By Hannah Flint
Hundreds of people attended a Christmas fair at Whitehall Palace to help raise an astounding £40,000 for Save the Children.
Around 900 people descended on the annual Christmas Cocktail at Banqueting House last Tuesday (December 3), which has been home to the Chelsea and Westminster branch's festive event for the last 25 years.
More than 60 stalls were set up under the impressive ceiling painted by Rubens in 1636 to offer clothing, cheese, a tombola, a raffle and present ideas in the biggest volunteer-led event by Save the Children in the UK.
A total of £30,000 was raised directly from the Cocktail, and was topped off by a £10,000 donation raised by one volunteer through a sponsored walk.
Clayton Ricketts, fundraising manager for Save the Children in Greater London, said: "It was amazing and the perfect setting. It was nice to see people meeting up who come every year for the first time since the last Christmas Cocktail. It was a nice, warm feeling.
"The event helped us go past our fundraising target for the year and although we've raised this much before, we haven't in recent years so it was really good."
