The Annual Conversazione and Dance, this year hosted by IMarEST President Dr Wyn Williams CB and his wife Dilys, was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London shortly before Christmas.
Following a superb dinner the dance floor was crowded throughout the evening as the guests danced into the early hours to the music of The Joe Loss Ambassadors. Entertainment was also provided by a lively programme of carols led by the St Paul’s School Choir. This year there were two extra singers as the choir master Peter Gritton had brought his two children Frankie (12) and Drake (8) to swell the numbers. They had always asked where Dad went on Friday nights before Christmas and so he decided to show them.
A marching display was given by The Band of The Welsh Guards which was as popular as ever and the highlight of the evening.
In time-honoured tradition the Guild of Benevolence and the IMarEST Events Department organised a Tombola and raffle with a three-day Luxury Weekend Break at the Compton House Hotel in Somerset as the main prize. The proceeds were put towards providing cash payments of £120 for each of the regular beneficiaries of the Guild of Benevolence.
The Trustees of the Guild would like to express their thanks and appreciation to all who supported the fundraising at this event and a particular thank you is extended to the following for their gifts and donations:
Mr & Mrs B K Batten
BDO Stoy Hayward
Bibby Line Ltd
Brookes Bell
Mr & Mrs P M Buckton
Castrol Marine UK
Chevron Corporation
Dr J Cowley CBE FREng HonFIMarEST & Mrs Cowley
Mr D R Cusdin HonFIMarEST & Mrs Cusdin
Dover Harbour Board
Mr R Duncan
Mr M Everard CBE & Mrs Everard
Fugro Ltd
Grosvenor House
Hamworthy Plc
Mr B Hildrew CBE FREng HonFIMarEST
Sir Robert Hill KBE FREng HonFIMarEST & Lady Hill
Hovertravel Ltd
DV Howells
Jotun Paints (Europe) Ltd
Mr J D Langley
Laytons
Mr J A Lazaras
Mr & Mrs P M Low
Mr D L P Lutyens HonFIMarEST
Marathon International Petroleum Ltd
Mr B McDearmid
Mermaid Marine
Management Ltd
Mr & Mrs G S Mole
Mr S W Nicholls MBE & Mrs Nicholls
P & O Ferries Holdings Limited
Rolls-Royce Submarines
Shell International Trading & Shipping Co Ltd
Mr J E Sloggett OBE HonFIMarEST & Mrs Sloggett
SMIT Salvage BV
Mr S Speed
St Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry
Mr M Storey CB & Mrs Storey
Mr & Mrs R Tallack
Testbank Ship Repair
Wärtsilä UK Ltd
Westminster Dredging Company Ltd
Mr P Wheater
Robin A Williams & Co Ltd
Mr J C Woodhead.
The next Conversazione and Dance will take place on Friday 19th December 2008 - a note for your diary.
Also note, the photos from the event are now available on the IMarEST Event Gallery pages.