The Annual Conversazione and Dance, this year hosted by IMarEST President Professor Yoo Sang Choo and Mrs Pin Choo, was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London just before Christmas 2008.
As usual, and 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 provided by a lively programme of carols led by the
St Paul’s School Choir under their popular choir master Peter Gritton supported again by his two children Frankie (13) and Drake (9).
The highlight of the evening was a marching display given by The Band of The Coldstream Guards which was as popular as ever.
In time-honoured tradition the Guild of Benevolence and the Institute Events department organised a Tombola and Raffle with a First Class 3 Night Cruise aboard the Trinity House Flagship THV Patricia and a bottle of champagne as the main prize. The proceeds from the Tombola and Raffle were put towards providing Christmas Box payments of £120 for each of the 105 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 Ship Management Ltd
Britannia Aggregates Ltd
Mr & Mrs P M Buckton
Castrol Marine UK
The Chandris Foundation
Chevron Corporation
Cosalt Plc
Dr J Cowley CBE FREng HonFIMarEST & Mrs Cowley
Mr D R Cusdin HonFIMarEST & Mrs Cusdin
Dover Harbour Board
Mr R Duncan
Global Marine Systems Ltd
Global Maritime Consultancy Ltd
Grosvenor House
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries Ltd
Hovertravel Ltd
Mr M Jones
Mr & Mrs J Langley
Mr & Mrs J Lazaras
Mr & Mrs P M Low
Mr D L P Lutyens HonFIMarEST
Marathon International Petroleum Ltd
METOC Plc
Mr & Mrs G S Mole
Mr & Mrs F Mungo
Mr S W Nicholls MBE & Mrs Nicholls
P & O Ferries Holdings Ltd
Shell Exploration & Production
Shell International Trading and Shipping Co Ltd
Mr J E Sloggett OBE HonFIMarEST & Mrs Sloggett
SMIT Salvage BV
Mr S Speed
Mrs K Starr
St Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry
Trinity House
Testbank Ship Repair
Westminster Dredging Co Ltd
Robin A Williams & Co Ltd
Mr J C Woodhead
The next Conversazione and Dance will take place on Friday 18th December 2009, so make a note in your diary now!