Digging deep: Sportsman’s lunch raises nearly £56,000 for children in poverty

STAR-STUDDED EVENT: From left, Andrew Manderfield, Streets Chartered Accountants; Jamie Baulch; Mike Tindall; Colin Jackson; Deanne Thomas, Sailors’ Children’s Society; Bill Waddington, Williamsons Solicitors; and Andy Wakefield, AON

By Simon Bristow

Hundreds of children in poverty are set to benefit from the generosity of Hull’s business community, which dug deep at an annual charity event.

The Sailors’ Children’s Society Sportsman’s Lunch, sponsored by Williamsons Solicitors, raised a record £55,854 to provide winter clothing grants for seafaring families living in poverty around the UK.

Rugby legend Mike Tindall entertained 679 guests at Double Tree by Hilton on October 14, regaling them with stories of his sporting career and relationship with his mother-in-law Princess Anne, and Queen Elizabeth II. Former Olympians Colin Jackson CBE and Jamie Baulch returned for the third year to show their support and enhance the fundraising efforts.

It was a landmark year for the Sportsman’s Lunch which is now in its 28th year. Event auctioneer Stephen Larard MBE, who has raised more than £200,000 at the lunch since 1994, announced his retirement from the role. Mr Larard is a former High Sheriff of the East Riding and a current deputy HM Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The charity’s chief executive Deanne Thomas also announced she would be leaving, after 16 years, in which time the society has helped more than 13,000 children and raised nearly half a million pounds at the lunch alone.

Bill Waddington of Williamsons Solicitors said: “We have been sponsoring this fantastic event for 19 years and we are extremely proud of our association with the charity. The Sportsman’s Lunch is a highlight of the business calendar for those who support it year after year.”

Deanne Thomas said: “I would like to express my thanks for the wonderful support from local businesses and I hope that they will continue to help the society well into the future.

“The amount of money generated by the lunch this year was phenomenal and illustrates the huge generosity of our business community.”

The Sportsman’s Lunch was also supported by Streets Chartered Accountants, AON, and Hamers Solicitors, who sponsored the compere and guest speaker.

The money was raised via live and silent auctions, a raffle and ticket sales.