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| SEE
ALSO |
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BBC
Sport - Motorsport
BBC
Northamptonshire - British Grand Prix
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| WEB
LINKS |
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British
Grand Prix
Mark
Webber Official Site
The BBC is not responsible for the content
of external websites.
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| ESSENTIAL
INFO |
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Stowe
House
Stowe House dates in parts from 1676.
Originally a modest brick mansion, it was extended by Viscount
Cobham and his heirs over a period exceeding 100 years.
Stowe
was a popular aristocratic visiting place, culminating in
the visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1845.
But nearly 50 years later, the death of the 3rd Duke of Buckingham
signalled the end of the family line.
The
House was empty until sold at auction in 1921.
It seemed likely that the House would fall into disrepair,
but fortunately the now famous Stowe School was founded and
opened in 1923.
In
recent times, Stowe House and its grounds have become popular
locations for weddings, corporate functions, backdrops for
magazine photoshoots and movie sets.
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The
Silverstone Grand Prix Ball, the event that kicks off the Silverstone
F1 weekend in spectacular style, was held in the stunning setting
of Stowe House, Buckinghamshire, less than a mile from the Silverstone
circuit, on Friday night.
Epitomising
all the glamour of the International Grand Prix Circuit, it was
attended by celebrities, F1 drivers, girls wearing very little (underwear!)
and the BBC Beds, Herts and Bucks Web team - who were well covered
up!
With
tickets like gold dust and over £700 per head (*), 1,400 private
guests including 'I'm a Celebrity's' Kerry McFadden, her husband
and ex-Westlife star Bryan, Eddie Jordan and family plus a host
of F1 drivers and pundits enjoyed a glamorous evening of schmoozing
in the summer sunshine.
Arriving
by limousines, flash cars and even luxury coaches, guests made short
work of free-flowing champagne at a reception where they also had
a chance to look at F1 racing cars and other stylish looking vehicles
that were set out on the extensive lawns.
Then
before sitting down to a lavish dinner, an auction was held which
raised more than £1.5 million for charity.
Some
of the exciting items on offer were a BMW M3, a trip to Bordeaux
in private plane, two paddock passes to the Monza GP and our personal
favourite - a
sleepover at Hamleys for 8 children.
There
was also a lot of signed F1 merchandise available to bid for and
signed football boots from Ruud, Ronaldo and Roon!
The
evening finished with an amazing line up of entertainment including
a Fireworks Spectacular accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
and music from The Stranglers and Kid Creole and the Coconuts.
There
are three Grand Prix Balls held every year in Monaco, Silverstone
and London and they've have raised over £4,000,000 for charity
in five years. This evening was a fundraiser for Great Ormond Street
Hospital.
*
The Web team would like to reassure visitors to this site that
no licence payers money was spent on getting to this gig! They
were just taking pictures and didn't get a whiff of champagne
nor a single canape! They did however have to dress up which was
very exciting! And one of our number made the most of the cheap
cigarettes and almost turned a glamorous evening into a 'booze
cruise'!
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