CLUB TROPICANA ISLAND
On Sunday 6th May, despite the unseasonably cold and grey weather, our Momentum team jolted into life to help stage another fabulous fundraising event – this time with the optimistic title of ‘Club Tropicana Island’!
The venue was Ravens Ait, just outside Kingston town centre in the middle of the River Thames! Momentum’s Events Trustee Steven Humphrey McDermott had dreamed up our sun-drenched theme and his incredible technical team seemed undaunted, as they ferried crates and crates of equipment across to set-up for the evening. Next over on the boats came our fabulous West End performers, Kelly Rainford, Amy Hill, Kieran Jae, Kim Ismay, David Erik, Cleopatra Rey and Sean Needham together with eight dancers from the famous Urdang Academy and our seven piece band, fronted by Ali G himself, otherwise know as Alastair Gavin.
With everyone at last in situe, rehearsals commenced, as all the while the marquee was dressed for the evening’s fun. (If you’d like to take a peek at this in action, click on this link to our website which has a three minute time-lapse video of the construction underway.)
At 6pm guests began to arrive to catch their boats across to the island. They were greeted and directed round to the lawn where TGI Fridays bar slingers had made specially themed Hurricane and Apple Passion cocktails and catering company Root Ginger had a delicious barbecue and salad table waiting. Everyone stayed gamely outside despite the exceedingly chilly temperature until the marquee officially opened at 7pm and guests were greeted inside by Momentum Director Bianca Effemey. The bar was open and an incredible display of bespoke themed cupcakes were invitingly on offer, designed by Clare Lewis.
The one-off Club Tropicana show began at 8pm and immediately the venue came alive! Our wonderful performers and dancers rehearse for months beforehand and appear on the night completely free of charge for Momentum. Not only that, but there are 22 technical staff all involved behind the scenes and again, they give us their time for nothing. They are all professionals who would normally be working in the West End...we are incredibly lucky to have them.
Our auction was once again compered by the fabulous Russ Williams, who hosted a Club Tropicana quiz to warm up our guests before persuading them to bid for our fabulous auction Lots! He also introduced the new Momentum film, produced and directed for us by Gavin Toomey at the Media Trust. The film is presented by our Patron Phil Glenister and explains everything about our charity and the work we do.
We really hope that all our guests had a fantastic evening and thank you so much to everyone who bid on the auction and bought raffle tickets.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Steven Humphrey McDermott, his dedicated technical team, our wonderful performers and dancers, the hair, make-up and costume team - all of whom gave us a night to be remembered.
Our net profit from the event was a fabulous £14,240 which we will use for our continued support of families in Surrey and South-West London, who have a child with cancer or a life-limiting condition.
Many thanks to the sponsor for our event, O’Neills Design and Build
and to our generous supporters who provided us with auction and raffle prizes:
Amanda Duncan Ossie Stewart of Ravens Ait Island Grayshott Spa Let’s Rock the Moor/Richard Drummie Zac Goldsmith Angus Effemey Bel Gibbs Richard Bunje Ginny and Chris Gotla Livingstone Safari Lodge Orient-Express Bentalls
 (2).jpg)
