Following the tremendous success of last year’s Dinner and Dance, it seemed that raising the bar even higher would be no easy task. However, this year’s event proved that was indeed possible. Held at the Ivy Hill Hotel, the evening provided a superb setting for what was a truly memorable occasion.  Guests were welcomed with the opportunity to have official photographs taken in front of a classy Hackney Horse Society backdrop. This proved extremely popular, and photographer Melody Fisher captured some truly beautiful images that perfectly reflected the spirit of the evening.

The venue itself had been tastefully and elegantly decorated by Terry Wade and her team of helpers, and I must say what an incredible sight it was as the doors were opened. Every detail had been carefully considered and the tables were named after well-known studs, so guests knew exactly where to sit. The tables were beautifully arranged with floral centrepieces and chocolates for guests to enjoy.  The staff from Ivy Hill worked tirelessly throughout the evening, providing excellent service to more than 150 guests. A delicious three-course meal was served and was warmly received by all in attendance.  During dinner, guests were also entertained by a talented young singer whose performance added a delightful atmosphere to the occasion.

Once the dinner plates were cleared, the evening continued with a lively and enjoyable game of bingo, which proved to be great fun and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present.  The winner was one of the junior members, Sonny Murrell, who can now look forward to a flight in plane with his family kindly sponsored by The Stapleford Flying Club – a truly wonderful prize.  The evening continued with a raffle and a highly entertaining game of Heads and Tails, which encouraged participation from all attendees. The prize of a flying lesson once again sponsored by The Stapleford Flying Club was won by Mark Sayers who kindly donated the prize to one of the junior members, Laila Brown, to enjoy. An auction then took place with Tony Thomas serving as auctioneer, during which the bidding progressed at an energetic pace. A wide variety of items were available for bidding, including impressive prints, a pet photo shoot, an exercise vehicle and frozen semen from Georgina Turner’s horse, Brookborough Flash Jack.

For the junior members, a prize of an annual subscription to The Carriage Commentator was offered. The names of the junior members were placed in a hat, and the fortunate winner was Leah Redsell. Overall, the event was an outstanding success, and all the funds raised will go toward supporting the Society and ensuring its continued stability and success in the future. Incredibly the event raised nearly £8,000.00 for the Hackney Horse Society.   The evening would not have possible without the hard work and dedication of our members, as well as the generosity of those who donated prizes and their time to support this event.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Natalie Thomas, Jemma Walsh, Terry Wade, Sue and Wayne Isaac, Annette Howell, Linzi and Ernie Walsh, The Carriage Commentator, Fred Eastwood and The Stapleford Flying Club along with everyone else who contributed to making this evening such a success.