Newcastle Branch Annual Ball 2012
The annual summer ball of the CILEx Newcastle upon Tyne Branch was held on 23rd June 2012 at the Assembly Rooms, Newcastle City Centre.
The event started with a welcome drinks reception. The Branch Chair, Jan Whitby started off the proceedings with her address, including special thanks to Frenkel Topping who provided sponsorship for the event, and to the Branch Committee - Stephen Gowland, Gillian Findlay, Andrew Walton, Kate Crossman and Victoria Winsett - for the time and effort they had invested in branch events throughout the last year, including arrangements for the Ball. She also included the very important topic for 2012, which was ILEX receiving the Royal Charter, and henceforth being known as CILEx. Thanks were also extended to Diane Burleigh (Chief Executive) for her attendance at the Ball, and the continued support she provided to the Branch year after year.
We were also delighted to have in our midst, the President, Susan Silver, Vice President Nick Hanning and our very own committee member Stephen Gowland as Deputy Vice President, together with other distinguished guests, including Dr Karen Brewer.
The President, Susan Silver, then addressed the room, and the topic of the Royal Charter was of course high on her list of highlights throughout her presidential year. She also spoke about some of her other experiences and CILEx achievements, during her term of office, and also some of the visions CILEx hope to achieve in the future for the benefit of its membership.
We then sat down to a lovely 3-course meal, with wine before moving on to the Auctions, and raffle prizes
The fantastic sum of £1,037 was raised for the Stroke Association and the MS Society and thanks must be passed on to all who contributed raffle and auction prizes. These included an I-Phone donated by The Stroke Association, a 2012 England Six Nations ruby shirt signed by the team and donated by Rob Andrew, of the RFU, a signed 007 James Bond photograph, a signed framed photograph of Alan Shearer, from his testimonial match, and two tickets for an executive box at Newcastle United FC, along with numerous other wonderful prizes. Thanks also go to all those who made a donation on the night.
Following the excitement of the auctions and raffle, the music started and the dancing began, with some lasting the pace until the end at 1.00 a.m.
The Branch thanks everyone for their support of the event and plans are already taking shape for next year’s event.