LONDON LESBIAN BALL 2003
14 June 2003

London Lesbian Ball 2004 on 24 April: read more >

The evening certainly started with a bang, but fortunately it was just one of many pink helium balloons advertising the “Breast cancer awareness” charity exploding as it got trapped in the lift doors!

Jacky, who runs the Champagne Dining Club, was hosting the evening and was resplendent in a bright red “toastmaster” jacket, with a single white carnation in her lapel to add that extra feminine touch. She had single-handedly organised the entire event, although commented “There were times over the past few days when I certainly felt as if I were totally mad as there were so many last minute niggles to sort out and things to organise but seeing everybody here tonight enjoying themselves makes all the hard work seem worthwhile”.

Never before have so many gorgeously dressed women been seen together in London! Everybody had made a huge effort -- there were tuxedos, decorative waistcoats, bow ties of all colours, ball gowns, little black numbers and even a tiara to be found!



Women had come from across the UK to enjoy the event -- flying down from Glasgow, travelling across from Wales and up from the south coast. And of course, plenty of Londoners too.

Jacky originally had the idea for a London Lesbian Ball having attended several similar events in Bournemouth and the New Forest when she lived on the south coast. “I’d only recently discovered the existence of women” she smiled “and was disappointed that there were very few venues where we could really dress up for a night out. It was always jeans, t-shirts and casual clothes. So I was impressed to go to my first ball in Bournemouth and really enjoyed hiring a tuxedo and dressing up for the occasion. It seemed to me that London women deserved the same opportunity, so I decided to bite the bullet and arrange an event myself”.

Originally anticipating that most attendees would be from the Champagne Dining Club membership list, Jacky envisaged approximately 100 to 150 attendees might attend so was delighted to find close to 300 people eventually buying tickets for the evening.

Large groups of friends had been able to pre-book tables, whilst single people arriving alone were met by hosts and taken to “meet and greet” tables where they were introduced to other singletons and soon made to feel at home.

The food was superb with a vast buffet selection of hot and cold savouries, with plenty of choice for both vegetarians and meat eaters. And a yummy selection of desserts that everybody assured themselves they would soon dance off as the evening progressed!

Tina Oberman was an excellent choice for the live entertainment slot with her Dusty Springfield Tribute Show. With her blonde wig and jet black eyeliner, she not only looked the part but sounded it too. She soon had the audience eating out of her hand and, to a packed dance floor sang all her favourites. An encore was a must before the music reverted back to DJs Jane and Max who provided the rest of the evening’s entertainment with all the best know and loved lesbian classics.

A raffle in aid of the “Breast cancer awareness” campaign raised several hundred pounds for the charity. Indeed, so generous were the women that sadly the raffle tickets actually ran out! The prizes were aimed thoughtfully at the all-female audience, offering anything from a luxurious massage through to a holistic consultation or free membership or entry to a variety of London’s lesbian clubs and events.

Judging from people’s reaction to Jacky as they were leaving, everybody seemed to have had a fantastic evening. “An amazing night. Thanks so much for organising it. Please do another soon!” “It’s been terrific to see everybody dressed up and have an opportunity to do something really civilised for once” commented one woman. “I was terrified when I arrived on my own, but you and your other hostesses made me feel so welcome and at home, that I feel as if I’ve spent an evening with friends and not the bunch of strangers that I thought you would be”, said an unattached guest.