Tony Jellings writes:

"On 5th December 2009 a concert, sponsored by Sotheby’s of London, was held at the home of Mary and David Bowerman, in their splendid Music Room at Champ’s Hill, Sussex, to raise funds for the Niemann-Pick Disease Group (UK).

 

To add to the interest of the occasion, David Bowerman, our host, had arranged an exhibition of paintings from his collection of 20th Century painters to hang on the walls of the music room.  Before the Concert started, these were briefly discussed by Sotheby’s Head of Modern Paintings.

 

The concert was given by one of our patrons, international cellist Guy Johnston, his brother, violinist Magnus, pianist Tom Poster and viola player Tom Hankey.

 

The musicians played a medley of Mozart, Mendlessohn, Chopin and Brahams with great brilliance and received rapturous applause from the audience of 150 guests.

 

During the interval Tim Ingles, Head of Sotheby’s Music Department, showed the audience the “Ex Hamma” Stradivari violin of circa 1717, valued at $2,000,000, which he had brought along with him. Magnus Johnston gave a demonstration of the instruments superb quality.

 

Our Chairman, Jim Green, who had travelled down to Sussex from Scotland to attend the Concert, addressed the audience briefly before William Lucy, a Senior Director of Sotheby’s, auctioned a lunch for eight persons, donated by the company and to be held at the Sotheby’s Board Room in London.  This was sold to a successful bidder for £1000.

 

The evening raised a grand total of just under £7,000.

 

I wish to thank Mary and David Bowerman for their hospitality and great generosity, Sotheby’s for their sponsorship and in particular Jenny Denman, Sotheby’s representative on our planning committee, all the members of my family who helped to make and serve the delicious refreshments, all those who supported the event, including Richard and Marion Rogerson, who travelled down from Birmingham, and finally, but by no means least, the four brilliant and inspirational young men who once again gave of their time and very considerable talents to support the Niemann-Pick Disease Group (UK). THANK YOU!!"