Well, what a weekend that was, only just recovering from attending The Denise Welch charity ball, for The Gem Appeal, on Saturday, 19th November 2022, in Manchester!
The event, which was put on to raise vital funds for The Gem Appeal, is the 21st ball held by Patron Denise, this time at the stunning and award-winning Kimpton Clocktower hotel in Oxford Street, Manchester city centre.
Denise made a grand entrance at the event on a Santa sleigh and looked like a Disney Princess in her sparkling blue gown, setting the tone for the evening as fantastic fun in the “enchanted wonderland”.
The Gem Appeal
It was also very informative, and we were told about how the Gem Appeal is a charity that seeks to find a cure for children’s genetic disorders.
Beneficiary Karen Johnson took to the stage (with her daughter) and told her personal story about how two of her sons suffered from a rare genetic disorder, Hunter’s syndrome and how one of her boys used his bone marrow to save her daughter’s life too, in the short time he was alive, which was heartwrenching.
Let’s hope we can get some good news out of their pain and help to fund research via The Gem Appeal to help children with rare genetic and metabolic disorders receive treatment that helps them to live much longer than they previously would have. Karen, Denise and the team are dedicated to raising the profile of the charity and raising funds to support its work.
With the aim of turning a tragedy into positive action, which is inspirational to us all!
Please click here if you want to find out more and help support The Gem Appeal.
On the Manchester Stage
Top presenter Jenny Powell was there to provide the professionalism, energy and extra glamour with a showstopping full-length, white lace dress with see-through detailing by luxury dress designer Nadine Merabi who lives in Manchester.
She was supported on stage by Bruce Turner and off-stage by her physiotherapist and model partner Martin Lowe, who we can personally vouch for as a back specialist. Martin sorted out Mrs Lambe’s back post-lockdown and was a lifesaver!
If you need help with your back, I’d highly recommend him and here’s his website!
We were lucky to share a table with Manchester’s finest fun-loving actresses, presenters and their partners, including Martin Lowe.
Victoria Ekanoye and her partner Jonny also shared our table, and she gave a powerful performance on stage this evening and looked supremely elegant in her princess-style dress.
I asked her where she got it from, and it was from Cinders Party Dress, available online and based in Liverpool.
On this occasion, Mr Lambe was very well organised with his new Reiss tuxedo and shiny shoes!
After having had a last-minute drama with my dress, we took our chance to have a photo taken at the entrance to the ball at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower hotel.
I was honoured to meet Maggie Oliver, the lady responsible for whistleblowing the handling of child sex abuse rings in Rochdale, Manchester.
She is a former Detective Constable with the Greater Manchester Police. Her courage and aura are inspirational; wow!
Actress Angela Lonsdale was good fun on the night, and I loved her style.
The man behind with the snazzy tache tried to duck for the photos, but we made sure we got him in!
If you recognise him, please let me know who it is?!
Kimpton Clock Tower Hotel, Manchester
The ball was held at the award-winning Clock Tower hotel, based in the centre of Manchester and flawlessly organised by Jo and her team at the super-organised events company Entertainment Today.
With enchanting entertainment by The Real Thing, Anita Ryan of Anita Ryan Events and a flock of graceful Northern Ballet School dancers.
We even managed to have a dance and catch up with Cheshire Life’s columnist and makeup artist to the stars Armand Beasley.
Other guests we bumped into included Simon Weston CBE, partner Lucy, and Coronation street stalwart Sally Dyvenor.
It really was an enchanted evening, and we came back star-struck!
