Just as Elizabeth Hurley used to be one of the star draws of Arki Busson’s ARK dinner, so she dazzled the banking crowd once again as a guest of honour at the inaugural City Veterans’ Network charity gala dinner on 5 November at the Imperial War Museum.
Accompanied by celebrity shoe designer Patrick Cox, Hurley was invited by Spear’s editor-in-chief William Cash and the dinner’s organiser, Francis Roseman of Citi Private Bank, formerly of the Queen’s Royal Hussars.
Hurley, the daughter of an army major herself, took the lead in helping to raise £120,000 for three different charities — Combat Stress, the leading veterans’ mental health charity; Blesma, which helps limbless veterans and their families; and SkillForce, which uses veterans and the values they learnt to inspire young people.
After moving speeches from two wounded servicemen, including Britain’s first triple amputee, Hurley joined the soldiers backstage for a private chat to show her support.
With Christie’s auctioneer Hugh Edmeades wittily working the glitzy City crowd up into a generous mood, Hurley outbid all rivals to attend an SAS Survival and Training Day at their base camp near Ledbury in Herefordshire.
The Spear’s editor-in-chief — who has been given the call-up for the day — was glad to see that ‘no fitness is required’. A date for your diaries: the 2016 City Veterans’ Network gala dinner will be on Wednesday 2 November at the Hurlingham Club.
Email info@cityvetnet.uk for more information.