The Datebook Spring 2017 | Page 10

International Fundraising Committee of The British Red Cross Event to View the Portrait Of H . M . The Queen

As a humanitarian organisation , The British Red Cross has a reputation that is second to none . This event highlighted the vast amount of work it does to help those in crisis at a time when an estimated 65 million people are displaced worldwide .

The evening began with a reception in the Garden Rooms of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and moved to the Ballroom . One of our top actors , Anthony Andrews , was the MC for the evening and he introduced that tireless worker and the Vice- President of the British Red Cross Maria Shammas who welcomed the guests . We then heard a highly instructive speech from Mike Adamson , the organisation ’ s Chief Executive Officer .
He told his audience that there were currently eight emergency appeals and emphasised the importance of these , particularly in the Middle East and in Sub-Saharan Africa where years of conflict had led to hundreds of thousands of people being in desperate need . How many knew , he asked , that 21 million people were affected by the civil war in Yemen ? He spoke of the dangers faced by Red Cross volunteers who sometimes gave their lives to save lives .
The portrait of H . M . The Queen , which celebrated both her tenure as Patron of the British Red Cross and also the unique longevity of her reign , was then unveiled . She sat for the artist Henry Ward wearing Garter Robes and the jewels she wore were owned by Queen Alexandra who presented the first Royal Warrant for the Charity to the Privy Council through her husband Edward V11 in 1905 . In a speech the artist explained the symbolism in the work and also talked of the memorable experience of painting the monarch . The
former Lord Mayor of London , Sir David Brewer , who is himself a Knight of the Garter , then described the ceremony of being inducted into this most select and prestigious of the orders of chivalry .
There was also a sublime musical interlude by the
violinist Jiafeng Chen and the pianist Alexei Grynyuk and finally a virtuoso performance by Joe Stilgoe , a highly talented singer , pianist and songwriter whose improvisational skills were extremely popular with the audience .
A silent auction raised funds for a charity which is one of the world ’ s most significant as it provides food , water , health care and shelter for the dispossessed . Anyone with a conscience owes it a profound debt of gratitude .
RICHARD FITZWILLIAMS
8 THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK