Hastings Platinum Champion's networking lunch hailed a major success

Lord Brett McLean held his Business and Community Networking Luncheon at Coast Restaurant based at the Sussex Coast College Hastings on Tuesday.

Special guests included Penny Ellis from television's Big Brother, The Chairman of East Sussex County Council, Cllr Roy Galley, The Chairman of Rother District Council Cllr Richard Thomas, The Town Mayor of Bexhill Cllr Paul Wilson, Deputy Mayor of Bexhill Cllr Memish Hussain and South East Lions Zone Chairman Roger Bluff.

The event once again reached full capacity and included vocal one minute presentations from those in the room, a small exhibition area promoting services and products and a charity auction raising funds for The Albany Taxi Charity Run To The Sun Appeal.

Big Brother reality star Penny Ellis auctioned 2 copies of her biography Meet Me At The Mirror which described her life inside and outside the Big Brother House.

The Deputy Mayor of Bexhill Cllr Memish Hussain won the first copy raising £100 whilst Hastings and Eastbourne Pier owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar won the bidding for the second copy of Penny's book raising £175.00.

The £275.00 was raised for the Albany Taxi Charity Run To The Sun Appeal which sees 200 disabled and disadvantaged children and their carers transported annually in a convoy of 60 London Taxis travel to Hastings to spend a funday at the seaside.

Sheikh Abid Gulzar during the course of the luncheon very kindly offered to provide his Boship Farm Lion Hotel for next year's Albany Taxi Charity Run free of charge for the children, carers and volunteer Taxi drivers.

In addition to the monies raised and the generosity of Sheikh Gulzar, the luncheon also provided the opportunity for Tubbs Computers of Eastbourne to donate two lap top computers to The Friends of Ukrainians in Great Britain - Eastbourne Group who have now sent the computers to a Ukrainian hospital for patient information data concerning the wounded.

Other offers of help included Hastings Morrisons offering their support to the HUG Project ( Bexhill based Homeless Unity Group) and the Albany Taxi Charity Run To The Sun Appeal for next year.

Platinum Champion Lord Brett McLean said " Todays luncheon was a huge hit and has been deemed a major success by all those in attendance.

I'm very grateful to Penny Ellis, our Council Chairmen, The Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Bexhill and the Lions South East Zone Chairman for their attendance.

I'm also delighted that everyone enjoyed the cuisine which was lovingly prepared, cooked and served by the dedicated and committed catering students based at the Coast Training Restaurant.

These luncheons which I've been hosting for 15 years are designed to connect businesses, community groups and representatives from government all under one roof and form part of the multi charity campaign known as The Month of Community. "

Lord Brett McLean will be hosting his next college based luncheon on Wednesday 16th October as part of the annual Hastings Week celebrations.