Look To The Stars News: Judi Dench

Yoko Ono Donates iPod To Charity Auction On John Lennon's Birthday

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Yoko Ono has given her support to a small Liverpool charity that is planning a fundraising initiative at a Beatles landmark to celebrate John Lennon’s birthday on Friday.

The Henshaws Society for Blind People will hold a concert at The Cavern Club on October 9 – World Sight Day and Lennon’s birthday – which will feature a number of local bands and a special auction. Going under the hammer will be a John Lennon-engraved 16GB ipod touch and a personally signed postcard donated by Ono, as well as football shirts, artwork and more.

“The Cavern gig last year was such a huge success but this year it’s bigger and better,” said Henshaws fundraiser Nikki Andrews. “We’re so glad that Yoko Ono has given her support on such a significant day.”

Henshaws aims for a society where anyone affected by sight loss has choice and control over their future and can live, learn and work as part of their community. They deliver practical, caring and imaginative services to visually impaired people and to their friends, family and colleagues. They also work to raise awareness around visual impairments in the wider community. Celebrity supporters of the charity include Roger Moore, Judi Dench and more.

Henshaws Live at the Cavern will take place on Friday from 8pm. Tickets will be available on the door and cost £10. For more info about the charity, click here.

Derek Jacobi Joins Madonna as Charity Patron

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Sir Derek Jacobi has just signed on as the latest Patron of Children of Peace, joining existing Patron Madonna, and a long list of famous names, in supporting the charity’s work.

Children of Peace works to protect children from the violence in Israel and Palestine, while establishing projects and programs in the arts, education, health and sports for Israeli and Palestinian children, aged 4-17.

The charity has so far garnered the support of stars such as Dame Judi Dench, Dame Helen Mirren, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Stewart and Emma Thompson.

Proud supporter Corinne Bailey Rae calls the organization a “remarkable charity”, going on to say, “Children do not choose. Right now they are the innocent bystanders in all of this. Yet, they are the next generation and we must give them every opportunity to live normal lives and live in peace with each other.”

In his official acceptance statement for the office of Patron, Sir Derek Jacobi says:

“I am honoured to have been asked to become a Patron of Children of Peace. The children of the region of whatever nationality or religion have been foremost in my mind when I hear reports of the conflict in the area. Children hold our future in their hands. We must assist, guide and support them in bringing a stable, caring and sound resolution to the past and present conflict. Please help us to understand them and help them in their need.”

To learn more about how you can get involved, visit www.childrenofpeace.org.uk.

Stars Sign Mini For British Forces Morale

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A car signed by some of Britain’s favorite stars will go up for auction at Bonhams Auction House tonight, July 3, to raise money for the British Forces Foundation’s Lap of Honour charity, which aims to boost morale in Britiain’s Armed Forces.

For the last year, the Mini cooper – adorned with a Union Jack on the roof – has been traveling around Britain, gathering autographs from well-known faces such as Michael Caine, Richard Branson, Sienna Miller, Simon Cowell, Terry Wogan, Joan Collins, Roger Moore, Michael Parkinson, Cliff Richard, Ranulph Fiennes, Tom Jones, Hugh Grant, Judi Dench, James Blunt, Katherine Jenkins, Jackie Stewart, Rod Stewart, Lewis Hamilton, Kate Moss, Joe Calzaghe, Elton John, David Beckham, Magaret Thatcher, Eric Clapton, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, Joanna Lumley, Helen Mirren, Gordon Brown, Paul McCartney and many more.

“This fantastic car has been on an amazing journey during our tenth anniversary year,” said Mark Cann, director of the BFF. “It will be a unique addition to any car collection and we’re delighted that Bonhams offered so generously to help us achieve the best bid and raise as much money as we can. The very act of demonstrating support will send a clear message of solidarity to those on the frontline, which will in itself be a significant boost to their morale.”

Proceeds will go to the well-being and esprit de corps of all serving personnel.

To find out more, click here.

Eric Clapton Signs Guitar For Leukaemia Children

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A guitar signed by Eric Clapton was just one of the items that were featured in a charity auction held in the UK last weekend that raised over £6,000 (US$8,500) for Children With Leukaemia.

