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Note: Pictures of each guest and a Video of the event are on sale to ticket holders 

      The 2003 Lowe Syndrome Trust Nutcracker Ball 

The November 25th 2003 Nutcracker Ball at 6 Hamilton Place was one was one of the most fabulous balls in Mayfair and raised an amazing 30,000 pounds for the Lowe Syndrome Trust.  

The Charity supports medical research into the genetic disease that causes children to be born with cataracts in both eyes, defects in brain development and in the kidneys and is funding research projects at Imperial College London, University College London and Dundee University.    

The theme of the evening "The Nutcracker Ball" was reflected in the elegant table decorations and guests were welcomed to the champagne reception by a string quartet and a Toy Soldier and Ballerina. The 150 guests, a glamorous mix of  Media , Banking moguls, IT gurus and Fashion designers were also entertained by a Magician Mind Reader and a Graphologist (handwriting analysis).  

Compere Mark Phillips (see BBC Eastenders!) started the proceedings and introduced Charity Patron Jono Coleman (Heart 106FM) who surprised the guests by being elegantly dressed and not wearing his usual shorts and T-shirt, gave a speech about the charity and the recent grant award to Imperial College.  

This was followed by a three course dinner and mystery raffle with tickets found under the seats, with the winner announced by guest star and charity patron Tony Hadley.   

The main event of the evening was the auction, amusingly yet skillfully conducted by Mark Lamarr with many fantastic donated items including a painting by Sarah Fergusson, ballet shoes from dancer Darcey Bussell and an England World Cup rugby shirt autographed by the team that fetched 6000 pounds..

Dancing continued into the small hours to the GFC (Grand Funk Corporation) Band.