HQR Summer Ball 2023
The HQR Summer Ball returned to The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on Saturday, 24th June.
The Ball, organised by Walter Lilly and Size Group on behalf of the High Quality Residential construction contingent delivered a record-breaking year, welcoming over 680 attendees comprising table hosts and their guests from the sectors, engineering, architecture, interior design, quantity surveying, landscaping services and project management consultancies as well as many specialist trade subcontractors and main contractors.
All guests were welcomed with a sparkling wine reception and the opportunity to network. The drinks reception received generous sponsorship from Lutron EA this year.
The drinks reception was followed by the call to dinner and once seated, compere Chris Cowdrey delivered an introduction to the HQR Trust’s 2023 chosen charities – The Lighthouse Club and NACOA, who will each receive 50% of the money raised from the event.
Following a before-dinner game of True or False (sponsored by Concept Bespoke) a sumptuous three-course dinner was served, rounded-off with a charity raffle draw and live auction.
After the formalities concluded, the Trust’s band of choice, Hand Fulla Soul took to the stage. They returned for their 6th year to provide live music followed by a DJ set until event close at 1am.
The pre-event fundraising, made up from a portion of each table sale, including several of the hosting companies who also contributed a £500 optional donation to their booking, was quickly topped up to a record-breaking total on the night. Final figures are yet to be released, but it is understood to be in the order of a fantastic £150,000!
A brilliant time was once again had by all those who attended, none more so than our own Walter Lilly table hosts including Divisional Director for HQR, Lyndon Marfell – “A simply wonderful evening. A fantastic opportunity to meet and celebrate the High Quality Residential sector with new and old friends, all in support of extremely worthy charities. Looking forward to next year already!”
Since its inception in 2016, the total raised by the HQR London Charitable Trust is now approaching three quarters of a million pounds. Kelly Gower, who organises the HQR Ball Event alongside her role as PA to Directors at Walter Lilly, was delighted with this year’s delivery: “It’s fantastic to organise such a great event each year and I’m so pleased that 2023 has been another successful one – record breaking in fact! I was really pleased to welcome a number of new table hosts to 2023’s event too. I’m excited to see what 2024 brings…”
We are thrilled to remain the driving force behind the HQR London brand, providing networking opportunities for all in the HQR construction sector, whilst raising much needed funds for a number of worthwhile causes.
A full album of photos from 2023’s event, and previous years’ events can be viewed on the HQR London Flickr site here.