Every penny will go towards providing free, specialist care within the home and at the charity’s two hospices, Fair Havens and Little Havens.
The glittering evening, held at the Cliffs Pavilion on Saturday 2nd May, featured a silent auction, raffle, and grand auction – all contributing to the phenomenal fundraising total. Prizes for the grand auction included semi-final tickets for this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, kindly donated by Fremantle Media Limited, a luxury weekend in the Cotswolds plus Ariana Grande tickets including a chauffeur kindly donated by Headline Sponsor, Highview Group.
The night highlighted how all the care provided by Little Havens Children’s Hospice and Fair Havens, the charity’s adult hospice, is only made possible because of the support from the community and events like this.
During the evening, Sarah Allison, whose daughter Febe was cared for by Little Havens in 2006, explained to the audience just how important their care and support is to families like hers.
Entertainment for the night included a surprise performance from John Pierce, who started the evening as a singing waiter. The Welsh tenor and music teacher, now living in Essex, is best known for wowing the judges as a semi-finalist on Britian’s Got Talent in 2025.
The night closed with an incredible set from the talented Ronnie Scott’s Rejects, who played a high-energy set for supporters to dance the night away.
Wendy Hogarth, Philanthropy Manager and organiser of the Gala Ball, said: “Our Gala Ball is one of the highlights of the Havens Hospices calendar, and it’s made possible by so many special people and organisations.
“We’d like to thank our Patron, Su Harrison, for hosting, our headline sponsors Highview, our amazing performers, the team at the Cliffs Pavilion, our Auctioneer Paul Bridgeman from Clive Emson Auctioneers – and of course, our supporters. Your generosity never ceases to amaze us. Thanks to you, our care can continue to reach more people who need us in our community.”
To find out more about how Havens Hospices is ‘Making every day count’ for families across Essex, visit www.havenshospices.org.uk
Published on 6th May 2025