The guitar – which was also signed by Mike Rutherford from Genesis and Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker – went under the hammer for £500 at the event, held in Norwich. Also up for auction was a guitar signed by Green Day, which sold for £840, and a Clapton-signed DVD of a Cream reunion at the Albert Hall that sold for £200.

Children With Leukaemia is the UK’s leading charity dedicated exclusively to fighting Britain’s biggest childhood cancer. For more than 20 years, they have been helping children affected by leukaemia. They fund research into causes and treatments, support families through welfare programmes and campaign on their behalf. Their current fundraising campaign is being fronted by British celebrity Chris Tarrant, and the charity also enjoys support from Jonathan Ross, Judi Dench, Phil Collins, Joanna Lumley, Paul McCartney and many more.

To find out more about the charity, check out their website.

Stars Heal Patients With A Kiss

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Marie Gorrettie

Medicinema is a registered charity that has partnered with the Health Sector and the Film Industry, installing state-of-the-art cinemas on site in hospitals around the United Kingdom.

By creating purpose built cinemas in hospitals, Medicinema provides a much needed escape for the patients – it’s a welcome break from the hospital ward. Each cinema is specially designed to cater for beds and wheel chairs and nursing staff on duty throughout every Medicinema screening.

With nurses instead of usherettes, Medicinema harnesses the magic of the Silver Screen to help enrich the quality of life for patients. By screening the latest releases for patients young and old – including those in beds and on wheelchairs – patients and their families are able to escape the reality of hospital life.

As the lights dim and the film starts, with the big screen filled and Dolby Surround sound bursting into life, patients can be forgiven for thinking they are spending a night in the West End – apart from the occasional bleep of a patient’s monitor, you could be in a cinema!

Everyone needs a little escapism in their lives, especially if they’re in hospital. There is often not very much to look forward to so a visit to the cinema can give a much-needed boost to the spirits, providing the sort of family outing that is otherwise difficult in hospital. With the help and active support of the leading film distributors, Medicinema screens a wide variety of feature films from action and adventure to romantic comedies. Some films are even screened to Medicinema audiences before they go on general release.

As part of a new initiative, stars of the Silver Screen have donated kisses to celebrate ten years of Medicinema to help enhance therapeutic care for patients in hospitals around UK. To mark their 10th Anniversary, MediCinema is auctioning the HEALED WITH A KISS COLLECTION. The collection contains over 50 original signed lip prints from some of the biggest names in the Film Industry. The following are the stars who have donated Healed With A Kiss Lip Prints to help bring magic of the Silver Screen to hospital patients across UK: Madonna, Catherine Zeta Jones, Dame Helen Mirren, Sigourney Weaver, Ewan McGregor, Kate Winslet, John Hurt, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Helena Bonham Carter, Dame Judi Dench, Joan Collins, Glenn Close, Shirley MacLaine, Dame Diana Rigg, Kate Beckinsale, Thandie Newton, Nickolas Grace, Tim Roth, Jeremy Irons, Ben Stiller, Jeff Goldblum, Jim Broadbent, Honor Blackman, John Travolta, Claire Bloom, Martine McCutcheon, Greta Scacchi, Saffron Burrows, Geraldine Chaplin, Mariella Frostrup, Juliet Stevenson, Robbie Coltrane, Zoë Wanamaker, Cathy Tyson, Jason Isaacs, Anthony Andrews, Tommy Steele, Mark Addy, Kenneth Branagh, Alice Eve, and Dwayne Johnson.

The Auction party will be held in April 2009 and the complete Healed With A Kiss collection will be auctioned at the Medicinema Private Auction Party at The Movieunm, London’s biggest Film Memorabilia Museum.

The Healed With A Kiss Auction party will offer you the opportunity to own these highly collectable pieces of film memorabilia and the chance to rub shoulders with Movers and Shakers of the film industry. Hugh Edmeades, Christie’s International Auctioneer, will chair the auction in support of MediCinema. An exclusive drinks reception, live entertainment and a private tour will be followed by the auction of the healed with a kiss collection in support of MediCinema.

Here are some of the quotes from patients and their families whom MediCinema has touched:

“Really happy at the thought that I was not going to have to spend an evening on the ward, staring at a blank wall with no neighbours and chewing my lips to avoid being in pain”. Niamh.

“I completely forgot that I was in hospital, and that I had loads of needles in my arm, and when the film ended I thought “right, time to go home; and it was only when the lights came back on and I saw all the other beds and steelchairs that I remembered that I was in hospital”. Jesica, St Thomas patient.

