Some 140 members and guests from the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals met for the 13th year at the Rembrandt Hotel for the annual Spring Dance, organiser and Past Master of the Company Peter French writes.
This annual event raises money for the WCoSP Charitable Trust and the Hackney Carriage Drivers Euro Disney Trip for Terminally Ill Children, which the dinner has done for last ten years. The evening was supported by Kings Security Systems. The membership of the WCoSP had donated dinners, visits to sporting events, behind the scenes tours and other things that money could not buy. There was great support from their service affiliates who donated a range of activities that made the auction really busy. The fantastic sum of nearly £30,000 was achieved for the second year running, which resulted in monies raised over 13 years to more than £250,000 for charitable causes.
The list of donating organisations is like a Who’s Who: Aon, Baroness Henig of Lancaster, TYCO, SSR Personnel, RAF Regiment, RAF Police, Royal Military Police, Shaun Ward, KPMG, Kelvedon Risk Management, Comsec International, Professional Security Magazine, EY, HMS Severn, Beacon Security, Gratte Brothers, 3rd Military Intelligence, Morgan Hotels, Old Mutual Group, Clifford Chance, City of London Police, the Shard, Sarova Hotels and Wilson James, Land Investors, Mayflex, PNG.
The current Master, Barrie Stewart, pictured, gave an impassioned plea to support the work of the WCoSP, and emphasised our support for the Hackney Carriage Drivers annual appeal for children that were terminally ill, to take them to Euro Disney on possibly their first and possibly last overseas trip with many young people understanding that this help was very appreciated by their parents and guardians.
After the serious job of raising money was completed Annika and Shirley Bassey hit the floor with no standing room available until after 1 am, keeping the hotel busy for many hours afterwards.
Thanks to all the supporters, but especially those WCoSP members that had helped ensure the evening was such a success – Sue Seaby, Jamie Marment, Michael Trott, Phil Hagon, Yasmeen Stratton, Jeff Johnson, Roy Cooper, Michael Rousell and Jayne Barley our raffle expert.
The next spring dance will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Bookings being accepted now [email protected].
