With a visual presentation created by Skaramoosh, illustrating some of the good works of the Vision Charity in the past year, Chairman Larry Davis welcomed everyone to the party. Comedian Dara O'Briain commenced the evening's impressive entertainment, which featured acrobats, strongmen and even a mindreader.
No less skilled an auctioneer than the Chairman of Christies, Hugh Edmeades, took charge of the celebrity auction, which raised a staggering £40,000, including £18,000 for the Avid Media Composer Edit System kindly donated by Avid Technology, £10,000 for a boxing robe worn by Muhammad Ali, donated by Mike Moran, and personal gifts from Sir Paul McCartney, Arsene Wenger and Arsenal FC.
Other generous donors to the auction, tombola and raffle included Stoke Park Golf Club, Grosvenor House, First4Media, T-Mobile, E.A.Shaw, Maverick, Sony UK, Fuji, John Lewis, Saville Audio Visual, S.Gold and Sons and Clockwork Capital. Other sponsors of the show itself included PSL Events, Sony Professional Media, and Quantel.
(Jim Evans)
