A wonderful evening with Clare Balding

We had a truly fabulous evening at the RAF Club in Piccadilly, London last week. Over 100 of our supporters came along to enjoy a delicious dinner splendidly provided by the RAF Club’s fantastic chefs. And to spend time with the delightful Clare Balding.

We started the evening with a reception in the Churchill Bar – a glorious space hung with stunning paintings and tributes to days gone by and those who so bravely fought for our freedom. Fitting that we should be there on 11th November really. Clare chatted with our guests and led us up to dinner in the Ballroom. For those that haven’t been there it really is the most wonderful space – large yet also very intimate. The perfect place for what one guest described as “an incredible private dinner party”.

The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund ran both a raffle and an auction with prizes ranging from a Tuscan holiday, to a Behind the Scenes day at Hickstead with Scott Brash and Steven Wilde.

After dinner Clare go up and spoke to us all for over half an hour – she was outstanding. Such an interesting and funny woman – if our guests were there to get to know her a bit better they would not have been disappointed. She shared stories from her childhood and more recently we also discussed current sporting events. Clare took questions from our audience and, as if that was not enough she then spent another hour signing copies of her books and chatting with supporters.

All in all it was a lovely evening. Thanks so much to Clare and all our guests as well as those who donated and bought prizes.

We raised just over £7,000 which will allow us to help those who really need it.