Charters School in Sunningdale hosted a ‘Greatest Showman’ themed Gala Dinner on Saturday 30th March to raise funds for a new Oasis Garden at the school.

Parents and staff were greeted by a cast of drama students including ringmasters, contortionists, magicians and strongmen, who mingled with the guests as they drank champagne to the sounds of the school’s Jazz Band, before being called in to dinner.

The Gala Dinner at Windlesham Golf Club in now an annual event for the school and during the meal, magician Mark Williams combined sleight-of-hand and comedy to entertain the guests before comparing the live auction. The Charters’ Senior Dance Group then performed a specially choreographed piece to The Greatest Showman’s ‘This Is Me’, before guests took to the dancefloor until the early hours.

Local businesses supported the school by sponsoring tables at the event and advertising in the Gala Dinner’s souvenir programme, while others donated meals, spa treatments and golf days which were purchased by parents from a themed ‘Gift Tree’.

Mr Richard Pilgrim, Headteacher at the Sunningdale School said, “A wonderful evening was had by all, courtesy of our generous parents, staff and sponsors. There was a great team of people helping our Marketing and Events Co-ordinator to organise the event and we were able to raise just over £9000, which is remarkable. Thank you for all your support.”

The funds raised by the Gala Dinner will be used to create the infrastructure for a new Oasis Garden. The garden will be created on the land which once housed the Maths Faculty, before the classrooms were relocated to the school’s new Winston STEM Building which was officially opened by Professor Robert Winston last October.

Charters School please visit the website: www.chartersschool.org.uk/   

Gala Dinner Raises £9,000