WOW!!! What a year!
As we reflect on the last 12months, we can only smile and be thankful for 2023 and the brilliant year we have had!
In January, we moved from Echo Sixty One being something of a 'side hustle' to a full time venture. It's been an epic year; hosting a record number of events, our first theatre show, connecting with new clients and businesses and sticking to our commitment to host top events with some amazing sporting stars while supporting the work of the JE3 Foundation.
It was great to start the year with a brilliant Q&A night with former Tottenham captain, Gary Mabbutt. With stories of his brilliant career at Spurs; his debut, jubilation of winning the UEFA Cup in '84, heartbreak in '87 and the euphoria of being last Tottenham captain to lift the FA Cup...!
We continued our packed events calendar with our second dinner event at Camberley Heath Golf Club, as we welcomed our favourite football manager and member of jungle royalty; Harry Redknapp, back to Surrey for a second event in 12months. It was a top night of great food and brilliant stories with lots laughter.
In May, it was great to be in the presence of a World Cup Winner as we welcomed Osvaldo Ardiles, and his good friend and former Tottenham team-mate Paul Miller to Chessington, for an end of season special. It was great to hear their thoughts on the current premier league as well as stories from the dressing room in the 1980's!
We also hosted our inaugural event in Elmbridge, as we hosted a Dinner with the King of TalkSport Breakfast, Alan Brazil, at the beautiful Burhill Golf Club! Uncontrollable laughter, great food... and a lot of wine! Alan is a born storyteller, we really hope we can welcome him back to Surrey in the not to distant future.
Back in the Surrey Hills we ended the first half of the year with a memorable night ... Dinner with Teddy Sheringham at Tyrrells Wood Golf Club was a personal highlight; the usual great food and brilliant stories were the foundation for a top night, but who could have predicted having our very own masked singer sing-a-long or raising over £13k for the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation, it really was a special night. Thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable evening!
The summer arrived, and with it came our very own Brazilian Carnival... Sandro in Chessington! If you missed it, you missed out... recalling stories of his childhood in Brazil, winning the Copa Libertadores with Internacional, his time at Tottenham under Harry and hilarious stories about his former team mates! I am a big fan of a sing-a-long, and the Brazilian maestro did not disappoint... Liam Gallagher, eat your heart out!
The one ambition we had for 2023 was to bring Paul Gascoigne to Surrey; and we knew 100 tickets just wouldn't be enough! It was a phenomenal night hosting Gazza at Epsom Playhouse with over 400 football fans, from across Surrey. There was barely time for us to catch a breath between hilarious stories from one of footballs biggest characters. Gazza story-told his way through his legendary football career, sharing stories of the (now legendary) pranks he pulled on team mates, as well as some never before heard stories which kept us all laughing all night! Not only is he one of the greatest players to play the beautiful game, but he is undoubtedly one of the best story tellers too!
Two final events to end the year; first, back to Camberley Heath for a great night with 'Magic' Chris Waddle! With fans from Tottenham, Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United in the room, it was fair to say he is regarded a legend wherever he has played... Chris, regaled the audience with stories from his remarkable football career; including playing under the management of two iconic figures, Jack Charlton and Bobby Robson.
Our final event of the year went off with a bang! By popular demand, Harry was back in for a Christmas special! Santa hats at the ready, it was a top night of even more stories from our favourite manager! However, the evening was not only about the King of the Jungle; the perfect way to end the year was for Echo Sixty One and JE3 Foundation to present our long term venue; Rhodrons Club, Chessington with a life-saving gift – a defibrillator which will not just enhance the safety and well-being the clubs members and guests, but the wider community of Chessington.
We are proud to say that through our charity partnership with the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation, we raised a grand total of just under £30,000 this year! We are both so humbled by this, and can not thank all of you enough for your generosity in getting involved with all our fundraising efforts!
We would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people who have made this year such a success.... First, the sponsors of this years events; Liquid Gold Whisky Co., Milners of Ashtead, Surrey and Elmbridge Prestige Homes, Adair and Unily. Secondly our hosts, Paul Coyte, Richard Cracknell and Adam Smith, for your perfect navigation through the evenings. Thirdly; the teams at Tyrrells Wood Golf Club, Burhill Golf Club, Camberley Heath Golf Club, Rhodrons Club and Epsom Playhouse, especially Nick, Jess, Corrina and Elaine. And of course our amazing team; Natasha, Jonny, Felicity, Emma, Hanna, Amy, Natz and Jason, we honestly couldn't do it without you!
Lastly, I would like to thank YOU for your support this year in attending our events, it has been a pleasure to host you and we look forward to seeing you in 2024!
Until then... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Naomi & Darren