The James Bond Ball goes down a storm

Written by James Gadsby-Peet 25th January 2010

The James Bond Ball was held at the incredibly supportive DeVere Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth on Friday 11th December. The event was hosted by Variety Club Wessex to raise the necessary funds to equip a new childen's high dependency unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

Chris Jarvis very kindly brought members of the Bournemouth Pavilion's 'Snow White' Pantomime which included the lovely Su Pollard, after the last performance of the Panto that evening.

Auctioneer on the evening was committee member Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart who raised several thousand pounds.

Our big thanks also goes to Daron Hutt from 4com. who has kindly donated a staggering £37,750 to purchase a very urgent and needed Sunshine Coach for our local Linwood Special Needs School. Daron also bought a table of his friends along to enjoy the evening.

There are many people to thank for making this an evening to remember, including Franses the Jewellers who kindly donated a fabulous diamond heart necklace worth £2,500. Westover Gallery who donated a Salvador Dhali Print for auction on the night, Superhawk Marine and Self Limos for the wonderful Sunseeker day trip, Robert Taylor for the Michael Schumacher signed shirt and Mappin & Webb for the beautiful Lalique plate.

Many thanks also go to Andy Rhind-Tutt for his ongoing support and for arranging James Bond memorabilia for the evening, photographers 'Fearless Frog' and Broughtons Aston Martin for the loan of the fabulous Aston Martin. Peter Cranham and Penny Davage for the ongoing support of Compass Magazine and to all our guests and regular supporters without whom Wessex would not be able to hold these events to raise the necessary funds for our individual children, school and hospital appeals.