THOUSANDS of pounds were raised for good causes across the area at this year’s Charity Ball.

The event, organised by the Rotary Club of Swindon, The Adver and the Marriott hotel took place at the Marriott in Old Town on Saturday evening.

A total of 173 people attended the annual event, raising about £20,000 for seven charities.

Tim Hanley, chairman of the Charity Ball committee, said: “We are very pleased with the total. The entertainment was fantastic and we had good feedback from everybody who came.

“The Charity Ball is popular because we deal with local Swindon charities. We don’t tend to deal with charities outside of Swindon. It has just become a really popular event over the past 25 years.

“The entertainment is always good. We get the same people coming back year after year.”

This year’s event was raising funds for Swindon Women’s Aid, CALM, Swindon Carers Centre, Phoenix Toy Library, Ridgeway Breast Care Support Group, The Fluency Trust and Toothill Junior Youth Club. It started with a champagne reception, which was donated by Arkells, followed by a four-course dinner.

There was entertainment from a violinist, a group of singers and dancers called Incognito, and local band Locomotion.

Some of the funds were raised through an auction with lots including a four-night stay in Dubai with £500 in spending money, which was sold for £1,400.

There was also a silent auction that included 11 items and a raffle with 200 prizes. A £4,000 diamond ring, which was donated by Deacons, helped to raise £2,500.

The ring was part of a draw, called Doreen’s Diamond Draw, in memory of community stalwart and former Charity Ball committee member Doreen Dart.

Doreen died of lung cancer in October at the age of 84.

Tributes were paid to the former councillor at the event, both in the programme and in Tim’s speech to the crowd.

Tim, who is co-owner of Milbrooke Construction in Swindon, said: “You wouldn’t go past Doreen at the Charity Ball without having to buy a raffle ticket. She was a great character and is sadly missed.”