Events
Thomas’s Clapham Summer Soiree
What an amazing evening.....
Thomas’s Clapham PTA, parents and staff held a spectacular Summer Soiree to help raise funds for their projects in their village, Pelkachour. The event was a sell out and the generosity of parents, staff and the celebrity guests was astounding. Harvey Eagles, Joint Event Organiser and Head of Music shares his success story.
Britain’s Got Talent’ was not part of my staple viewing until I heard that parent, Piers Morgan had persuaded fellow judge, Amanda Holden to come and sing a number from the Sound of Music at our Summer Soiree. I had often watched children playing at being Piers, Amanda and Simon Cowell whilst on duty in the Playground and wondered what on earth they were doing! I had even been asked to do a mock audition for the children to judge and had been unceremoniously buzzed off within seconds. But on hearing that Piers and Amanda would join us to help raise money for The CAIRN Trust, I knew that, especially for the children taking part in the musical performances, it was going to be an unforgettable experience.
Amanda had said that she was happy to sing but there was one condition- both parents Piers Morgan and Michael Grade dressed up and took part as singing nuns alongside her. Both men being great sports, kindly agreed to go along with Amanda’s request in the name of charity and we duly ordered two costumes.
In an extraordinary twist of fate, the world of showbiz and Thomas’s collided when forty-five minutes to “curtains up” Piers phoned to ask if he could bring a friend. “Who is it” I tentatively asked and was told that it was none other than Jerry Springer. The evening suddenly took on an even more crazy twist when I found myself in the Headmistresses Office announcing “We need a nuns outfit for Jerry Springer!” Not a phrase one often says in the course of a day and naturally, it was met by a very puzzled look. In true Thomas’s style, everyone jumped into action and a Chasuble was found for Jerry to wear.
Like Piers and Michael, Jerry was an equally good sport and fully supportive of our aim to help The CAIRN Trust. The children were amazing and sang and played a whole range of instruments ranging from African drums to the flute. In the final moments, of what had been a spectacular evening, along with Amanda and all the children, the Summer Soiree was brought to a rousing climax.
Headmistress, Ms, Evelegh’s words in her closing speech, “I must be the proudest Head in Britain!” summed up for all of us the extraordinary pride we felt in being part of something special and raising just over £37,000 for the children in rural Nepal.
