Friday 19 November 2010

MEMORIAL BALL TAKES AXENTIS MICHAEL CHAITABLE TRUST FUND TO

A ball held on the Grand Pier in memory of Weston-super-Mare hotelier Axentis Michael, raised £215,000 for the charitable trust set up in his name.

This Axentis Michael Memorial Ball, which is organised by the Michael family and is held bi-annually, has now raised total of £565,000 for local good causes.

Nine hundred guests attended the black tie event, which is the first major function to be held on the Grand Pier since it re-opened at the end of October. Actor John Cleese was the guest of honour at the ball on Saturday evening (27th November).

Other celebrity guests included Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden from Dragon’s Den and Somerset cricketers Andy Caddick, Marcus Trescothick, Alfonso Thomas and Charl Willoughby. BBC Points West’s Alex Lovell and auctioneer and TV presenter Martin Roberts were on hand to help out with fundraising at the event.

A Citroen C1 car, donated by motor dealers, Howards raised over £11,000 when it was raffled during the event.

Axentis’ son and Pier owner Kerry Michael said: “This is the fourth memorial ball we have held, and the biggest so far. In previous years we were restricted to 500 guests as there wasn’t a venue in Weston-super-Mare big enough to take any more people.

“Before this year’s ball we set ourselves a target of breaking the half a million pound barrier in total monies raised and I am absolutely delighted to say we exceeded this by a massive £65,000.
“We have had some fantastic support and I cannot believe the generosity of all our friends and suppliers in the current economic climate. I would like to thank everyone who attended the event for their generosity”.


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Tuesday 16 November 2010

BOXING EVENT CONFIRMED

The first public event to take place on Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier will be a Boxing evening, which Pier owners have confirmed will go ahead on Friday December 3rd.
Pier owner Kerry Michael says he is confident that this event will definitely go ahead, after the disappointment of cancelling some previously booked functions, due to delays with their contractors.

The Grand Pier has teamed up with Britain’s first officially licensed female boxer, Jane Couch MBE, to promote the amateur boxing event. It will be the first of many boxing events planned throughout the year.
A special guest at the event will be former WBC heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon. Other VIPs will be announced nearer the event.
Boxing on Weston’s Grand Pier dates back to 1904, when boxing matches took place in the 2,000 seat pavilion, along with opera, music hall and Shakespearean plays.
Amateur boxing clubs from around the South West region are being invited to sign up for the event. The evening will be one of the first big public events to be held in the brand new Pavilion building, which has the largest pillar-less performance space in the South West.
Jane Couch said: “Since I retired from boxing in 2008 I have become a boxing promoter and I am delighted to have been approached by the owners of the Grand Pier to help them stage their boxing matches. It’s great to see the traditional sport of boxing returning to the Grand Pier after its £51m re-build”.

Events will take place throughout the year in the Pavilion building, including concerts and fashion shows, along with weddings, conferences and corporate events.

Tickets for the event will go on sale shortly and are expected to cost from £10 for standing room. There will also be VIP tables available and the opportunity to attend a drinks reception with special guests.

Tickets are limited and are for sale on a first come, first served basis. To register your interest in the amateur boxing night email events@grandpier.co.uk or call 01934 646155.


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