Midsummer Night's Dream-A-Way Ball
Saturday 20th June 2009 saw one of the biggest events in the Dream-A-Way calendar - our Annual Celebratory Ball.
This year the Ball was entitled "Midsummer Night's Dream-A-Way Ball" as it coincided with the Summer Solstice. Held once again at the fabulous Sandy Park Conference and Banqueting Centre, the event saw almost 300 guests arrive to the sounds of the University of Exeter Jazz Band. Guests enjoyed complimentary drinks sponsored by Timepiece Nightclub and Coors taking in the last of the summer sunshine for the day.
 |
| University of Exeter Jazz Band members entertain guests on arrival |
 Guests were called into dinner by Piper Will Malcolm |
 Showered by bubbles and fairy dust upon their ascent to the dining hall |
Dream-A-Way is kindly supported by Heavitree Brewery and
Heavitree Inns. During 2009 all Heavitree Inn pubs were set a challenge
to see which team could raise the most money for Dream-A-Way. With a cash prize
of £1000 up for grabs for the winning team, each pub battled hard against
each other.
 |
 |
| Heavitree Inns Managing Director Terry Wheatly (far right) raises the tension before announcing the winner of the competition. | Dream-A-Way Chairman Jeff Merrett (left) with Heart of Oak Landlady Jeanette Skinner and The Prospect Inn Landlord Mark Cameron |
The competition was hard-fought with the leading pub changing several times, the competition ended in a joint-win between the Prospect Inn on Exeter Quay and the Heart of Oak in Pinhoe. It was when the £1000 was split between the two pubs that Heart of Oak landlady Jeanette Skinner and Prospect Inn Landlord Mark Cameron really proved their support for Dream-A-Way - by donating the entire amount straight back into the charity!
This was a completely unexpected and genuinely moving gesture by both pubs to whom we are extremely grateful.
Heart of Oak Landlady Jeanette said "We had so much fun competing to be the winning pub, what better way to truly celebrate the joint win than to donate the money right back into the heart of the charity - where we know it will be put to use to help some very deserving people to have a wonderful holiday".
Special thanks goes to Jeanette, Mark, Heavitree Inns Managing Director Terry Wheatly and all the pubs and staff involved in supporting us during this great event.
 |
Parade Photography of Exmouth were on hand to capture the arrival of our guests, who were then able to purchase their photos as a memento of the occasion. Parade Photography generously donated a portion of the takings from the photos to Dream-A-Way, and also provided auction lots for our silent auction. |
Our very special guests for the occasion were the Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor John Winterbottom and Wife Joelle. Dream-A-Way is proud to have been chosen as the Lord Mayor's charity for 2009/10 and as such we have been working closely with Councillor Winterbottom to strengthen our links in the community and our expansion into areas which without the help of the Lord Mayor and his staff we would otherwise be unable to reach.
Lord Mayor of Exeter Councillor Winterbottom places a bet at the
Fun Casino sponsored by MITIE Group
The fantastic Soul Agents played a great set with Nick
and the team entertaining guests while they danced the night away.
Soul Agents have played at several
Dream-A-Way events and are always one of the highlights of the event.
Special thanks goes out to the team for putting on another great
performance.
 Two of our happy guests at the Ball |
 Table decorations and flowers were superb as always. |
As always, this event would
not have been possible without the fantastic support of many companies and
individuals who are relentless in their support for Dream-A-Way.
Without you all we would not be able to raise the fantastic total in
excess of
£12,000 !!!
A big thanks also goes to all our guests who
attended the event and contributed heavily to its success.
Special Mentions:
| Ali Anvari, Night
Owl Security Angela Bassett Angela Cahill Berrybrook Motors Bicton Park Botanical Gardens Bourne Leisure Bovey Castle Bradleys Chris Hatherly David & Gill Freeman Devon Hotel EDF Energy Eurosat Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club Exeter City Football Club Fresha Friends Provident George Sloan and Rob Skinner Greg Vooght Harry Hill Heavitree Brewery Heavitree Inns JFE Nissan JJ Leisure Julie & the Team at Posh Nosh |
June Hutchings & the Sandy Park Team |
All images on this page and many many more from the
Ball can be found in our
Gallery.