Two thousand people took part in the Great Wessex Dinner this year, raising £228,000.
The Great Wessex Dinner hosts, which included the Earl of Shaftesbury and Charlotte Townshend, invited friends and family to dine with them in return for a donation.
There was also a live online auction which contributed £101,000 to the total.
A cheque was presented to the benefitting charities, Julia’s House, the Dorset Children’s hospice and Naomi House and Jacksplace, at the home of the Earl of Shaftesbury who hosted a dinner party of his own.
He said: “We had a wonderful time at our dinner party; it was a great get-together for friends and family with the fantastic bonus of supporting the children’s hospices. We held it our great dining room which hadn’t been open for 50 years, so it was a double celebration.”
Two families that are supported by the children’s hospices attended the cheque presentation and posed for photos alongside Great Wessex committee members and hosts.
Suzanne Fairclough, mother of Hattie Fairclough, 13, who attends both hospices, said: “Both Julia’s House and Naomi House are invaluable to us; they offer us a complete break, which means we can relax and spend time with our three other children.
“They provide a lifeline.”
Di Pestell, from Julia’s House, said: “The Great Wessex dinner has been a fantastic event to be involved with and I feel privileged to have met so many generous people during the journey. Many thanks to everyone involved – the money raised will make a real difference to the families that we support.”
Russell Lucas-Rowe, joint Chairman of the Great Wessex Dinner committee, said: “We are delighted that the Great Wessex Dinner has grown so much, both in size and popularity. It just goes to show how keen people are to support our two local children’s hospices and long may this continue. A big thank you to all of the hosts and our sponsors.”
Parties ranged from simple kitchen suppers to formal fine dining. Among the meals dished up were themed and locally-sourced menus – and even a novelty dogs’ dinner in which guests’ pets were treated to a spot of silver service.
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