderful salmon, caviare and cheese.
We must acknowledge the care and attention to every detail by the staff of The Ritz. Thank you to everyone involved.
Finally, we thought this was an amazing event, brought about by hard work, team effort and friendship. What a night!