An incredible £300,000 was raised at a gala dinner for Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal, organised by Queen Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot and other high profile Dorset residents.
The dinner, held at Chettle House, saw 300 distinguished guests attending the Gala including appeal patron Kate Adie, Martin and Philippa Clunes, Julian Fellowes and Jasper Conran among many others.
Appeal committee chair Annabel welcomed her committee members Jibba Butler, Angus Campbell, Barbara Dooley, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Michael Dooley, The Hon Mrs Peregrine Kitchener-Fellowes, Baroness Kate Rock, Venetia Ross-Skinner, Lucy Sewill, Jane Shaw and The Hon Charlotte Townshend for the glittering evening, with dinner, entertainment, a live auction, silent auction and raffle. Prizes were generously donated by members of the committee and their friends.
Funds raised on the night have taken the total amount raised for the appeal so far to £1.85million. The Emergency and Critical Care Appeal aims to raise £2.5 million to fund equipment and facilities beyond the NHS budget for the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit currently under construction at Dorset County Hospital.
Funding for construction of the £100 million project has been provided by the Government’s New Hospital Programme and is due to be completed in 2027.
Annabel said: “Choosing to support Dorset County Hospital was an easy decision for me; it is a cause close to my heart. It has provided incredible care to me and members of my family and, as so many others in Dorset, we have seen it perform these services despite exceptional pressures of capacity and funding.”
The Chettle House Gala was generously sponsored by NFU Mutual Dorchester, Cazenove Capital, Edwards & Keeping Chartered Accountants, Knighton Countryside Management, Wessex Internet and Wrackleford Farms Ltd.
