Mayor and Speaker raise over £9,900 at Charity Dinner

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Mayor at Charity Dinner

On Friday 6 September, the Mayor and Speaker of Bedford held a highly successful Charity Dinner, Auction, and Raffle at the Woodlands Manor Hotel. The hotel generously donated the venue and contributed to the overall success of the evening.

The Mayor and Speaker’s Charity for this year is supporting Creating Memories, East Anglian Air Ambulance, and The John Bunyan Museum. With over £9,905 raised in just one night, the funds will be divided between these worthy causes at the end of the financial year. The generosity extended by numerous businesses, listed in the evening’s programme, contributed to the success of the auction, which featured 17 lots and over 30 raffle prizes.

The event saw an impressive turnout of 90 guests, including Councillors from all parties, Deputy Speaker, Speaker, Deputy Mayor, and Mayor, along with a remarkable array of special guests. Notably in attendance were several Deputy Lieutenants, the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire.

The evening featured outstanding entertainment, including a special performance by 13-year-old singer Rohan Regmi, who captivated the audience with his musical talent. A highlight of the night was the live auction led by David Fletcher from BBC TV's Flog It!, who generously volunteered his time and expertise to host the auction, adding a lively and entertaining atmosphere. 

The Mayor expressed his overwhelming gratitude, stating, "I am absolutely flabbergasted, and very unusually lost for words, by the immense generosity of everyone involved. Whether through buying a ticket, donating an item, or participating in the auction and raffle, the level of support has been truly amazing."

The Speaker echoed the Mayor's sentiments, saying, "It was an amazing experience being part of this incredible event. Everyone was so generous, whether donating amazing auction and raffle prizes or giving their time for free to help out. A special thank you to Woodlands Manor for being so generous and to all our guests who not only supported us but gave so generously to support the charities. Also, a big thank you to the team and to Rohan!"

The event was a resounding success, reinforcing the strong community spirit and generosity of those who participated, both locally and beyond.