IMCA Midsummer Charity Ball 2008

The 2008 IMCA midsummer charity ball, in aid of the Sailors' Society, took place on Friday 6 June at Castle Fraser in Aberdeenshire, UK. A Scottish piper welcomed over 250 guests from the turrets of this fantastic National Trust of Scotland property. A champagne reception was held in the castle's great hall and library with a pianist and harpist providing musical accompaniment in the two rooms. When dinner was announced, guests were piped in to a beautifully decorated marquee in the grounds.

IMCA Chief Executive Hugh Williams formally welcomed guests to the ball while the society's Reverend Howard Drysdale said grace as the exquisite three course dinner commenced, again accompanied by harp music. During dessert, the main entertainment began with group te POOKa giving a juggling and comedy performance with theatrical characters including an admiral pirate accompanied by percussion music.

With the Euro 2008 football championship due to start the following day, the annual ‘heads and tails' game was replaced with ‘yellow card, red card', which raised funds for the Sailors' Society, "a worldwide organization providing a personal lifeline for seafarers without distinction for nationality or faith which exists to enrich and enhance seafarers' lives, replacing their isolation with belonging".

IMCA President Knut Boe of Technip gave a brief address after coffee before dancing got underway to the sound of the Simon Howie Dance Band, with a mix of traditional Scottish folk tunes assisted by dance ‘callers' and more modern music. A casino organised by Ellon & District Round Table helped swell the charity receipts to a record £3,000.

Approaching midnight, guests moved out into the castle grounds for a theatrical acrobatic fire show by te POOKa, performed to traditional and modern celtic music, with a combination of torches and fire sculptures in the background.