Jesters party night is a huge success

Jimmy Page “looks down from above” as Ronny Gorrie collects his great auction prize, a Jimmy Page signed guitar.  The legendary guitarist from Led Zeppelin donated his acoustic guitar inscribed with best wishes to Jesters Care for Kids, and included a beautiful case to protect it.  After a year-long wait from last year’s gala party night, the great success of this year’s event proved well worth the wait.

Jesters Care For Kids Gala Party Night is a huge success!

A year is a long time to wait for a good night out, but when that night is the Jesters Care for Kids Gala Party Night, then patience is well rewarded. Saturday, September 22nd, the doors of the Amari Orchid Pattaya’s Aranda Ballroom opened to admit more than 250 enthusiastic community-minded supporters of the Jesters Care for Kids; most of who had booked tables immediately following last year’s inaugural event.

Jimmy Page “looks down from above” as Ronny Gorrie collects his great auction prize, a Jimmy Page signed guitar.  The legendary guitarist from Led Zeppelin donated his acoustic guitar inscribed with best wishes to Jesters Care for Kids, and included a beautiful case to protect it.  After a year-long wait from last year’s gala party night, the great success of this year’s event proved well worth the wait.

The evening began with complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres served in the foyer by attentive Amari staff, while the Jesters Care for Kids organizing committee were busy outside welcoming guests and selling tickets for the Grand Raffle. Muted background music allowed anticipatory chatter to proceed, while guests awaited entry to the main hall, where a sumptuous buffet was ready to be consumed.

Once inside Lewis [Woody] Underwood, chairman of Jesters Care for Kids, gave a brief speech to thank all for their attendance and highlighting some of work carried out by the group. After that it was time to party. Russell Jay, emcee for the evening, introduced local radio host and entertainer Barry Upton to set the tone for the night’s entertainment. It is easy to see why Barry is so popular around local music venues, given his choice of popular songs, which was perfectly suited to the audience with lots of golden oldies.

Sister Ganyanee, rep from the Marriot, Pat Warner and Sister Joan from Jesters’ main beneficiary, the Fountain of Life Center.

Much more was to follow with the slick guidance of stage manager, Richy Rhodes, who kept the programme tight and controlled. His task was to merge the business and pleasure of the evening; the business, of course, was to conduct the auction and arrange the drawing for the Grand Raffle.

The annual auction has been a main feature of the Jesters Care for Kids’ fund-raising for many years, and this year’s array of items was probably the best ever. Some of the items featured were signed memorabilia from internationally famous sports personalities, such as NHL’s Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe, NBA’s Shaquille O’Neil, NFL’s Joe Montana, MLB’s Harmon Killebrew, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Ernie Banks, LPGA’s Yani Tseng and former world heavyweight boxing champ, Joe Frazier.  Valuable jewelry, antique art, a hand-built motorcycle and music memorabilia, including an Epiphone Guitar from Peter Windgasse’s guitar collection, were also available.

The Grand raffle has also been popular over the years with this year’s main prize being a Honda PCX 150, as well as a flat screen TV, holidays at various resorts, a car rental vouchers for B25,000 and many more.

Jester Bill Freeman presents the Honda PCX 150, top prize in this year’s grand raffle, to winner Bam from the Saloon Bar.

As soon as Barry stepped down, Mark Rogers stepped up to conduct the first part of the auction. Spirited bidding ensued with the main interest displayed in a beautiful gold ring encrusted with diamonds donated by Steve Hanchon and successfully bid on by Carey Pinter at B59,000 for his attractive companion, the proud new owner. This was followed by Kevin Smith, who bullied all other bidders to obtain the handcrafted vintage motorcycle with an offer of B66,000.

It was time for a break and popular duo Harpic Bryant and Brian Thomas entertained, while bidders steeled themselves and checked their wallets for the main event and browsed the items displayed for the silent auction. Why the main event? Because phase two of the auction items would see the last lots go under the hammer. What was there to generate such interest? Well, Jimmy Page, legendary guitarist from Led Zeppelin, had donated his acoustic guitar inscribed with best wishes to Jesters Care for Kids with a beautiful case to protect it. Jimmy has been a supporter of the Jesters Care for Kids for many years and has attended many of their functions. However, unfortunately this year, he could not attend, but his kindness made such an impact on the bottom line of the event. After a spirited bidding contest, Ronny Gorrie held his nerve and with a final bid of B420,000 took home the item. In total, the auction, both publicly and silently, raised over B850,000, a most satisfying result.

(L to R) Paul Wilkinson, along with Roseanne and Michael Diamente sample the wine before dinner.

Next came the Grand Raffle draw and the winner of the Honda PCX150 motorcycle was Bam from the Saloon Bar, ticket #12019, winner of the B25,000 Q Cars Rental voucher was Gordo, ticket #21131 and 21-inch flat screen went to NuPorth with ticket #9239.  As many of the lucky winners were not in attendance, the full results of the Raffle can be found on the lower right corner of page 31 in this edition of the Pattaya Mail. To claim your prizes, email: contact@care4kids .info or tel. 0899825814.

With the business part of the evening out of the way, on with the party, more entertainment followed supplied this time by Brian, Bob, Len, and Tony aka the BBLT Band. This group with a combined age of 250 years and almost 200 years in the music business soon had the crowd dancing and singing along until time to go home. It was a great finale to a magic night; everyone so happy.

(L to R) Woody, Neil and Simon share amusing stories.

Lewis [Woody] Underwood remarked afterwards that it was possibly their single most successful event raising an astonishing total of over one million baht. He thanked the generosity of the sponsors, the donors and the supporters, who bid liberally and all of the entertainers, who gave of their time freely. He also thanked the management and staff of the Amari Orchid Pattaya for the fabulous venue, their presentation and their professional service.

Finally, Woody thanked our committee for the many months of planning and the teamwork on the night.

Was it worth the wait? Of course it was! I can’t wait for next year and to see you there!

Men about town Vic Cross and Stephen Beard chat over a beer.

Tony Malhotra and Rick Harpic are obviously having a great time.

A thorn between several roses? Tony Malhotra (center) is flanked by Anna Petchawee, Umaporn Rachatawattanagul, Nittaya Patimasongkroh and Praichit Jetpai.

The food Amari put on is delicious.

Lewis [Woody] Underwood, chairman of Jesters Care for Kids, gives a brief speech to thank all for their attendance and highlight some of work carried out by the group.

Woody and Bill proudly show off the vintage Harley up for grabs in the auction.

Ronny Gorrie held his nerve and with a final bid of B420,000 took home the Jimmy Page signed guitar inscribed with best wishes to Jesters Care for Kids.

Popular duo Harpic Bryant and Brian Thomas entertain the crowd.

Len Tuckey, lead guitarist for BBLT, has the crowd screaming for more.

Barry Upton to sets the tone for the night’s entertainment.

Ambitious partiers dance the night away.

Alan from the Jesters holds up an auction item, the signed copy of Jimmy Page’s original score to the movie Death Wish.

Carey Pinter successfully bid B59,000 for a beautiful gold ring encrusted with diamonds donated by Steve Hanchon, shown here by Carey’s attractive companion, the proud new owner.

Kevin Smith successfully outbid all other bidders to obtain the handcrafted vintage motorcycle with an offer of B66,000.

Grand Raffle Prize Winners