Businesswomen will be getting in the swing by donning glamorous 1940s glad rags for this year’s vintage-themed Bling Fling charity “jamboree”.
The vintage theme has been chosen to commemorate VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) which marks the 75th anniversary of the formal end of World War II, because this year’s event, on Friday May 1, takes place just a week before the May 8 celebrations.
The Bling Fling charity businesswomen’s lunch is held annually at The Arches in Dean Clough, Halifax, in aid of the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield.
Head of the Bling Fling Committee Vicki Davenport said: “With the VE Day celebrations so close at hand, we decided a vintage theme would be most appropriate for this year’s event. To really get into the spirit of the era, we ask that every lady attends in their best Vintage attire – and there will be a prize for the best dressed guest on the day”.
To support the ladies with putting on the style, The Bling Fling has partnered with High Society, purveyors of fine vintage clothing, at The Carding Shed, a retro, vintage-themed experience, based in a former mill in Holmfirth. High Society will donate 20% of the cost of any outfits bought by Bling Fling ladies to the Forget Me Not charity coffers.
The company has also provided another exciting attraction for the event, in the form of The Beast – a vintage car belonging to classic car company I K Classics, based at the Carding Shed.
The Beast is a favourite at vintage vehicle events like “Race the Waves” in Bridlington and will no doubt be a magnet for souvenir selfies at the Bling Fling.
The Beast started life as a 1939 25hp Town & Country Saloon, but was badly damaged in an electrical fire some years ago. Three years ago, the rolling chassis came into the hands of I K Classics, where they set about restoring and modifying it to its current incarnation. It now takes the guise of a 1920/30s-style two-seater touring racer, similar to a vintage Bentley. The engine and gearbox are from a V12 Jaguar E-type with most of the other components sourced from auto jumbles and online.
Around 300 businesswomen from across Kirklees and Calderdale will be attending the Bling Fling, which has now become such a popular date on the Calendar that this year’s tickets sold out within a week of going on sale.
As always, there will be lots of different ways to win prizes, such as an auction, slam dunk lucky dip, a raffle and a balloon pop for the star prize. This year, the lucky winner will pick up a villa holiday in Spain, courtesy of Peter David Properties, Estate Agents, based in Halifax, Brighouse, Hebden Bridge and Huddersfield.
Other business backers for this year’s event are Halifax-based Aquaspersions, manufacturers of water-based additives for the polymer and association industries; Core Facility, facilities services providers, based in Calderdale and Kirklees; Franklyns Jewellers of Halifax; and Huddersfield Landrover dealership, Rybrook Landrover, plus many other generous local businesses.
Last year’s Floral Bling Fling raised an impressive £22,000 for the Hospice, topping the £17,750 raised by the inaugural Diamond Bling Fling in 2018, so organisers are hopeful that this year’s event will smash the record once again.
Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice supports families whose children have life-shortening illnesses. They need to raise £4 million a year to continue to care for the more than 500 families they look after.
