Summer Ball 2009

Not even the rain could dampen the high hopes for our third NCT Summer Ball.  On Saturday 11 July we held the annual Woking NCT Summer Ball at DeVere Gorse Hill, a wonderful Edwardian mansion which held host to an evening of celebration, dining and fundraising.   

With over 60 local parents and parents to be, much fun and laughter was had by all.  After a red carpet arrival and champagne reception, the guests were given the chance of a photograph opportunity by Cheeky Monkey Photography and a chance to purchase raffle tickets for 13 prizes. We were then ushered into the dining room for a three course meal and the opportunity to win prizes in a silent auction such as a Lewis Hamilton signed cap, Toni & Guy haircuts, A golf weekend at Villeneuve Sur Lot in France and a Venture Photo session.  Lisa Jay, branch Chair gave a welcome speech to everyone, thanking all volunteers with a special mention to Donna Grosfils for organising the ball and Amy Barklam for the Easter Egg Hunt and then handed the microphone over to Maria Woolverton who kicked the night off with a game of heads and tales.... Ciara Sloane won the game and a meal voucher for the Inn at Maybury.  After dinner the raffle prize winners were drawn and the winners of the silent auction announced.  Before leaving the dining room we asked everyone to stand up and check their chairs, there was a playing card attached to one of the chairs at each table and that lucky person won a bottle of champagne.

After leaving the dining room, everyone was given the opportunity to hedge their bets at the fun casino tables whilst the disco got under way. The disco floor was packed all evening with tunes of the past and present and all the old favourites came out. At 11pm everyone was asked to count their casino chips and the male with the most chips, Philip Churchill was presented with a bottle of champagne and the woman with the most chips, Jo Manly was presented with a voucher for a meal at the Red Lion in Horsell.

A huge thank you to Donna Grosfils, Sarah Rabi and Maria Woolverton, Caroline Churchill for the auction prizes and Sally Twyford for the flowers.