The Trafalgar Ball, 23rd October
This year the Trafalgar Ball, which will be held on the 23rd of October, promises to be something special. The ball is moving to a new, larger venue, and is to be themed around flags. PASSPORT talked to Don Scott, the President of the club about the event.
Can you tell us about the concept behind the Trafalgar Ball this year?
Firstly, let me give you a little history. The Trafalgar Ball was started eleven years ago by the British Business Club’s previous incarnation: the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland Business Club. It was Geoffrey Cox who came up with the idea of the Trafalgar Ball; at that time, the battle of Trafalgar was the next celebratory day coming up for the UK, and that was how it started.
We have generally tried to keep numbers limited, and made the event the best quality that we could; and make some money for charity as well. All profits will be passed on to charity, and in this case it is the Taganka Children’s Fund, which we have been supporting since we started. They are the only charity that we support apart from St. Andrew’s Church.
We have used the Marriott Grand Hotel for nearly all of our time, but this year we are changing our location. The Marriott Grand has provided outstanding service and quality for us throughout our years with them, but unfortunately, to increase our numbers, to make it a bit bigger and better, we have no option but to move. So this year we will be at the new Renaissance Moscow Monarch Centre Hotel at Begovaya, where we are aiming to attract 350 people.
What’s special about this year’s Ball?
Each year we have always tried to theme the Ball, for example, lamps or cannon balls or something nautical. This year we decided to do flags. As everybody knows, one of the key episodes of the battle was the announcement, made with flags, which Nelson sent out to the fleet, which said: “England expects that every man will do his duty.” So the tickets, the design inside the ballroom, and the other designs we are using will have that flag design incorporated into it.
Who is the Ball open to, and how can tickets be obtained?
The Ball is open to absolutely everybody. We will be selling tables of ten, and individual seating, everything will be available for online registration on the British Business Club website. (www.britishclub. ru) British Business Club board members will also have tickets, and you will be able to buy directly from them.
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