A summer success

Issue #1327a [Jun 23rd 2005]

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Last Saturday saw the most successful Imperial College Union summer ball in many years. Turnout was high – with over 1450 tickets sold – and the event made a profit.

Organisers secured over £34,000 from the College and corporate sponsors to fund the ball. The surplus, which is expected to be at least £2000, will go towards next year’s summer ball or other Union events and entertainments.

The evening began with a drinks reception in the Tanaka Business School before guests walked down a red carpet to a marquee on the Queen’s Lawn for dinner.

Musical entertainment was provided by Radio 1 DJs Trevor Nelson and Colin Murray, plus a host of support acts, in the Great Hall and the Main Dining Hall. Meanwhile, the JCR was transformed into a casino and games room. Fairground rides were popular attractions outside.

Breakfast was served at around 3am, giving hundreds of guests the extra energy to make it through until dawn, when the survivors’ photograph was taken.

Last year’s ball, held at Alexandra Palace, attracted less than 1000 guests and made a loss of over £15,000, leading some organisers to recommend that the event should never go ahead again. But this year’s summer ball committee proved otherwise, thanks in no small part to a massive publicity campaign. The event was promoted heavily around College, most notably by ‘film stars’ in fancy dress, and in the student media.