Despite the best efforts of Storm Doris making travel for some of our northern guests impossible, 117 people attended the inaugural fundraising dinner of The Country Food Trust at Syon Park in London on 23^rd February. The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland very generously lent us the wonderful venue and they also attended the event having fortunately been south prior to the storm.

Elizabeth Hurley attended the evening and kindly drew the raffle

The evening was generously sponsored by Hampden & Co and started with a Pinkster gin and Hambledon English sparkling wine reception in the Long Room.  Guests then moved through a series of beautiful rooms to the Great Hall for dinner where they were welcomed by the Chairman of Trustees, Andrew Christie Miller. Dinner was provided by Rhubarb with exceptional wines very generously supplied by Berry Bros & Rudd and Andrew Stone.

Andrew Stone, a founding Trustee, spoke to guests and also showed a moving film on the work of the charity and this was followed by the live auction, kindly conducted by Oliver Fowlston from Tattersalls. Auction lots included two days grouse shooting for a line of guns on neighbouring moors with accommodation, a celebrity chef dinner at home cooked by Phil Howard of Elystan Street, fishing in Scotland, holidays in Mallorca and Antigua and skiing in Courchevel.

Rodger McPhail, the renowned wildlife artist, very kindly drew us a wonderful cartoon for the front of the evening’s brochure and donated the original which was then raffled; the draw being made by Elizabeth Hurley.

The evening exceeded our highest expectations and Sebastian Green, our other founding Trustee, on closing the event was able to announce we had raised over £200,000 from the evening.

With these funds we will be able to continue our work and feed over 100,000 people this year. A huge thank you to everyone who helped put the evening together, sponsored us, donated and bought auction lots and took tables.