Latimer Hinks, one of the North East’s leading law firms, has raised more than £36,000 for a host of local charities at its glamourous magic-filled charity ball.
The ball was compèred by international swing singer Cole Page, and included four roaming magicians, Tom Wright, John Morton, Will Grey and Britain’s Got Talent’s David Penn, who wowed guests with mind-blowing close-up magic and illusions.
The black tie event marked the culmination of the Darlington-based firm’s 125th year, and was held in aid of St Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington & Bishop Auckland MRI-Scanner Appeal, as well as a number of smaller local charities, with additional support from County Durham Community Foundation by way of match funding.
The prestigious showcase event, filling the Grand Marquee at Wynyard Hall, was the ninth held by the Legal 500 and Chambers UK-recognised firm, and was the biggest yet, having been attended by 370 people from across the region. Money donated on the evening added to the £70,000 raised by the firm in recent years.
Latimer Hinks chose to support St Teresa’s Hospice in honour of colleague Helen Thomas, who sadly passed away from cancer in July 2016.
Additional to the funds raised at the ball a team of Helen’s co-workers, calling themselves Hel’s Angels, has raised more than £5,000 during the year by taking part in various fundraising activities, including the Hamsterley Forest 10K and St Teresa’s It’s a Knockout competition.
Guests were entered into a prize draw upon arrival, with the winner receiving four VIP tickets to Darlington Hippodrome’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as two bottles of wine donated by JRD Construction. Guests also had a chance to bid for auction items including a Paul Swift Driving Experience, a JCB VIP factory tour and a cooking masterclass with The Curry Guy.
The ball was supported by a number of sponsors, including Ad Agency, MT Print, Lewis Surveying Associates, Brighter Law Solutions, Artifact Media, Fry Family Office, Tees Valley Law Society and Richard Brown, of Richard Brown & Partners, who hosted the auction. Wynard Hall were hugely supportive providing, for auction, a Wynyard Hall clay pigeon shooting activity and overnight stay as well as donating £1 from every sale of a specially-designed cocktail named Hel’s Angel.
Anne Elliott, Chief Executive of Latimer Hinks, said: “We’re delighted to have raised such a fantastic amount for some wonderful local charities like St Teresa’s Hospice who are so supportive of local people and who supported Helen so much during the last days of her life. It was certainly an emotional moment for everyone when we saw her on the big screen, bravely promoting the great work of the Hospice. She was an inspiration and a greatly loved and missed friend and colleague, and I have no doubt that she would have thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
“We would like to say a big thank you to those who attended and to our sponsors. It has been an eventful 125th year of fundraising and events, and this was the perfect way to end it. I was so proud of everyone who helped organise the evening, especially Helen’s close friends and family.”