Community Spirit Raises the Roof – and funds
Last year’s ball at Tregenna Castle was one of our most successful events of 2022. This year’s version on Friday, September 22nd was also a winner, netting a fabulous £5759.75 for the Edward Hain Centre!
The evening started with a glass of bubbly for each guest, an ideal opener for a game of Heads and Tails, compered by Phil Barnett, EHC Trustee and founder of St. Ives’s Kidz R Us Youth Theatre. Each participant paid £2, then stood to choose heads or tails by placing hands on their heads or bums before Phil flipped a coin and called the winner of each round. Losers dropped out until the last one standing snagged the prize: 6 bottles of wine. Last year’s winner was Barrie Walker. And this year’s… ta-da…Barrie again! Definitely a well-deserved tipple for him and wife Angela, who as Chair of our Edward Hain Friends since January this year, has worked her tail off (pun intended) to help organize fundraising events – not least of all this one.
The night’s treats continued rolling out: a delicious 3-course dinner, with each table graced by a lovely flower arrangement thanks to Phil’s goddaughter …. a raffle drawn by Mayor Johnnie Wells, which included a yummy Fortnum and Mason hamper…. Our grand master auctioneer for the evening, quizmaster Liz Noall, slamming the gavel for the generously donated auction items, including a 4-night getaway from Aspects Holidays ….All accompanied by laughter and ear-to-ear grins and capped off by Kizamba’s irresistible Afro-Caribbean rhythms, which had everyone dancing off a good few calories!
A massive THANK YOU to ALL who donated items for the raffle and auction; as well as to Phil, Johnnie and Liz for leading the fun; Phil’s goddaughter at West Cornwall Flowers; and everyone on the Friends committee who put heart and soul into organizing the event.
Special thanks as ever to Tregenna for their generosity in donating the venue, as well as all the food, which they provided at no cost to us; and especially to Mandy Mason. They are always so good to our cause. Their support – and the enthusiasm of all who contributed and enjoyed the night’s entertainment – is true community spirit.
With thanks to Johnnie Wells for use of photos
