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Date/Time
Date(s) - October 23, 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Categories
Autumn Lunch 2025
Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) are delighted to invite you to our annual Autumn Lunch and Shopping Fayre event, with special guest speaker Gyles Brandreth.
Join us for a wonderful day featuring our much-loved shopping fayre, open from 10:00am to 1:00pm, offering a variety of unique and delightful stalls. We are also thrilled to welcome special guest speaker, Gyles Brandreth, for an exclusive book signing, who will be signing copies of his brand-new book ‘Somewhere, a boy and a bear’. Following the fayre, guests will enjoy a delicious two-course meal, accompanied by a captivating speech from Gyles himself.
Please join us as we continue to celebrate our 90th anniversary. All funds raised from the event will support QEF’s work which could include:
• Opening a new Mobility satellite service, supporting people across south England to be more independently mobile.
• Providing neurological music therapy to people rebuilding their lives after an acquired brain injury.
• Providing a free loan scheme for their ‘Bugzi’ powered chairs, supporting young disabled children to gain greater independence.
Gyles Brandreth
Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, podcaster, trustee of The Queen’s Reading Room charity, former MP and Chancellor of the University of Chester, as well as a regular on shows like Just a Minute, QI, Celebrity Gogglebox and This Morning. His many books include nine detective novels (The Victorian Murder Mysteries) and his best-selling autobiography Odd Boy Out. Since 2022 he has been appearing on stage with Dame Judi Dench in a show celebrating her life and on tour throughout the country with his own one man show. An award-winning podcaster, he hosts the multi-million download Top Ten podcast Rosebud exploring the first memories of remarkable people.
Gyles Brandreth is also a best-selling biographer and knew the real Christopher Robin. His new book ‘Somewhere, a boy and a bear’ is both an intimate and revealing biography of A A Milne (to whom there was so much more than Pooh) and a fascinating exploration of family dynamics and the nature of childhood itself.
Event Details:
Date and Time: Thursday 23 October 2025, 10am – 4pm.
Venue: Duchess Stand, Epsom Downs Racecourse
Price: £75
Ticket includes:
• Drinks reception
• Two-course meal with wine
• Book signing of Gyles’ new book ‘Somewhere, a boy and a bear’ (books can be purchased on the day).
The event promises to be great fun and all in aid of QEF’s work supporting disabled people to achieve their potential and live with greater independence.
T&Cs
Refunds: If your refund request is made 28 days before the event, you are eligible for a full refund (minus processing fee). If your refund request is made between 14-28 days before the event, you are legible for a 50% refund of the ticket price. If your refund request is made less than 14 days before the event, unfortunately we are unable to offer any refunds. On the day, event timelines and event specifics are subject to change at the discretion of QEF.
Caring Couture
Caring couture is here once again! Following its launch in 2018, Caring Couture – The POWER of one piece, raised thousands of pounds for QEF. We kindly ask if you could support QEF by bringing along one item (or more) of clothing or a handbag to donate to QEF for resale across our retail stores to the Autumn Lunch. There will be a concierge service at the registration desk to collect your donations. Please note we also accept men’s clothing! Sponsorship packages available.
Please contact corporate@qef.org.uk
Birthday News!
On 2 April, Dame Prue Leith kicked started our ‘In conversation….with’ series at a fabulous event at Sandown Park. During the event Prue launched her recipe for QEF’s 90th anniversary cake. To have your own copy of this fabulous recipe card curated by Prue (which includes a short video of thanks from this culinary legend) we’re asking our supporters to donate just £5. Please click here to get your very own copy! https://www.qef.org.uk/donations/prue/
You can purchase your tickets online below, please be aware we use Paypal to process payments, but you can by pass logging into a Paypal account and just click on the debit/credit card option below the log in boxes to pay as normal. Or if you would like to purchase your tickets over the phone, please call 01372 841 151.