If you would like to Bid for Original Signed Lip prints from the Stars of the Silver Screen and attend the Auction Party and bid in person please contact MediCinema: Tel:+44(0) 20 7188 3697 or email medicinema@gstt.nhs.uk.

If a celebrity lip print has caught your eye, you can make an advance bid before attending the Auction event in writing, on line or by telephone.

If you are unable to attend the Auction Party in person, you can secure an original signed lip print by placing “ABSENTEE” Bid, in writing, on line or by telephone. Please register your bid/s in the Healed with a Kiss Auction by contacting medicinema@gsst.nhs.uk or telephoning +44 (0) 20 7188 3697.

Once you have registered interest in placing an “Absentee” or advance bid, you will be contacted to confirm your bid and contact details.

For more information about the Auction Party please contact MediCinema on +44 (0) 20 7188 3697 or email medicinema@gstt.nhs.uk.

London Critics’ Circle Invite You to Film Awards

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Isra Shah

The London Critics’ Circle is inviting you to attend their 29th annual film awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Proceeds from the event are to benefit The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), a UK based charity that advocates for child protection through public awareness campaigns, helplines, and counseling services.

Tickets to the Film Awards, to be held on February 4, 2009, are on sale for £200 (US$297) per person, or £2000(US$2970) per table. The star-studded event will begin with a champagne reception, followed by the award ceremony. The evening will continue with dinner and dancing, before coming to a close with carriages at 1:30. Celebrity attendees of past ceremonies include notables such as Hugh Grant, Nicole Kidman, Sienna Miller, and Martin Scorsese amongst others. This year, Dame Judi Dench has been confirmed to be on hand to accept the Circle’s highest honor.

Nominations for the 2009 Awards include a selection sure to please any film buff. Film Section Chair Jason Solomons told Look to the Stars, “I am thrilled with this year’s set of nominations which show a wide range of critical tastes and, I hope, a refreshing mix of studio movies and independent-minded film making.” He remarks that the participation of a record number of critics and films this year will “hopefully…encourage our public to be as proud and supportive of our own films and industry as we (the London Critics’ Circle) clearly are.”

This year’s partnership with the NSPCC continues a tradition dating back to 1994. A Film Awards brochure explains the choice of charity noting, “We (the Critics’ Circle Film Section) are very proud of our long association with the NSPCC, a great and deserving charity that works ceaselessly for distressed, abused and deprived children. Every penny raised by our Awards goes to the NSPCC and towards helping somewhere a child who is in dire need.”

For more information about obtaining tickets to the 29th annual awards, visit the NSPCC website

Give Landmines The Boot With Charity Auction

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A British charity for victims of landmines has launched their annual online celebrity shoe auction.

The Mines Advisory Group has gathered footwear from over 50 celebrities for the auction, which will raise vital funds for their projects and draw attention to the part of the body most vulnerable to landmines.

The auction was launched by model Kelly Knox, the glamorous winner of BBC 3’s best disabled model competition, at Merchant Taylor’s Hall in London.

“We are extremely honored to have Kelly launch our shoe auction this year,” said MAG’s Chief Executive Lou McGrath OBE. “Despite being born without a left forearm, Kelly has proven disability is not a deterrent to success. She should be an inspiration to the many thousands of people who have been cruelly maimed by the thousands of landmines still threatening lives and communities worldwide.”

Celebrities who have donated their soles to the cause include Judi Dench, Geri Halliwell, Chrissie Hynde, Beverley Knight, Ian McKellen, Shirley Bassey, Russell Brand, Jarvis Cocker, Heather Mills, Joanna Lumley, Susan Sarandon, Pete Townshend, KT Tunstall, Chris Martin, Rolf Harris, and many others.

The auction ends on December 4 and can be accessed via the MAG eBay site.

British charity auction site Buy Once Give Twice also currently has some exciting opportunities for philanthropic bargain hunters.

Rays of Sunshine – a charity that grants wishes to seriously and terminally ill children in the UK – have a whole bunch of VIP tickets up for grabs on the site right now, including concert experiences with Coldplay, Madness, and the Kaiser Cheifs. There is also a Fender guitar signed by Sting up for grabs, as well as a Chelsea football shirt signed by the whole team, and the chance to hang out with Emma Thompson on the set of the new Nanny McPhee movie.

