April 23, 2012 12.09 pm This story is over 143 months old

St George’s ball fundraises for local charities

Good cause: A charity ball over the weekend raised money for the variety of charities registered in the city.
Frank Connell and Joe Cooke MBE at the St George’s ball

A local duo aimed at raising money for all charities in Lincoln hosted their annual fundraising ball at the weekend.

The 20th Annual Cooke-Connell St. Georges Day Ball is organised by Frank Connell and Joe Cooke MBE.

The ball, held on April 21 at The Lawn, is the pair’s main way of fundraising for the 200-plus charities registered in Lincoln.

All profits raised from the ball go towards different charities.

Cooke and Connell have been helping Lincoln charities for 30 years, raising thousands of pounds.

Cooke said: “This is the 20th year of the ball, but Frank and I go back about 30 years fundraising together.

“People get a pre-dinner drink when they arrive and then the first thing we do is sing the hymn Jerusalem. After that This Sceptre’d Isle by Shakespeare is read.

“Then we have the meal – usually around five courses – and we put four bottles of wine on each table, two white and two red.

“The backdrop on the stage is a big St George flag – 20-foot long and 10-foot deep, which belongs to Frank and I.

“We also have the Saturday Night Bee Gees performing – one of the top tribute bands in the country. As well as all this there is a disco, raffle and auction on the night.”

To learn more about Frank Connell and Joe Cooke and the annual event, check out Off The Bench Media’s interview:

Source: Off The Bench Media