|
CALL SIGN AT THE MAD HATTERS BALL… Along with 700 screaming kids! |
| Sunday
28 January turned out to be a beautiful sunny and mild day. Had
it been torrential rain, it wouldn’t have mattered to the record
700+ children attending the 36th annual London
Taxidriver’s Fund for Underprivileged Children’s Mad Hatters
Ball at the Great Room of the Grosvenor House,
because they were determined they were going to enjoy
themselves. And boy, didn’t they just, wolfing down enough food
in one day to have kept the hotel going for a year, then taking
to the dance floor and staying there all afternoon to enjoy the
entertainment. LTFUC Treasurer Gerry Dunn (S84) told Call Sign: "The day is really hard work, but that’s nothing compared to the work that goes on behind the scenes to get it all together. Then you look at the happy kid’s faces and you think to yourself that it was worth every minute!" The Fund’s Chairman, David Lessman (D19), agreed and told us with a sense of pride: "When you watch those young and often disadvantaged children enjoying themselves so much, any hard work involved suddenly feels irrelevant." Introduced by Dave Davis, on the bill were jailhouse rocker Elvis Shmelvis, some amazing Strictly Come Dancing kids who wowed all the parents and helpers not just their with skill, but also their amazing outfits. The Spidermen incarnate Bournemouth Carnival Band were again there playing their brilliant swing music and getting everyone to join in even though their leader had been rushed into hospital just prior to the event. The band certainly never let him down. Also popping in was former WBC Heavyweight champion Frank Bruno. One of our most popular boxers ever, Frank won 40 of his 45 contests and although only scheduled for a flying visit, along with Elvis Shmelvis ended up staying all afternoon, signing autographs and posing for photos with the kids. Also there were three young ladies called Envy, who did a live set which included their latest recording, Money. They went down a storm - not just with the kids, but also with the sudden surge of male helpers pushing their way down to the front! Lots of other celebs popped in including members of the Eastenders cast. When their music played the kids all dashed to the front. So much for adult soaps! Topping the bill for their fifth year at the Mad Hatters - and also singing live - were The Cheeky girls. Monica and Gabriela did a 30-minute set while getting a huge pop from the kids as they sang all their hits and amazingly, every one of the kids seemingly knowing the words with several jumping up on stage to join them! No bouncers at this gig! Having put on a few ounces, the girls looked and sounded great. Call Sign asked Gabriela why her new finance, flamboyant Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik, wasn’t there? Smiling and in excellent English, she told us she preferred David Lessman! That led to the Dave Davis disco and last but not least, a visit to the Grotto room where every child came away with a bag of goodies. Wearing a pair of floppy ears, Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster, Jan Prendergast, told Call Sign that the whole afternoon had been amazing. "People just don’t realise…" she said. Also enjoying the afternoon with wife Brenda and daughter Carla, DaC Chairman Brian Rice summed it all up when telling Call Sign: "You come here knowing that it’s going to be a wonderful afternoon - and it always ends up even better!" On behalf of the LTFUC, Call Sign was asked to thank everyone who gave their time and of course, not forgetting the Grosvenor House who donate the Great Room every year with very little publicity other than a lot of very grateful kids… |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Kids join The Cheeky Girls on stage |
 Elvis Shmelvis and fan practise autograph signing! |
 The kids enjoy Envy singing their soon-to-be released single - Money |
 Brian's daughter Carla with Eastenders' Deano (Matt di Angelo) |
 |
Powered by NetXPosure |
| Copyright 1997-2006 Dial-A-Cab Ltd, All rights reserved. |