But you better be quick, this auction ends tomorrow, November 26.

Stars Auction Shoes To De-Feet Lung Cancer

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has launched its new fundraising campaign De-Feet Lung Cancer with a fabulous celebrity shoe auction.

It is designed to raise awareness and funds to help the charity in its fight against lung cancer – the biggest cancer killer in the UK.

The De-Feet campaign has been inspired by the charity’s namesake, dancing legend Roy Castle. Celebrities from the worlds of sport, music, film and television have joined together to support the De-Feet campaign by donating a pair of their treasured footwear.

Sir Cliff Richard, personal friend of Roy Castle and Life President of the charity said: “I’ve donated a pair of shoes (hopefully not too smelly!) to be auctioned and I hope there’ll be lots of keen bidders! I would like to encourage everyone to support this important campaign to raise much-needed funds for its life-saving work. De-Feet is a great way to show support for the Foundation’s work – go on, choose your unique pair of celebrity shoes from the auction list, and start bidding!”

Also up for sale are the shoes Daniel Radcliffe wore in the Harry Potter films, the shoes Judi Dench wore in the James Bond films, Lewis Hamilton’s shoes from the Monaco Grand Prix, the black suede heels Melanie C wore when the Spice Girls reunion was launched, Robbie Keane and Michael Carrick’s football boots, Andrew Flintoff’s cricket shoes, and many more.

The auction, which launched today and runs until October 3, can be accessed through www.roycastle.org/de-feet. The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the UK wholly dedicated to defeating lung cancer, the biggest cancer killer in the world.

Handbag.com Launches Handbag Amnesty

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

www.handbag.com and Cancer Research UK have announced a new partnership with the launch of the first ever Handbag Amnesty.

Taking place throughout the month of September – www.handbag.com’s dedicated handbag month – and climaxing in October, the Handbag Amnesty will give women across the country the opportunity to bid for the designer handbag of their favourite celebrity including, just to name a few, Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Dame Shirley Bassey, to raise money to help beat cancer.

www.handbag.com and Cancer Research UK are asking celebrities to make space in their wardrobes by donating one of their designer handbags to the Amnesty. The bags will then be auctioned on eBay from Friday 3rd – Sunday 14th October to tie in with Breast Cancer Awareness month. Open to everyone, all proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK, the largest single funder of research into breast cancer, one of the most common cancers in the UK.

Some of the other celebrities who have donated handbags are America Ferrera, Annie Lennox, Ashlee Simpson, Geri Halliwell, Dame Judi Dench, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Scarlett Johansson.

The Handbag Amnesty, however, is not just about celebrities. www.handbag.com and Cancer Research UK are also asking members of the public to donate a handbag that is still in good condition to their local Cancer Research UK shop. Good handbags always sell like hot cakes in Cancer Research UK’s nationwide chain of charity shops.

Claire Higgins, Head of Marketing at www.handbag.com, says: “As the leading lifestyle website for women in the UK, we are in the unique position of being able to reach more than 1.5 million women across the country. 44,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK so we are very proud to be working with Cancer Research UK to help make a difference – not only by raising a lot of money to fund research into preventing breast cancer, but also by helping to raise much needed awareness of the illness.”

Paul Farthing, Director of High Value Relationships at Cancer Research UK, says: “We’re delighted to be working with www.handbag.com to launch Handbag Amnesty. The auction of celebrity handbags will be an exciting way to raise funds for our vital research into breast cancer. We also hope that by encouraging supporters to donate their own favourite handbag, and other unwanted quality items to our shops, we will be able to raise even more to help beat cancer.”

For more information and a full list of celebrities taking part, please visit www.handbag.com/amnesty

Lap Of Honour To Support British Forces

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

A Mini is being driven around the UK in support of the British Forces Foundation, collecting the signatures of 50 top British celebrities.

The car began its 10-month-long “Lap of Honour” journey on June 11, with an inaugural signature from opera star Katherine Jenkins, and has so far collected further signatures from Hugh Grant, Michael Caine, author Frederick Forsyth, Dame Judi Dench and James Blunt.

The Lap of Honour will culminate in the BFF’s 10th anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall next April. The concert line-up will feature the stars who have entertained British troops overseas, including Blunt, Jenkins and seasoned rockers Status Quo.

