A night of firsts and incredible fundraising drew Fence Club members, friends and family to central London on Saturday for an unforgettable gala
In a night of firsts and fundraising, the cream of the toy industry gathered in central London this weekend for the Fence Club Christmas Ball.
An incredible £40,000-plus was raised for children’s charities during the course of the evening, as members, friends and families dug deep to support the annual charity raffle draw and auction.
To roars of support and applause, Jacqueline Taylor-Foo made her first address as the club’s first-ever female Chairman.
“It was 25 years ago that I attended by first Fence Club party – a ‘girls night’ – and I loved it,” she said. “It has been stuck in my mind until this very day, and I never could have imagined that I would be stood here this evening.
“What other industry fosters the spirit that we do? What a privilege it is to stand before you at this moment,” she continued. “We truly are a family. We’re celebrating a significant milestone and my role as the first female chair. I hope the next generation keeps it going for 75 more years and beyond.”
As Jacqueline stepped up, Character Options’ Joe Kissane stepped down from his role as Charity Secretary, passing the baton to Character Sales Director David Bramford. During his tenure, and with the support and dedication of the entire Character team, Joe oversaw a transformation of the club’s charity initiatives under his famous maxim that “it’s all for the children”. He was duly feted and vowed to continue with his support in growing the club’s charity efforts.
Malcolm Naish, Toys n Playthings founder and Chairman, and a former member and longstanding supporter of the Fence Club, was once again seen taking to the dance floor in his signature sequinned dinner jacket. He reports back from the evening:
“The 75th year for the Fence Club was celebrated on Saturday with almost 400 guests having a ball into the early hours of Sunday morning.
“The club’s very first Lady Chairman Jackie Taylor-Foo – who is most definitely not 75 years old – had created a marvellous atmosphere and it was great that her two sons James and Dan were also there to celebrate with their mum. Joe Kissane has stepped down as the Charity Secretary and made a heartfelt speech that encapsulated the spirit of the Fence Club to huge applause.
“The Christmas Ball is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends old and new and makes us all believe that there is no industry quite like the toy industry. With Paloma Faith’s touring band providing two great sets for dancing, plus an Abba tribute group getting everyone on the floor, it truly was a night to remember.
“My headache and slow movement the following morning was ample proof of a great evening. Our thanks also to Ian Dayus, Frankie Lisle and the club’s committee for organising this event. To the various club sponsors, plus those people who bought the raffle tickets and of course those who bid for and won the live auction prizes, again, a BIG thank you.”
Photos kindly supplied by Michael Angel
