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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/24/what-you-could-buy-men-only-presidents-club-charity-gala
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| Men-only gala auction prizes included meals with stars and MPs | Men-only gala auction prizes included meals with stars and MPs |
| (14 days later) | |
| The annual Presidents Club charity dinner is under scrutiny after the Financial Times reported that staff working at the event were groped and subjected to sexual harassment, with MPs calling for better protection of workers in the hospitality trade. | The annual Presidents Club charity dinner is under scrutiny after the Financial Times reported that staff working at the event were groped and subjected to sexual harassment, with MPs calling for better protection of workers in the hospitality trade. |
| The 360 guests, including bankers, property tycoons, entrepreneurs and celebrities, were given a brochure adorned with pictures of Marilyn Monroe with a seating list for the evening, to aid networking. A guide was also provided to the major prizes in the charity auction. | The 360 guests, including bankers, property tycoons, entrepreneurs and celebrities, were given a brochure adorned with pictures of Marilyn Monroe with a seating list for the evening, to aid networking. A guide was also provided to the major prizes in the charity auction. |
| The evening was hosted by David Walliams for the third year running, and on offer in the auction was the chance to have a character in his next World’s Worst Children book named after your child, with Walliams himself personally presenting the book to your family over afternoon tea. The brochure states that Walliams donated the prize himself, and in the introduction to the evening it states that his writing for children has led to him “frequently being heralded as a modern day Roald Dahl”. | The evening was hosted by David Walliams for the third year running, and on offer in the auction was the chance to have a character in his next World’s Worst Children book named after your child, with Walliams himself personally presenting the book to your family over afternoon tea. The brochure states that Walliams donated the prize himself, and in the introduction to the evening it states that his writing for children has led to him “frequently being heralded as a modern day Roald Dahl”. |
| Lot 4 offered the lucky bidder the chance to be a “Brexit Beater” and “impress your friends or clients” with lunch with Boris Johnson hosted by the cricket legend Sir Ian “Beefy” Botham. The brochure included a joke that Boris Johnson is foreign secretary, or “at least he was at the time of going to print!” | Lot 4 offered the lucky bidder the chance to be a “Brexit Beater” and “impress your friends or clients” with lunch with Boris Johnson hosted by the cricket legend Sir Ian “Beefy” Botham. The brochure included a joke that Boris Johnson is foreign secretary, or “at least he was at the time of going to print!” |
| The prize also included an offer of a tour of the Bank of England and tea with its governor, Mark Carney. The Bank told the FT it “did not approve any prize for auction on the occasion described”. It has launched an investigation into how the prize came to be offered and and has cancelled the invitation. | The prize also included an offer of a tour of the Bank of England and tea with its governor, Mark Carney. The Bank told the FT it “did not approve any prize for auction on the occasion described”. It has launched an investigation into how the prize came to be offered and and has cancelled the invitation. |
| Other prizes included the Michelin-star chef Nuno Mendes hosting a dining experience in your house, promising to “recreate the magic and ambience of the Chiltern Firehouse in your own intimate setting”; a Richard Prince artwork, and a new BMW i8 Roadster. | Other prizes included the Michelin-star chef Nuno Mendes hosting a dining experience in your house, promising to “recreate the magic and ambience of the Chiltern Firehouse in your own intimate setting”; a Richard Prince artwork, and a new BMW i8 Roadster. |
| In their introduction to the evening, the joint chairmen, David Meller and Bruce Ritchie, picked out a “personal highlight” of the auction: “the chance to name the new Evelina children’s high dependency unit after yourself, a loved one, or a company”. The fashion and restaurant entrepreneur Richard Caring put forward the winning bid, offering £400,000 for the naming rights. | In their introduction to the evening, the joint chairmen, David Meller and Bruce Ritchie, picked out a “personal highlight” of the auction: “the chance to name the new Evelina children’s high dependency unit after yourself, a loved one, or a company”. The fashion and restaurant entrepreneur Richard Caring put forward the winning bid, offering £400,000 for the naming rights. |
| The auction was hosted by Jonny Gould, whose website features testimony about his comedy and auctioning skills from stars such as Ray Winstone, Sir David Frost, Bruce Forsyth and Chris Tarrant. “Peerless auctioneer Jonny Gould could even sell your grandmother for a fantastic price. I shall miss mine,” it quotes Sir Tim Rice as saying. About 38 guests were also expected to win an Amazon Echo Plus during the evening in a “Spin 2 Win” draw. | The auction was hosted by Jonny Gould, whose website features testimony about his comedy and auctioning skills from stars such as Ray Winstone, Sir David Frost, Bruce Forsyth and Chris Tarrant. “Peerless auctioneer Jonny Gould could even sell your grandmother for a fantastic price. I shall miss mine,” it quotes Sir Tim Rice as saying. About 38 guests were also expected to win an Amazon Echo Plus during the evening in a “Spin 2 Win” draw. |
| The menu for the event featured Scottish smoked salmon and 34-day-aged USDA Black Angus beef fillet with onion rings and mac ‘n’ cheese, and dessert was a deconstructed black forest gâteau. Ritchie – whose website says he owns 1,200 privately rented homes in central London – is thanked for supplying the Dom Pérignon champagne to accompany the evening. | The menu for the event featured Scottish smoked salmon and 34-day-aged USDA Black Angus beef fillet with onion rings and mac ‘n’ cheese, and dessert was a deconstructed black forest gâteau. Ritchie – whose website says he owns 1,200 privately rented homes in central London – is thanked for supplying the Dom Pérignon champagne to accompany the evening. |
| The FT report claimed that the women working as “hostesses” were supplied with free alcohol before making their entrance in a parade. | The FT report claimed that the women working as “hostesses” were supplied with free alcohol before making their entrance in a parade. |
| Lifetime presidents mentioned in the brochure included the entertainment impresario Harvey Goldsmith and Jimmy Tarbuck, and patrons listed include Bernie Ecclestone, the Department for Education non-executive board member Meller, the West Ham chief David Sullivan, and the Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Peter Jones. Meller has now resigned from his role. The brochure also listed the companies and people who hosted tables. | Lifetime presidents mentioned in the brochure included the entertainment impresario Harvey Goldsmith and Jimmy Tarbuck, and patrons listed include Bernie Ecclestone, the Department for Education non-executive board member Meller, the West Ham chief David Sullivan, and the Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Peter Jones. Meller has now resigned from his role. The brochure also listed the companies and people who hosted tables. |