Singer Petula Clark CBE delighted guests at Fairlight Hall, Hastings on Saturday July 1, by performing her 1967 hit This Is My Song for the black-and-white ball organised as a fundraiser for the 2018 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition.
The veteran performer, 84, was there in her capacity as president of the Hastings International Music Festival and told the guests that This Is My Song had been written by Charlie Chaplin and he’d asked her to sing it many years ago after inviting her round for a cup of tea.
The evening was organised with some great details, starting with the sound of the Buckswood Bagpipe Band as the guests arrived at the house via a delightful path lined with exotic plants. A glass of champagne awaited the visitors in the main hall and very soon people spilled out into the conservatory which led to the marquee close to the house.
After a beautifully presented meal of salmon and beef, an auction was held to boost the funds still further. Prizes included a meal for eight people at a top London restaurant, starting at the base price of about £2,000, a box at Lord’s for 18 people, reserve price £1,395, but also a hamper starting at the lesser price of £15.
The music started before the meal with Taek Gi Lee, playing Schubert, Haydn and Beethoven. He was the youngest winner of the Hastings Piano Concerto Competition to date in 2014, just 17 at the time.
After the meal Liane Carroll entertained us with her husky blues voice. Then, as a surprise there was an impressive fireworks display on the lawns, followed by the house band which got everyone on the dance floor. I do hope the money raised did justice to this exceptional evening and comes up to expectations. The full amount is not known yet as funds have been raised in various ways by different people rather than just at the Fairlight evening ball but so far it has been estimated that nearly £30.000 has been raised.
Photos: Heidi Foster