The Navy Wings Ambassadors’ Ball at Raffles London at The OWO on 7 November 2024 was a spectacular success for the Charity attracting 400 guests and raising a record £135,000 in the Auction!
Raffles London at The Old War Office, could not have been a more stunning or fitting venue to celebrate the Centenary of the Fleet Air Arm.
Home to Britain’s War Office from 1906 -1964, the rich military history and heritage of the building, fused with the glamour and elegance of Raffles set the scene for an evening that in the words of Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt “absolutely knocked everyone’s socks off!”
A Corps of Drums from His Majesty’s Band of the Royal Marines, Collingwood performed Mess Beatings before dinner and guests enjoyed a highly entertaining and powerful speech by Guest Speaker Michael Portillo and after dinner dancing to the sensational Peter Long Jazz Orchestra.
“It was undoubtedly our most successful Ambassadors’ Ball to date,” said CEO Jock Alexander. “We attracted many new people to the Charity and the auction was a phenomenal success. £135,000 is a great achievement equating to the operational costs of flying the Swordfish for a whole display season.”
Guests were able to enjoy a heritage tour of The OWO during the afternoon before the Ball including Churchill’s historic office, the legendary library, Spies entrance and Morse and Code Rooms that inspired Ian Fleming’s creation of James Bond.
“It was my first Navy Wings Gala Ball and it was a fantastic night!” said one guest. “I was so impressed by the whole evening and the incredible work that Navy Wings does both raising vital funds and raising awareness of our naval aviation history.”
The support received from the Royal Navy was also outstanding. The First Sea Lord and Second Sea Lord, together with many senior current and former serving members of the Fleet Air Arm and wider military gave their time to be with us on the evening.
Guest Speaker Michael Portillo spoke of the can do philosophy, doctrine and flexibility of the Fleet Air Arm and how Churchill’s fingerprints were over the whole story, from the early pioneers of the RNAS through to the great naval aviation victories of the Second World War, Taranto, Bismarck and the rise of the aircraft carrier becoming the capital ship.
Capturing a moment in time.
From left to right: Admiral Sir George Zambellas GCB DSC ADC; Rear Admiral James Parkin CBE; Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Johnstone-Burt KCVO CB OBE; Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell KCB CBE; Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC; Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse CBE; and Rear Admiral Tom Cunningham CBE, in front of the painting, ‘Naval Officers of WW1 in the Admiralty Board Room.’
Lady Miranda Hutchinson was delighted to see her grandfather Admiral of the Fleet 1st Earl Beatty, in the iconic ‘Naval Officers of WW1’ painting in The Lawrence foyer.
