 On Friday 5 December, over 400 distinguished guests, members and their guests joined Team Devon Chairman, Bruce Priday and the event sponsors, Wickwar Brewing at Sandy Park, the home of Exeter Chief’s for a lunch and ‘star studded’ afternoon of outstanding entertainment.During his welcome and setting the scene for the fun filled afternoon Bruce said: "We are delighted and proud to have achieved so much in the anniversary year of Wooden Spoon. Today, the main sponsor of this event, Wickwar Brewing, (seen at left) has launched a new brew called Bankers Draft. As well as launching the brew today they have also decided to donate two pence to Wooden Spoon from every bottle sold, today and in the future. Thank you for this amazing gesture." He continued: "I also want to thank each of our marketing partners who together make up our Devon Silver Spoon Squad, for their generosity. The Team Devon committee and I thank all of you for your continued support, it is very much appreciated. Together we have certainly ‘Stirred Smiles in Devon’."
The event then went off with a ‘bang’, in a balloon popping extravaganza. In unison all guests were invited to pop their balloons. With a resounding ‘bang’ lucky draw tickets fell from above to reveal a winning ticket for each guest. As silence fell and before lunch commenced, Milli Taylor, a highly accomplished singer from North Devon, sang Amazing Grace and Somewhere over the Rainbow. She was accompanied by Jim Heard on the guitar. Prior to more musical entertainment and with the sound of popping balloons still ringing in his ears, Tony Richards, Wooden Spoon Regional Director, gave an address; Wooden Spoon ‘Our Charity’.
On schedule the musical entertainment started with Martin Toal, one of the UK’s most sought after tenors. With his phenomenal tenor voice, Martin sang a Rugby World Cup Medley which included National Anthems for England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Martin was joined on the stage by fiddle player, Richard Sanderson and Elspeth Hanson, violinist (and fiddler) who performed solo violin alongside Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page, Leona Lewis and David Beckham at the Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony - in the London 2012 Handover. Together, Elspeth and Richard ‘wowed’ all in the room with the speed at which they played the fiddle. It was amazing and left many feeling breathless!
Much fun and laughter was still to come when the overall winner of the BBC TV Funny Business, Rod Woodward, gave a performance filled with wit and brilliantly thought out material. Following the close for those with enough stamina there was a Guinness sing song in The Undercroft. If success is judged on chatter and laughter, the event was another a huge success for Team Devon Wooden Spoon!
|
