The GOSH Gala

On 3 December 2014, the GOSH Gala raised a phenomenal £1million for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) with a magical Willy Wonka-themed evening.

With the help of the committee, co-chaired by Lady Wolfson of Marylebone and Ken Costa, the ballroom of the magnificent Rosewood Hotel was transformed into a chocolate factory to celebrate the magic of Christmas. The evening welcomed 250 special guests, including Rod Stewart, Penny Lancaster-Stewart, Barbara Windsor and Tom Ellis. As well as being hosted by the wonderful Rory Bremner, guests enjoyed an evening of exclusive sets from Simply Red's Mick Hucknall, Lucy Kay, The Overtones and magic from Jasz Vegas.

Throughout the evening, guests pledged towards items of life-saving equipment and vital welfare facilities in order to give a very special gift to the patients and families at GOSH at Christmas. All the money raised from the event will support the hospitals most urgent needs and allow the hospital to purchase pieces of equipment that will aid diagnosis, counteract pain, enable us to develop new treatments and ultimately save lives.

This is the third time that the GOSH Gala has taken place, raising over £2.8million in total for the hospital.

The previous two events, held in 2010 and 2012, raised an incredible £1.7million for GOSH collectively. The first event saw Harrods Georgian Restaurant transformed into a Victorian Christmas wonderland, celebrating the hospital’s unique relationship with Charles Dickens, one of our very first fundraisers. The event was attended by the ball’s Patron, Samantha Cameron, and Princess Beatrice of York.

In 2012, supported again by Harrods, guests were transported ‘under the Christmas tree’ with oversized presents, toys and real life ballerinas and soldiers, which truly celebrated the magic of Christmas. In addition to this, across the two events we have been extremely privileged to be entertained by Jason Manford, John Culshaw, the Jersey Boys, Beverley Knight and Gary Barlow.