NEARLY £4,000 was raised for charity at a special lunch held last week. Over 150 guests attended the event at Novotel, Stevenage, last Friday in aid of the Stevenage Community Trust John Bly from the Antiques Roadshow was the guest speaker and guests inc

NEARLY £4,000 was raised for charity at a special lunch held last week.

Over 150 guests attended the event at Novotel, Stevenage, last Friday in aid of the Stevenage Community Trust

John Bly from the Antiques Roadshow was the guest speaker and guests included Trust chairman Ken Follett and his wife Barbara Follett MP, the president, Barry Norman and his wife Diana, and the patron Lord Cobbold with Lady Cobbold.

In total £3,965 was raised including the proceeds of an auction and a raffle held at the end.

Pat Henry, director of the Stevenage Community Trust said: "This is one of our major fundraising events of the year and it was lovely to see so many people attending and having a good time.

"I am grateful to everyone who donated an auction prize and to those who gave so generously for the raffle.

"Thanks goes also to Hilliers HRW, Campbell Collins Ltd, Stevenage Packaging Ltd and Novotel for their additional sponsorship.

"This has boosted our funds tremendously allowing us to continue the level of grant making for the year ahead."

* A team of volunteers from Stevenage Packaging Ltd took to the streets of Stevenage on Sunday morning to organise a street collection for the Stevenage Community Trust. Father Christmas was in attendance and gave out sweets, balloons and stickers to the children. This event raised £451.50. Stevenage Community Trust would like to thank Stevenage Packaging, the Choc Box and Astrium for helping with this event.