Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2018 | Page 56

Local scene
Four decades
of festive fun
The Island’s annual Christmas Charity
Lunch celebrated its 40th year in grand
style, with a record 112 guests attending
the event at Haseley Manor, by kind
permission of Anthony and Vivian Roberts.
After welcoming guests with bubbly at a lively reception,
there followed a whole day of musical entertainment, a
seven-course Christmas meal and unlimited wine.
Excellent catering was provided by David and Raina
Rogers and the team from All About Catering, and
musical performers were Grant O’Brien , JC and family
band, Kieron Cooney, Helena and Grant Mace, Company B
and - for the first time - Brighton’s own ‘Marilyn Monroe’,
aka Laura Nixon. The day’s programme was extended
to accommodate supper with Father Christmas and
carols from Vectis Brass, who were celebrating their 70th
Anniversary with several thousand pounds raised for
Naomi House.
Organiser Terry Willey summed up the day by saying:
“My late father, who loved this party, once asked me to
give him the most meaningful word that I considered
would summarise life and I replied, without hesitation:
‘Time!’
“You can’t buy it, you can’t sell it but you can take it
and give it to others to assist those less fortunate than
ourselves, and at Christmas time in particular.”
Pictures by Lucy Boynton
Pictures available to buy online
from our website: www.visitilife.com
Water Dragon
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