The Lighthouse Club stormed to another success with its annual Summer Ball in the Artillery Garden Marquee at the HAC in London. Once again, The Guild was proud to attend and sponsor the fun-filled event along with 1,000 other partners in the Construction Industry.
The Charity was born in 1956, when a group of somewhat mellow gents, who had been attending a Ministry of Public Buildings and Works Exhibition in Newcastle, came up with the idea. Their experience at the exhibition led them to vow to extend the goodwill they enjoyed at the show by building something to unite and benefit the entire industry. Subsequently, they took their name from St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay and adopted the lighthouse as their symbol. Since its humble beginnings, the charity has now distributed over £16.5 million to over 15,500 construction workers and their families.
Chris Methley, Guild CFO, commented: “The Guild has been an active supporter and friend of the Lighthouse Club for over a decade. We recognise the importance of the work they do and the huge impact they have on people lives. We look forward to continuing to support them in the future.”
The evening itself was great fun and one to remember, from the champagne reception to the after-dinner bumper cars. The silent auction, as ever, was a great success, raising several thousand pounds and it is estimated that a total of £35,000 was raised on the evening – a remarkable achievement.
The Guild events co-ordinator, Clare O’Connor, said: “After the hard work we put in, it was a cracking night! The popcorn, ice cream and drinks reception all went down a treat and I am so pleased we were able to do our bit for such a worthy cause.”
Bill Hill, Chief Executive of the Lighthouse Club, commented: “We would like to thank The Guild for their unfailing sponsorship and participation in our events. It is through their giving and kindness that we have been able to help many construction workers and families in the UK and Ireland through crisis. The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity receives no public funding and we rely totally on the generosity of organisations like The Guild to fund our Construction Industry Helpline – we cannot thank them enough”
