Chairmen and Chief Executives' Dinner 2010
On 12th January 2010 the chairmen and chief executives of Walpole member companies gathered at The Berkeley for a celebration of all Walpole and its members achieved in 2009 and to look forward to the coming year.
The events team at The Berkeley pulled out all the stops and the Belgravia room was transformed into a spectacular mini Blue Bar for the evening, complete with barman serving award-winning Dry Ice Margheritas to accompany the Laurent-Perrier Champagne and Hildon Water. A selection of Berkeley canapés were served on Perspex trays adorned with the Walpole Logo as the guests gathered to network and discuss what the coming year has in store.
As always the sound of friends old and new discussing business was almost deafening in the beautifully decorated and blue lit room, and after an hour the drinks reception was interrupted by the call to be seated in the Ballroom for dinner.
A delightful meal was served, and the ballroom looked stunning with giant cocktail glasses filled with red tulips accompanied by smaller bowls of blooms on the tables. As plates were cleared away and coffee and deserts were brought out, Walpole Chairman Sir David Bell took to the stage to introduce the speaker for the evening, Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times. Mr. Barber gave an insightful and fascinating outlook for the next twelve months based on stores which had appeared in the Financial Times in the weeks running up to the dinner. Topics covered included the tax on bankers’ bonuses, the debt crisis growing in Greece, the development of nuclear armament in Tehran and the fast approaching election. Mr. Barber then took questions from the members before being presented with an Ettinger Wallet to thank him for his contribution to the evening.
On leaving the dinner, guests were shown a delightful sugar sculpture handmade from boiled sugar by chefs at the Berkeley to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon.
Walpole would like to thank the Maybourne Hotel Group for hosting the event at the magnificent Berkeley hotel, and Justerini & Brooks, Hildon and Laurent-Perrier for providing the drinks for the evening. Thanks again to Ettinger for providing Mr. Barber with a beautiful wallet, and Glemorangie and Johnstons for some lovely gifts for guests to take home in their goody bags.
Walpole would also like to thank all the guests for making the 2010 a spectacular and successful event.
A selection of feedback from the dinner included:
I just wanted to thank you and your colleagues for a wonderful evening last week….. I thought the evening was magnificent. Maurice Helfgott, Amery Capital Limited
Congratulations on another fine evening for Walpole – it is a pleasure to be a part of such a thriving organistion.Thank and here’s to a great 2010. Victoria Christian, Clive Christian.
Thank you all so much for a truly splendid evening last night! We love the Berkeley hotel and Jo and I had such a great time chatting to all the Walpole members. As you say, it's like a family! The food and drink was the best and Lionel was an excellent speaker to listen and learn from. Joanna Edmunds and Fiona Blazkowski, Kuoni.
