Big names boost for Variety Club’s golden jubilee dinneR

The Prince and Princess of Monaco, who wed in civil and religious ceremonies on July 1 and 2, walked arm in arm to meet photographers as they attended as guests of honour at the high-profile charity dinner at Leeds’ Harewood House, pausing to admire the impressive vista from the stately home’s terrace.

The event, held as part of a series of celebrations of mark the half-century of the Yorkshire Committee of the Variety Club Children’s Charity, raised £250,000 and was attended by more than 300 people.

As well as the royal showing, entertainment was provided by Scottish singing star Lulu, legendary sixties group the Manfred, award-winning quartet Blake and comedian Bobby Davro.

Stephen Bolton and Ian Brill, committee members of the charity and main organisers of the ball, expressed their delight that the event had attracted such a strong turnout.

Mr Bolton said: “We were absolutely delighted when Prince Albert and Princess Charlene agreed to grace the event with their presence. Our heartfelt thanks go to the generosity of all those who attended the ball and especially to our main sponsors, the Evans family.”

Mr Brill added: “We are on track to raise a huge amount of money in our anniversary year which will be spent on making a difference to the lives of sick, disabled and disadvantaged children throughout the region.”

The Royal Family of Monaco has a proud tradition of celebrating charities in Yorkshire with Prince Albert’s parents having attended a ball nearly 40 years ago at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.

The Variety Club itself has raised more than £250m for children and young people in difficulty in the past six decades. The charity provides practical solutions which allow sick, disabled and disadvantaged children to lead fulfilling lives. Since 1981 it has paid for more than 3,600 electric wheelchairs and ploughed £20m into children’s hospitals all over the country.