GAELIC CHARM WINS OVER THE LADIES WHO LUNCH

It may have been St. George’s Day, but the Ladies attending Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation Spring Lunch on Wednesday, 23 April, were won over by the Gaelic charm of TV and Radio presenter, Eamonn Holmes. Proving an extremely popular guest speaker, around 300 ladies attended the spring lunch which was held as usual at the Queens Stand, Epsom Racecourse.

Eamonn, Britain’s longest serving breakfast TV anchorman, first came to our screens when he launched GMTV in January 1993, a position he held for 13 years before becoming sole anchorman of ‘Sunrise’ for Sky News and Sky One. This latest role earned him Satellite Broadcaster of the Year 2008 in the Television & Radio Industry Club Awards. Eamonn is also recognised for hosting many programmes on various stations including the Saturday morning BBC Radio Five Live talk show when sports stars talk about entertainment and entertainers talk about the sport they love.

As a guest speaker, Eamonn’s style was informal and chatty. He moved seamlessly from his childhood days in Belfast to his successful career in television, tantalizingly dropping the odd indiscretion and providing little revelations of his celebrity lifestyle today. He revealed that he was named after the famous Irish presenter Eamonn Andrews, which explains why his autobiography is entitled This is MY Life and, having provided a taster of what was to come, a queue quickly formed to snap up copies of his book.

“The day was a great success thanks to Eamonn who gave up his time so generously to come along and speak at our Ladies Lunch – particularly generous in view of his early morning start and need to get home that evening to watch his favourite football team, Manchester United, play Barcelona on the television. A very big thank you from all of us,” said Jacqui Walford, Director of Marketing and Fundraising.

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Ladies Spring Lunch has become one of the most popular fundraising events in the Foundation’s calendar and was once again sponsored by the Blair Foundation. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Foundation’s Development Centre on Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, which works with young adults who have complex disabilities.

Most clients come directly from home or specialist school and at the Centre learn to take an increased level of responsibility in many areas of everyday living such as money management, shopping, cooking and planning a social life before moving on to a lifestyle of their choice within the community.

For press information, please contact Caroline Barratt, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation, Leatherhead Court, Woodlands Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BN. Email: caroline.barratt@qef.org.uk Tel: 01372 841129. Registered Charity No. 251051.