St John's School fundraiser is a smash hit (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

St John's School fundraiser is a smash hit

10:32am Tuesday 10th July 2012 in News

After losing in the men’s singles finals Andy Murray may have been in tears at the weekend but in Marlborough it was celebration time, as parents and friends of the school partied the night away at the St John’s Family and Friends Wimbledon Summer Ball.

More than 100 people packed the Theatre on the Hill for the event, which was Family and Friends’ major fundraiser of the year and, thanks to the generosity of sponsors and guests alike, it raised well over £5,000 for the school sports pitch fund.

Party-goers, many dressed in the All-England colours of purple and green, were presented with a glass of Pimm’s on arrival and had the chance to pose for photographs.

A combination of subtle lighting, delicate drapes and the jazz piano of Jackie Macbeth and St John’s student Ed Adam transformed the theatre into a ballroom worthy of Cinderella.

The diners feasted on a three-course meal with strawberries and cream as dessert and then diners were surprised when Miles Whittaker and his pupils provided some delicious shortbread for an après-dessert.

Each table was presented with two bottles of wine, with top-ups and assorted other drinks flowing from the bar, presided over by Family and Friends chairman Roger Pratchett – he and all his bar staff cut a dash with matching boaters and aprons.

After the raffle it was time for the auction, which featured lots such as a week in a Spanish villa, a round of golf for four at Bowood, a Land Rover experience and a signed copy of the biography of Fred Perry.

Bidding was fast and frenzied, in keeping with the quickfire delivery of auctioneer Marc Anderson of Kidson-Trigg, and some bidders-- notably the MP for Devizes Claire Perry who is a St John’s governor -- were particularly quick on the uptake. Thanks to the generosity of all the bidders and those who provided the prizes, the auction raised £3,645.

After the meal music for dancing came from by Ade North of Starsound Express Disco.

The success of the evening was due to organiser Julie Mocock of the Family and Friends group.