The 2021 Virtual Lord Mayor’s Big Curry has been underway for three weeks. Co-chairman of the event, Michael Hockney, has provided an update on the events and the impressive list of guest speakers.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH
The Co-Chairmen of the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch, the Rt Hon The Lord Mayor Alderman William Russell and Mr Michael Hockney, the Lady Mayoress and the Committee wish to express their sadness on learning of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and to extend their respect and condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the other members of the Royal Family at this time of loss for them, for the United Kingdom and for the Commonwealth.
Friday 9th April 2021
The Lord Mayor and I were delighted when the Phoenix Group agreed to be the principal sponsor of the 2021 LMBC, alongside associate sponsor AdvantageGo and supporting sponsors Ascot and Barnett Waddingham. Over forty Livery Companies are involved in helping to fund veterans through the Pain Management Programme and by providing prizes for the On Line Auction and the Draw. Thank you all.
Our Social Media campaign has taken us to huge new audiences, alongside our regular postal and email campaigns. The Spectator gave us a LMBC wrap-around on one issue and Country Life has published two articles featuring the LMBC.
The events have been of a really high standard: the champagne and Bordeaux tastings, the two authors’ conversations (Sir Michael Palin and Alan Titchmarsh) and, on 6th April, the first Celebrity Chef Cook-Along (Matt Tebbutt). Terrific speakers, highly professional hosts and comperes and with the food and drink events, the opportunity to have both delivered to one’s home. The standard of the production and the food and wine have all been first class.
There are three more authors evenings (Tim Gosling, Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall and Professor Saul David) and two more Cook-Alongs (Prue Leith and Cyrus Todiwala) to come, so please go on the website, book your places and, if you wish, order your food and wine box.
A selection of the guest speakers
The On Line Auction has attracted over £32,000 of bids so far. A good start but with a long way to go to reach our target of £80,000. The prizes are amazing, including some UK-based holiday locations and wonderful days out at money-can’t-buy locations. New lots have been added over the last two weeks as Livery Companies and private individuals have generously offered us additional prizes. On 12th April, we will be adding two star lots – a gold and diamond pendant worth £2,000 and a bespoke British-made watch worth over £1,000.
The Draw at £10 a ticket with twelve great prizes has attracted interest but perhaps not at the level we might have expected. We have sold only 245 tickets to date against our target of 1,000.
The team at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity has done a very professional job in running the events and activities, working with our partner suppliers: Private Cellar, Pol Roger, Coq d’Argent, Green & Blacks, Peachy, The CookAway and Givergy.
The final event in the virtual programme Is on Tuesday 4th May and the On Line Auction and Draw close at 10.00 am on 21st May so there is plenty of time to take part and to encourage your friends and work colleagues to do so too.
It is still possible too for the Livery Companies and Ward Clubs that have not yet decided to support the 2021 LMBC to join in to fund veterans through the Pain Management Programme at the King Edward VII Hospital’s Centre for Veterans’ Health. We really hope to meet the Lord Mayor’s target for 2021 and fund eighteen veterans waiting to go on the PMP.
Sadly, it has not yet been possible to install the Gardeners’ Company 2021 Veterans Garden in Guildhall Yard because of the large NHS marquees that are occupying most of the Yard. As soon as the marquees come down the Veterans Garden will go in and we will have a launch to mark the occasion. When we have more details, I will let the Chairman of the Livery Committee know.
Thank you all for your support.
With best regards and keep well.
Yours ever,
Michael Hockney.
Co-Chairman, The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch
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