Following the concert, the car and an accompanying signed photo album will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Foundation.

These Boots Were Made For Charity

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The native people of North America have a saying: “Before you judge someone, first walk a mile in their moccasins.” Well, now you can, because a group of celebrities are donating their footwear to a special auction to raise money for charity.

The Roy Castle Lung Foundation is launching the auction as part of their De-Feet campaign, which hopes to defeat lung cancer through research and education. And they have already gathered shoes from Harry Potters’ Daniel Radcliffe, James Bond’s Dame Judi Dench, Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton, the Spice Girls’ Melanie C, and Take That’s Gary Barlow for the sale.

“I lost my husband, Michael, to lung cancer in 2001, which is why I believe so passionately that this is the way forward,” said Judi Dench. “I am one of the thousands of people affected by this injustice. Please join me in this fight against lung cancer. Together we can make a profound difference.”

Bidding starts on September 12 and can be accessed via De-Feet’s website. Make a bid – it will be good for your sole.

Royals To Attend James Bond Premiere

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Prince William and Prince Harry will do their best for Her Majesty’s Secret Service when they attend the world premiere of the 22nd James Bond film – Quantum of Solace – in October.

The premiere will take place on October 29 at London’s Odeon Cinema on Leicester Square and – at the request of the princes – will benefit Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion. Joining the two Royals on the red carpet will be the film’s leading actors Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, and Gemma Arterton.

“We are thrilled Prince William and Prince Harry have agreed to attend the world premiere of our latest James Bond film,” said the film’s producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. “[We] are pleased this event will help raise much needed funds to support the servicemen of our country through The Princes’ chosen charities.”

Help for Heroes is a charity aimed at helping injured service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan launched in October of 2007. It raised £6 million (US$12 million) within its first nine months to help provide a swimming pool and gym complex at the tri-services rehabilitation centre in Surrey, and now continue to raise money to ensure that the wounded get the best practical help and support available.

The Royal British Legion was established in 1921 to protect the interests, welfare and memory of those who are currently serving, or have served, in the Armed Forces and their dependants. Nearly 10.5 million people of all ages are eligible for the Legion’s support, and the call on the charity’s welfare services is increasing.

Quantum of Solace is released internationally on October 31.

Stars Beat Bullying With New Auction

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A hot new charity auction has been launched on eBay, featuring items from Nicole Kidman, Avril Lavigne, and Girls Aloud.

The stars have joined with the UK’s leading bullying prevention charity – BeatBullying – for its annual celebrity auction, with all cash raised going towards its peer mentoring work in schools throughout Britain.

Bidders have the chance to pick up items such as a Golden Compass movie poster signed by Kidman and Daniel Craig; the outfits Girls Aloud wore when performing their number one hit Sexy No! No! No! live on BBC1; sheet music, photos, a t-shirt, and a CD signed by Avril Lavigne; a vest worn by Cheryl Cole; a DVD signed by Jimmy Carr; a photo signed by Simon Cowell; a program signed by Judi Dench; and a chance to meet the Sugababes and 2 tickets to see them in concert in Dagenham on August 9.

Beatbullying believes that the introduction of progressive bullying prevention programs in the UK will reduce bullying, reduce truancy levels, and reduce racist and homophobic violence and abuse in schools. The auction runs until July 20, and can be accessed via eBay.

Celebrities Clean Out Their Closets For Charity

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:09:39 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Is your closet looking a little empty? Or maybe a little boring? Have the moths eaten holes in your favorite frock? Well, never fear, help is here – in the form of a couple of celebrity auctions for great causes.

March will see the opening of Katherine Heigl’s new film 27 Dresses, and to mark the occasion, 20th Century Fox is auctioning 27 celebrity dresses on eBay. Fabulous frocks from Heidi Klum, Thandie Newton, Mariah Carey, Geri Halliwell, Naomi Campbell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Alesha Dixon will be up for sale in the special event, with all proceeds going to the Lavender Trust, an initiative of the UK charity Breast Cancer Care to raise money for young breast cancer sufferers.

The auction also features a stunning white John Galliano dress worn by Kylie Minogue to Cannes 2007, and a full length silver halter top belonging to her sister, Danni Minogue. The auction starts on eBay at 7pm on March 4, and a different dress will be auctioned every day.

