Rochdale Exchange Charity Ball

Rochdale Exchange Charity Ball
Paul Pashley

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Guests dressed to impress as they gathered at the Rochdale Town Hall this evening (Friday 3 September 2010) for the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre’s charity ball.

Guests enjoyed a champagne reception whilst listening to opera singer Coleen Brown – who has sung in front of the queen – before heading up the beautiful stair case to the grand hall.

This year’s charity ball, the third held by the Exchange, is to raise money for the cancer charity Every Man.

The shopping centre’s manager, Lorenzo O’Reilly said: “The aim tonight is to raise as much as we possibly can for Every Man.

“We will hopefully raise more money than we did last year, hopefully over £4,000, that might be unachievable, but we will try.

“This is our biggest event of the year without a shadow of a doubt and we want to raise a lot of money and have a lot of fun.”

Prior to guests being served with their evening meal they observed a one minute silence to mark the passing of former Rochdale MP Sir Cyril Smith.

The tables in the town hall were occupied by businesses and contractors who work closely with the Exchange, Exchange staff members, retailers from the shopping centre, friends, and colleagues from the Westgate Department Store, and the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre.

Amongst the guests was the Deputy Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Alan Godson, he said: “It is nice to see the shopping centre putting something back and it is apparent that this event gets better every year. I hope they do very well. I am sure they will.”

Following a welcome speech from Mr O’Reilly guests enjoyed a meal before being entertained by singer Paul Pashley, best known for singing at Wayne Rooney’s wedding.

Margaret Cigna, the Exchange’s Promotions Co-ordinator said: “This is our third ball and it is something we hope to keep going. We want to have fun and raise money at the same time – the message really is ‘let’s have a ball’.”

Fundraisers also took part in two charity auctions to raise money for Every Man; one was performed in reverse, which means the prize winner is the person with the lowest unique bid.

Items up for grabs at the auction included, tickets to the Manchester Comedy Store alongside an overnight stay at The Midland Hotel, a 12 month gym membership for Ladies Only Gym and a hamper courtesy of Boots.

Judith Wright, from Wright Angle Marketing, who organised the ball on behalf of the shopping centre, said: “The Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre is committed to the community, this is our biggest fundraising event of the year and we just want to get everyone together for a good cause and a fun night.

“Our thanks go to all the individuals and the companies who have supported us tonight.”

Martin Ballard from the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre explained that he works closely with Lorenzo O’Reilly from the Exchange to improve the retail offer in Rochdale and that he is happy to support the Exchange’s charity event.

He said: “It is nice to bring people from my centre here and to all sit down together; we are all so busy so it is nice to come and meet with people who also work hard to give Rochdale a good name and of course raise money for charity.”

Keith Rudman from the Westgate Department Store, which will be officially taken over by Beales Department Store on Sunday, described the ball as “great” he said: “I was invited last year and it was great and it is fantastic to be here again, it is fantastic to have this building used for an event like this.

“Everybody likes to get dressed up and have a good time, and we are doing it for a good cause, it is something that Rochdale should be proud of.”

Every Man is the charity supported by the shopping centre’s managing agents, NB Real Estates.

The charity ball’s main sponsors were Ansa Elevators and the table centre decorations were provided by Urban Planters.