THE OLLIE G BALL 2008
June 2008
Dear Friends of the Ollie G Charity
The magic of the Big Top was the main theme of a spectacular charity ball on Saturday 14th June which managed to be one of the largest Charity Balls in the area with the help of many people and their kind donations.
The Ollie G Big Top Ball was held at Whithorn Farm in the heart of the beautiful Surrey countryside, this spectacular event was an enormous success; there were 500 guests who were greeted by the Royal Navy Heritage aerial display to their stomach churning aerial acrobatics. The guests were welcomed with champagne and fine canapés whilst being entertained by a troupe of stilt walkers, jugglers and mime artists.
The guests were called for dinner to the Big Top by the Ring Master of the evening from the vivacious dance act ‘The Globe Girls’ and were immediately drawn into the circus theme with a breathtaking aerial ballet silks act as seen on the BBC. Guests were greeted by the immense, beautifully decorated Big Top whose interior was lined with over 2000 metres of white silk interlined with 1400 festoon light bulbs, combined with nearly 30,000 sq foot of vibrant pink and purple carpet, it was quite a sight.
Grace was conducted by the Globe Girls which was followed by my speech, short videos of MPS children and then Jo Wilson 21 years old MPS2 sufferer sung a beautiful rendition of Wind beneath my wings.
After a fantastic meal cooked by Gastronomy the guests were treated to a show stopping high trapeze act by Michele Laine and fire act performed by Emile Epstein and Brett Jackson. This spectacular performance by Swamp Circus then prepared guests for what was a flawless and very touching speech by James Garthwaite, father of two Surrey MPS children.
The main auction, hosted by our good friend Nick Bonham offered guests some unique prizes in the hope we would raise as much money as possible. These prizes, included an opportunity to crew for the Olympic Gold Medalist, World and European Champion, Sarah Webb or the World Champion, Adam Gosling in a race against each other, A shooting trip to Argentina for 20 people or an Adrenalin Driving Day with Damon Hill at the Whithorn Estate or even shaken and stirred crewing on one leg of the round the Britain Power boat race!
After the Main Auction it was time for the guests to let their hair down to live music provided by true rock legend Gary Brooker and friends. Gary played a fantastic set with a truly talented and distinguished band; Graham Broad on Drums, Dave Bronze on Bass, second guitar was Murray Gould, Saxes were Frank Mead and Nick Pentalow, female vocalists Tara McDonald and Tracey Graham who were joined by special guest vocalist Nikki Lambourne and Andy Fairweather Low who was guest vocalist and guitar. Gary later introduced the special guest of the evening, guitar legend Eric Clapton who wowed guests with his phenomenal performance to close the evening.
The final amount raised from the evening was £196,464 which will go direct to the MPS Society to which 40% of the funds will go to help in their research programme and 40% medical conference in Florida where the families will get the chance to meet Doctors from all over the world and the families will get a chance to go to Disney. The last 20% of the funds raised will go to the MPS sufferers and families to help in their daily struggle with important items they need.
It has been a good year for the MPS society as my brother Adam whom was inspired by the work of the MPS society and the Ollie G ball ran the London Marathon and has added this £60,000.00 to our total which means we have raised over £250,000!
Thank you’s
This event would not have happened with out many people but there are a few I would like to pick out due to their extreme amount of time given for free, Andy Walton co-designer and lighting, Graham Grimshaw producer of the evening and co-designer, Stuart Tidy & Neil Patmore from Media Interactive the silent auction providers, Emma and Tom Wilson proof readers, Phillipa Buck and Imogene Bliss our photography girls, Lee and Neil Jackson, Kate and Des Moore for the goodie bags, JHB, Printing and support, Nigel Warr for his helicopter, Charlie Sternson chippy, Dawson Buck chief grumbler and support, Gerry Goring carpet savior, Gary Brooker and his band and Eric Clapton.
Over and above their contracts
Ben from Panda hire the decking company, John from A and J big top tents, Faye and Colin contract cleaning services, the team from Petworth marquees, all the team Gastronomy our caterers, Creative Draping, Panalux vision lighting equipment and all the team at Country Wide Special events for running the evening.
Our sponsors and benefactors, Infonic, Strutt and Parker, Cotton Blue and our many anonymous benefactors.
Lastly a big thank you to all of you, Jo and the rest of my family for their support and enabling this dream to be such a great success.
Best wishes
David Gosling
|