A former England rugby player and Miss World 2012 sounds like an unlikely pairing, but the combo went down a treat as presenters at the PROPS Awards on 14 May, where 750 of the great and good from the property world packed into a ballroom at the London Hilton Park Lane to celebrate industry achievements and raise more than £250,000 for children’s charity Variety.
Martin Bayfield showed a knack for comedy hosting the 22nd annual event, with the glamorous Miss China, Wenxia Yu, sporting her Miss World crown, by his side to present the winners’ trophies.
Accolades went to Tony Pidgley, who earned the Lifetime Achievement Award; Irvine Sellar, who won Development of the Year for The Shard; and Brookfield Office Properties’ Martin Jepson, who scooped Deal of the Year for his firm’s acquisition of the Hammerson office portfolio.
Event highlights included an inspiring speech from PROPS ambassador Matt King, LLB, about how Variety helped get his life back on track after he was paralysed in a rugby accident in 2004, and another from new ambassador Sophie Barnett, whose life changed dramatically 18 months ago when a blood clot leaked into her spine, causing paralysis.
Guests pressed giant buzzers on their tables to purchase wheelchairs for the charity to help people such as King and Barnett.
