English Ball

Apr. 23, 2004

Hotel Pierre, NY, NY

The 2004 English Ball was a great event. It marked the 234th anniversary of the founding of the St. Georges Society, a philanthropic organization founded in 1770 by English residents of New York. The event started off with a generous cocktail reception within the hotel’s garden foyer, with a distinctive assortment of various gourmet cheeses, meats, crackers and fruit. The service was just superb. There was a lovely silent auction also there, with a unique assortment of cherishables for one to bid on.

Following the cocktail reception came the gala in the Grand Ballroom, where Reverend Robin Griffith Jones, of the Temple Church, gave the invocation for the evening. The audience was then welcomed by the St. Georges Society’s President.

Rodney Johnson then proceeded Sir Thomas Harris, the British Consulate General, who expressed sincere gratitude for being honored, and then went on to talk a little bit about the St. Georges Society organization and the work they did over the past 234 years

After the Sir Harris’s presentation, everyone was invited to enjoy their dinner and dance to the music of the Alex Donner Orchestra.

The main course of the dinner was beautifully preceded by a toast to the President of the United States, George W. Bush, and another toast to the Queen of England, along with the National Anthem and God Save the Queen

The next presentation was made to Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation of North America and Vice Chairman of Sony Corporation (worldwide) by Sir David Frost, the world renowned filmmaker and television talk show host, who had everyone in stitches laughing at this distinctly dry British style of humour. He made references to a number of radio bloopers, One radio announcer said “.and today there was a an unorganized conference . . I’m sorry, today there was a U.N. organized conference.”, while a disk jockey said “.. and now, a special record for Ms. Sylvia Davis who is 111 . . I’m sorry, a special record for Ms Sylvia Davis who is ill.”

Sir Davis then introduced the honoree, Sir Howard Stringer, to be honored with a beautiful gold medal. Sir Stringer, upon being awarded his medal, the days when he first knew David Frost, and the tennis games they used to go to, joking about John McEnroe and how John would go swinging his racket at the box of anyone in the audience who made too much noise. Everyone laughed their heads off. Sir Stringer then, after having the audience thoroughly amused, brought his talk to a more serious and warmly touching note, indicating the deep friendship he and David had for so many years. The audience was indeed touched by the sediment (I’m sorry) The audience was deeply touched by the sentiment. (I take a bit to David Frost’s humour)
After the presentation of the award came more dancing and a delicious dessert of creamy custard surrounded by iscoceles triangles of dark chocolate.

The purpose of the St. Georges Society is to offer aid and assistance to individuals of English origin. Since the time of the organization’s inception, the criterion for those individuals qualifying for assistance was expanded to include the British Commonwealth and the United Kingdom. The society is, as well, a social organization, boasting a membership in excess of 700 people. The founders of the Society, at the very beginning, had made and agreed, to a decree that would have everyone in the organization gather annually, on the 23rd of April 23rd, to mark the anniversary of the organization’s beginning. Other affiliate organizations which have been founded along the way by the St. Georges society are St. Lukes Hospital and the Anglo-American Free Church of St. George the Martyr.

Over the course of St. George’s society’s existence, the organization had made arrangements for loyalists to return back to England in the 18th Century, and had made arrangements for British immigrants to settle in New York in the 19th Century. In the 20th Century, the St. George’s Society had made arrangements for British war brides to adjust to life.

The simple mission of the St. Georges Society is to assist those who need their help in a criteria-chosen basis. According to Rodney N.J. Johnson, MBE, the President, the St. George’s Society often provides the very basic necessities of life, food, shelter, heat, clothing and the means for medical care. As Mr. Johnson further states, they are sometimes in the position to help save a life and other times [sadly] to provide for a dignified burial.

Other celebrities on hand were Tina Brown, former publisher extraordinaire, world renowned journalist, and TV talk show host, Jim Dale, Tony Awarding winning actor who was won Best Actor in a Musical for his early 1980’s Broadway hit “Barnum.”, and many, many more.

This event was fabulous, and we at Liberty News Online Magazine have John Shannon, the Executive Director of the St. Georges Society, to thank for his invitation and accommodation, which made this article possible. We would again like to congratulate all of the honorees on their accomplishments, and we invite everyone who would like to attend next year’s event, make a donation to the society, or simply learn more about the society, to log onto their website, at http://www.stgeorgessociety.org.

Abbey H. Muneer is the Executive Director of H.A.D. Organization of New York City, Inc., a world-famous athlete, author and, above all, a humanitarian. Abbey will write articles about charity events, benefits, fundraisers and galas which are raising money for humantiarian causes. If you are interested in having Abbey and one his staff members cover one of your charity events, benefits, fundraisers or galas, feel free to notify us one week in advance, at LNEvents@hadofnyc.org, or telephone us at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. and ask to speak to Abbey or Maria. If you would like more information, or would like to have Liberty News Online Magazine consult your next charitable event, please feel free to visit our website, at http://www.hadofnyc.org/store/success.html, email us at humanitarians@hadofnyc.org, or telephone our hotline, at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. (U.S.A.)