If accessories are more your thing, then an exciting auction being held in Britain may be of interest. The Grace House North East Children’s Appeal Celebrity Bag Auction features a range of bags donated by some of England’s top stars, including members of Girls Aloud, as well as Dame Judi Dench, Twiggy, Sarah Ferguson, celebrity chef Ainsley Hariott, and newsreader Kirsty Young.

The event, to be held at the Apartment Bar in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on March 6, is sponsored by Makoosh, an online jewelry store, and will raise money to build the region’s first hospice for terminally ill children. The auction follows a similar event held last year, which raised $19,500, and featured items donated by Annie Lennox and Graham Norton.

“It is fabulous to see so many household names come out in force to support Grace House by donating their favourite handbags and manbags to be auctioned,” said Grace House Fundraising Assistant Sumera Bashir. “I would like to thank them all for making this event possible.”

More information about the auction can be found at www.gracehouse.co.uk.

Johnny Depp and Daniel Radcliffe Items Raffled for Charity

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:11:19 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The Northampton Welfare Rights Advice Service is holding its annual Christmas raffle on Saturday, but this year the prizes will include contributions from celebrities like Johnny Depp, Daniel Radcliffe, Dame Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet.

Around 70 prizes, such as a theatre programme from Dame Judi Dench and an exclusive signed photo from Johnny Depp, are hoped to bring in additional funding for the organization to help raise awareness about the service it provides, which is advice about what state benefits are available to families, the disabled and people over 60. EastEnders, Holby City and The Bill have also donated momentos for Saturday’s event.

While Northampton is collecting celebrity possessions for raffle, NBC is collecting character and set items for auction. Starting Monday, NBC will auction up things like The Office character Michael Scott’s (Steve Carrell) watch and lucky tie, original paintings from the Heroes set, a poker game, props and clothing used by the cast of 30 Rock, and various other collectable pieces from Friday Night Lights and Las Vegas.

This first NBC auction will run from November 19 through December 3, with part of the proceeds benefiting United Way.

Stars Sparkle for Elton John AIDS Foundation

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A charity party organised by Sir Elton John has raised $12.2 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and was a night to remember for all those involved.

Kate Winslet, Dame Judi Dench, and Elle Macpherson were among the 500 guests who dusted off their best clothes for the 9th annual White Tie and Tiara charity ball and auction, held on June 28 at Sir Elton’s home in Berkshire.

The theme of the night was “Las Vegas”, and the evening sparkled and shone as the celebrity party-goers wore their most stylish dresses and suits for the $6000/ticket event. Sir Elton’s house, “Woodside”, was lavishly decorated with a pink stretch cadillac, giant props from his “Red Piano” shows at Caesar’s Palace, and seven Elvis impersonators serenaded the crowd as they enjoyed a feast of “Las Vegas proportions”: truffle soufflé, followed by filet mignon with Maine lobster tail, and a giant knickerbocker glory for desert.

The dinner was followed by a special auction, in which guests bid on items such as a four day tennis lesson with Roger Federer (sold for $650,000), and an Audi R8 sportscar (snapped up for $800,000).

The most sought-after items for sale on the night included an artwork by party guest Tracey Emin, a trip to South Africa with Sir Elton and his partner, and a brand new Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe (which is said to be so elite that it has a waiting list that lasts until 2009). All of these items were sold for over $1.6 million each.

After the auction, guests such as Sir Michael Caine, Kirsten Dunst, and Stephen Fry – who wore a white tie AND tiara – were treated to the concert event of a lifetime. Backed by a 25 piece orchestra, Elton John joined Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones on stage to duet on songs such as “Hey Big Spender” and “Delilah”.

During the event, Sir Elton said that over the last 15 years the Elton John Aids Foundation has raised over $125 million. Much of this money has been used to raise awareness and aid for those affected by the disease in 55 countries.

Celebrity Doodles Under The Hammer

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:46:04 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Feb 23 marks National Doodle Day in the UK, and the annual event is once more to be accompanied by a charitable online auction of celebrities’ drawings to benefit Epilepsy Action and the Neurofibromatosis Association.

This year’s contributors include Casino Royale star Daniel Craig, José Mourinho, Chris Tarrant and Judi Dench. Their sketches, which will be sold via eBay, can be found on the Epilepsy Action web site.

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