Sally Lindsay hosts Demelza’s Autumn Lunch

Over 200 guests joined Sally, who was accompanied by her husband, Steve White, drummer and member of the band the Style Council, for a drinks reception, sponsored by Simpson’s Wine Estate, followed by a fabulous three-course lunch.

The event also saw Lewisham couple Wayne Flanagan and Claire Nash deliver an impassioned speech to the gathered audience on the impact that the care provided by Demelza had on them as a family when their newborn daughter, Jade, died at 10 days old in January this year.

Specialist auctioneer Paul Bridgeman, from Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers, oversaw the live auction which ran alongside an online auction, with an extensive range of gifts including a limited artwork from the artist Ralph Steadman, a villa in Portugal and a box at Ascot. Supporters were also able to pledge individual amounts, with the proceeds going to Demelza’s Nursing Appeal.

The lunch marked the much-anticipated return to events following the cancellation of all face-to-face fundraising and a significant drop in income that came about as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Lavinia Jarrett, Demelza’s Acting Chief Executive said:

“It has been wonderful to return to hosting fundraising events like this year’s Autumn Lunch and seeing our supporters face-to-face for the first time since the pandemic.  I’d like to pay tribute to the volunteer-led committee who helped to organise the event so beautifully and to the guests who have helped us raise such a tremendous amount for the hospice. Now more than ever we need to be able to support more children with serious or terminal conditions across South East London, Kent and East Sussex and we can only do that with the support of our local community.”