Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2012 | Page 48

SOCIAL SCENE

Gala dinner
raises £37,000
Over 150 guests attended the Works annual gala dinner at
The Royal Hotel, Ventnor.
The gala dinner, now in its third year, raised nearly
£37,000, bringing the total raised by the event to just under
£100,000. Among the guests attending were Bestival curator
and Radio One DJ Rob da Bank and wife Josie, Andrew
Turner MP and partner Carole Dennett and High Sheriff
Susie Sheldon.
A silent auction raised just over £16,000 and lots included
ceramics by Sue Paraskeva, an afternoon swinging through
the trees with Goodleaf Tree Climbing, VIP www.royalskiing.
co.uk, Bestival tickets, and even The Works project manager
John Elford gave himself up as a windsurfing instructor!
Guests enjoyed a four-course dinner prepared by Alan Staley
which included a classic lobster thermidor, wild mushroom
soufflé, tasting plate of Moor Farm pork and finished with a
tangerine mousse gateau by head pastry chef Emily Harris.
This year Dr Sarah Bromley, trustee of the IWYT gave
a moving speech saying: “Sometimes I think there is a
tendency to believe that recovery from drug and alcohol
misuse is an impossible dream, something we might wish for
but is never going to be achieved. The Works is committed
to helping young people find their road to recovery and the
money raised from the gala dinner will go a long way in
helping them realise their dream.”
To find out more about the project visit www.theworksiow.
co.uk or call John on 07580 023323.

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