An Indian gala night has raised £9,000 for a Ledbury charity.
The event, which took place at Ledbury Rugby Club at the weekend, was the first major event of the year for Megan Baker House, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Megan Baker House (MBH), which is based in Orchard Lane, runs sessional services for adults and children with neurological motor disorders using a holistic method called Conductive Education.
The gala night was organised by the charity’s chief executive Lee Gough and Indian home cook Suki Pantal.
An aspiring cookbook author, Malvern-based Suki was a contestant on Channel 4’s Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver.
She put the cultural evening together for MBH, including the entertainment and Indian décor, and personally curated the Indian food menu to bring guests a real taste of India.
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Suki also told the guests stories about the background of a number of dishes on the menu, including the invention of butter chicken in Delhi and the history of the samosa.
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“As someone born and brought up in India, nothing gives me more pleasure than to share my cultural heritage and culinary legacy, and talk about the stories behind my native cuisine,” she said.
The two-course dinner was put together by Suki’s collaborating partners for the evening, Khandani Caterers from Smethwick.
Entertainment was provided by Juggy Rihal from Birmingham, who played live music on the Indian drums, and Awantika Dubey, an Indian classical singer.
There was also a raffle draw and an auction.
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Lee Gough, the charity’s chief executive, said: “It was absolutely fabulous to be able to hold an event after two years.
“On the night itself we raised £9,000, which is terrific for us as we are entirely self-funded.
“It was just a very lovely, very relaxed evening watching the Indian entertainment, which was quite inspiring, and hearing from Suki herself about her cooking.
“It was a beautiful evening weather-wise, too and I’ve had quite a few emails since from people telling me how much they enjoyed it.”
Lee said spaces were still available for MBH’s next big event, a golf day at Leominster Golf Club on June 25. Later in the year, the charity will hold a 20th anniversary Sparkle Ball at the Bank House Hotel in Bransford, near Worcester.
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