The Story of Christmas, the property and construction industries’ annual Christmas charity event, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. It’s come a long way.
Launched by Robert Spooner in 1978, the first event raised £4,000. This year’s service of nine lessons and carols, which takes place on 13 December at St George’s, in Hanover Square, Mayfair, W1, will raise closer to £500,000.
Part of the funds at that first event went to Shelter. Today the appeal continues to support charities working with the homeless or disadvantaged children in the London area, with an emphasis on financing capital projects.
This year’s beneficiaries include The Children’s Trust, Haven House Children’s Hospice and St Mungo’s.
For those who go, it is the start of Christmas. Readings are presented by a host of celebrated names from public life.
Festive music is performed by the band and fanfare trumpeters of the Irish or Welsh Guards and the choristers and layclerks of the Choir of St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle.
A champagne reception and charity auction in the ballroom at The Dorchester on Park Lane follows.
“It’s a lovely event to attend,” says supporter Tony Horell, UK & Ireland chief executive of Colliers International. “After the event at the church, the event at The Dorchester is also done extremely well.”
As well as property’s leading lights, the event draws a star-studded crowd. In the past, members of the Royal family – including Princess Diana – and several prime minsters such as including Sir Edward Heath, Baroness Thatcher and Sir John Major have attended.
Celebrated readers include Dame Judi Dench, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Craig and Brian Blessed.
But it is the fundraising that matters most. Over four decades the event has raised about £10m. Today there are 21 foundation partners, which have each contributed £10,000 or £15,000. A charity auction on the night, run by Allsop, raises further funds.
Howard de Walden Estate chief executive Andrew Hynard has been involved for about 15 years and now chairs the fundraising committee.
“The thing I really like about it is that it is for capital projects,” he says. “We like to see something that is created.”
Howard Wollaston was at the first event and has been chairman of the appeal for the past two years. He is confident this year’s ambitious fundraising target will be hit.
“We are well on track to raise over half a million this year which for a single night I think is pretty impressive,” he said.
Click here for details of our how to support the charity and attend the event.
Casting an eye over proceedings
To celebrate the 40th anniversary, this year sees Dame Judi Dench move from president to life president.
Private Eye editor Ian Hislop becomes president.
Dame Judi, who has been involved since 1980, said: “It is a lovely service each year I am sure that Ian will enjoy it as enormously as I have. I shall be watching him like a hawk.”
Joining Dame Judi and Hislop this year will be Aled Jones, Sir Derek Jacobi, Russell Tovey, Simon Callow, Dawn French, Miriam Margoyles, Olivia Colman, Sir Anthony Robinson and Lucy Boynton.
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