THE LADY R FOUNDATION


at

St John's Smith Square

Thursday 17th January 2013

for

VETERANS AID

St John's Smith Square was en fete and filled to the rafters with guests enjoying the finest music, food and drink. This was all for the benefit of Veterans Aid, a crucial charity helping homeless ex servicemen get their lives back after some very difficult times. The Lady R Foundation strives to aid the forgotten and the overlooked and give them hope and support.

Sopranos Sarah Gabriel and Alexandra Kennedy

A great variety of people from all walks of life gathered to support the evening from ex servicemen and others from Veterans Aid, artists, academics, politicians and many more. Acceptance and understanding were the dominant feelings in the room as we listened to music, laughed and learnt from each other and showed our concern for this very important charity.

Oliver Gerrish and Sarah Gabriel

I sat next to Ian, from Veterans Aid, who was fascinating and enormous fun. We spoke for a long time and I have the most enormous respect and and admiration for him. He had really come back from the brink of oblivion and thanked Veterans Aid for it. He was one of four people who told me, just on that particular evening, that Veterans Aid HAD saved their lives. They were not just given a bed for the night, but one for as long as it took to feel better, and were welcomed with open arms with love and respect.

The Company of Pikemen and Muskateers on the steos of St John's

On arrival guests were greeted by Pikemen and Musketeers from The Honourable Artillery Company who stood below the great portico of St John's. Inside champagne flowed and dinner was served. The lobster, donated by one of the many supporters of the evening, was utterly delicious, as was the rest of dinner. What made it even more of a special feast was the marvellous music played by the Paradisal Players under the dynamic baton of Samuel Burstin. We dined alongside the music of Rossini and Rachmaninov. The latter's Piano Concerto No 2 in C Minor was performed by pianist Ana Sinkovec and the Paradisal Players.

St John's transformed in to a grand Baroque banqueting hall

Angela Rippon was a brilliant master of ceremonies for the evening, which culminated in a show stopping performance by The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Presenter of the evening Angela Rippon

Maiko, Dowager Viscountess Rothermere

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers

The Lady R Foundation, under the caring eye of Maiko, Lady Rothermere, created such a special and uplifting evening for all, the atmosphere of which I will never forget, nor will I forget the conversations I had with Ian and various other extraordinary people. It is in meeting gentlemen like these ex servicemen that one sees the true grit and determination of man to recover and survive against all odds. I returned home enlightened, educated and looking forward to seeing some of the amazing people I'd met again as they rebuild their lives. Veterans Aid is undeniably a charity that saves lives and sets futures on strong and loving foundations.





For more information on Veterans Aid please see http://www.veterans-aid.net/
and
For information on the Lady R Foundation please see http://www.theladyrfoundation.org/




                        All images in this blog are under the copyright ownership of Oliver Gerrish