Kim Fletcher's famous weekly pub diaries at Jameson's started with the first publication Wednesday, January 26th, 2005.  Each Thursday night, local time, a new diary will be uploaded for your viewing pleasure.

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Tel: (038) 415 304 - 8

An awesome 7.7 million baht raised by the Jesters 11th Charity Drive

The Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive Committee takes a breather from the hectic pace of the party night at Jameson’s. The drive ending event brought the total raised to 7.7 million. Awesome!

Mike Franklin
What a fabulous night it was at Jameson’s Irish Pub on Saturday September 20 for the final fund-raising event of the Jesters 11th Anniversary ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive year.

Woody declares the night open.
Corporate and individual sponsorship had exceeded all previous years, the Jesters Children’s Fair at Diana Garden Resort driving range was an outstanding success, so all that was left was the Jesters Party Night to round off the 2008 Jesters 11th Charity Drive in style. It was a party night for everybody, just as the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive strives to cover all the needs of the underprivileged kids. The money raised at Jameson’s on Saturday September 20 closed the Charity Drive account for 2008 and, with the excellent attendance at the party and enthusiastic support for the Grand Raffle and the Auction, an impressive total of over 1 million baht was raised.
It is hard to believe that from small beginnings eleven years ago Lewis ‘Woody’ Underwood, on behalf of the hard working Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive Committee, could announce yet another record result in this our 11th Anniversary year - a staggering 7,763,136 baht. Thus, guaranteeing another record benefit year ahead for the Kids and our beneficiaries.

The party auctioneer Bob Philp.
But what of the Jesters Party Night that preceded the announcement of the result?
The ‘Party’ really kicked off in earnest at 7.15 pm when Erik Sorensen and Robert Jonasson arrived back from Trat after yet another fourteen hour exhausting, but highly successful marathon cycle ride, with sponsorship this year totaling just under 500,000 baht. What can you say about these two amazing and dedicated athletes - they do it every year, and in total have raised over 3.2 million baht on their bicycles to date.
It was their arrival back at Jameson’s that signaled the official opening of the Jesters Party Night by Woody, which was followed soon after by star Bangkok DJ providing commentary about the agenda for the evening. Jim London, who sings for charity events like this and only discovered his voice when he was 58, was also on hand to provide his ‘Sinatra style’ entertainment. Unfortunately though, Jim was only able to get through a few songs before a technical problem cut short his performance.

Erik Sorensen and Robert Jonasson arrive back from Trat after a highly successful marathon cycle ride, raising almost 500,000 baht this year.
As a result, the Auction soon ensured featuring a multitude of sports and music memorabilia, antiques and more - far too many lots to call at the party. So, for many weeks leading up to the party, all lots were featured on the Jameson’s and Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ web sites and silent bids invited. The pre-bid items were closed leaving the remaining prime lots in the hands of the party auctioneer - the very personable and ebullient Kiwi Bob Philp. Calling the bids and closing at the right moment is a skill, and essential for an entertaining and efficiently run auction. Bob was certainly up for it and so it was on this party night. Key too was the Jesters Committee back-up team for ‘bid spotting’, displaying the lots and signing-up the successful bidder. Thanks here to the Jesters team of Debs, Linden, Karen and Ingrid; Ronny and Pete for displaying the lots, and Sunkan spotting the bidders.

Representative of Derek Reaper receives the winning Qantas Airline tickets to Australia from Graham McDonald.
The auction ran throughout the evening with occasional brief music breaks and eventually topped 690,000 baht. Pop’s Pattaya All Stars played the first set between the end of the auction and the start of the Grand Raffle draw close to midnight to energize the crowd. (The winning bids for the auction items are listed nearby).
The Grand Raffle top 9 prizes were drawn live. The overall list of prizes included Qantas Airline tickets to Australia, a Honda Click motorcycle, Jameson’s Carvery, with wine, every week for a year, Sony Bravia LCD TV, holidays to Angkor Wat and Hua Hin, top restaurant and resort vouchers, tickets to the Thai Open Tennis finals, jewelry, wine and much more. The Grand Raffle tickets are always a good buy - a donation to ‘Care for Kids’ and the chance to win a valuable prize. Muffy Kerr and Scar Taylor were characteristically persistent and kept the sales going throughout the evening, leading to a successful conclusion overall, with sales over 328,000 baht. (Grand Raffle prize-winners are listed nearby)

PMTV’s Paul Strachan, the lucky winner of Sony Bravia LCD TV.
The entire Jesters Party Night Grand Raffle & Auction, and the Children’s Fair raffle results are listed on our web sites at www.care4kids.info and www. jamesons-pattaya.com
Successful auction bidders please note the items can be paid for and picked up at Jameson’s from Manager Moo after 1 pm Monday through Saturday. Grand Raffle winners too, on production of the winning ticket stubs and/or ID.
All the Jesters Committees would like to thanks all Jameson’s staff especially Moo (Pornthip Luanoi) and Wanchai Pingate who worked so hard during the day and a very special thanks to Ron Keeley who did the magnificent jobs on Auction Items and thank you to everybody for making it’s a great night.
The Jesters Party Night TV coverage will be aired on the five PMTV networks Saturday September 27. Tune in then, and watch the Party Night unfold to its successful 11th Charity Drive record conclusion of 7.76 million baht.
It was a night for everyone and a memorable wind-down to a quite extraordinary Jesters 11th Anniversary year, with the Party Night and Children’s Fair that can only be described together, as simply awesome.

All captions from Pattaya Mail.

The 2008 Charity Night Grand Raffle Prize winners: