“Saturday 21st January saw around 250 people gather together to remember a fantastic young man who was taken too soon. Paul Wilkins passed away on his 22nd birthday whilst celebrating with friends, life for his family and friends has never been the same since.
Every year we gather together to remember Paul, celebrate his birthday and mark his anniversary, all proceeds from the night go to CRY and the Police Cadets where Paul had been an active member. For the second year running we held Paul’s night at Belvedere Social Club in Nuxley Village, they kindly donated £50 to us at the end of the night.
We are very thankful to many organisations who donated to our raffle including a signed Charlton FC shirt donated by Paul’s family, A signed Nani photo and team photo from Manchester United FC, FA gifts, Millwall FC tickets, Watford FC signed pennant, Vouchers from Lakeside, Kwik Fit MOT, Arcadia, Serenity Rooms aromatherapy massage, Dorothy Perkins, Lego-land, Rain Forest Cafe, Chiquito, Nandos, Sarah Coleman for a cut colour & blow dry, Charley Standing for the XXX box, David Lloyd Spa Day, Harrods massage and beauty products, Sheaffer for 2 pens, Fiorelli for 2 lovely bags, Debenhams for Dior Perfume, La Senza pyjamas, Shaftesbury Theatre Rock of ages & The London Palladium Wizard of Oz tickets, Oaktree Electrical for a 22 inch flat screen tv and Darent River FC for Bluewater Vouchers, we also had cash donations from the Venue Nightclub, The Great Wall Chinese in Pickford Lane, A partner of Edwin Coe Solicitors and the HSBC. We were also lucky enough to be able to hold a separate raffle for 2 fabulous holidays courtesy of Janet & Andrew Thomas for an all expenses paid week in a luxury caravan including ferry crossings to the Isle of Wight & Martin & Debbie Wright for a week in their private villa in Turkey. Many many thanks also to the people who were unable to come but kindly sent donations.
We started the evening with a live singer Perry Brookes who set the mood for the remainder of the entertainment with Mitchell Oates and ‘Oh What A Night’ disco, we partied hard and ended the night as always in a huge circle singing and dancing to Paul’s song ‘Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now’.
In total with ticket sales, kind donations and raffle / auction monies we raised £3,600 for both C-R-Y and the Police Cadets and would like to thank everyone who made it possible, and we look forward to doing it all again next year.”
Michelle Palmer
