Wildlife Charity Event raises more than £ 2500 for the David Shepherd Foundation

Our evening with Andy Skillen,  the renowned wildlife photographer was thoroughly enjoyed by more than 180 people in the main hall at Fairfield Church.  Andy entertained us with his excellent video clips and photographs presenting a fascinating and amusing picture of his adventures.  Guests were welcomed with sparkling wine and a wide choice of canapés.   Our raffle was supported by local businesses and our members who donated prizes.  The main prize was a limited edition print donated by Andy and won by a member of the Harpenden Camera Club.  

The money raised during the evening will all go to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and their efforts to End Extinction.

Our thanks go to Andy,  his partner Carrie (The Chef) and all those who freely gave of their time to make this a memorable evening.  Thanks too to Hemel Hempstead Camera Club for their support.  We are grateful to those who generously provided the prizes,  particularly Amelie Chocolate and Taylors of Old Bond Street as well as the items,  largely alcoholic, from our members.

The wine was provided by a South Devon vineyard called Sharpham at Sandridge Barton. 

The canapes were provided by Carrie The Chef (Andy’s partner), a private caterer.

We would also like to thank Fairfield Church and administrator Candy Crane for their help and support in the preparation of the event.

We were really pleased to receive some good reviews of the evening, 

From: Georgina Lamb <Georgina.Lamb@davidshepherd.org>
Sent: 13 December 2024 17:12
…..
Subject: Thank you!

Dear Kevan,

I wanted to drop you a note on behalf of everyone at David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation to say a huge and heartfelt thank you for supporting Andy and his talk at the Pinner club recently which saw a fantastic amount raised to help wildlife.

I have heard nothing but fantastic feedback from the event and was only sorry I couldn’t personally attend!

Andy has passed on what a fantastic team you have all been in both the run up to the event and in providing support on the night.  I am sure everyone was riveted by Andy’s photographic stories of adventure and intrigue which I know he delivers with such enthusiasm and humour and makes for a fantastic and enjoyable evening.

The funds raised will go a long way to help support our conservation efforts across Africa and Asia and we are all hugely grateful for the role you played in making the evening such a success.

Thank you again on behalf of us all, and of course on behalf of the wildlife you have helped protect.

Warmest wishes for the festive season,

Georgie

RH: Thanks for a truly exceptional event last night with Andy Skillen.  I have not heard Andy speak before but I have heard many speakers talking about photography and many other subjects.  I was very impressed.  His combination of great still images and great video clips were of course an excellent foundation.  The totally professional way in which the audio-visuals were put together was the next layer.  The performance was capped by his eloquence as a speaker and the many jokes which he weaved into the session.  Finally, the fact that there was also a serious message about the plight of animal species and that it was a charity event to help them gave the evening meaning beyond entertainment.   …….. The organisation on the night was made to look effortless (which of course is far from the reality). 

DH:  For me it was going well even before we got out of the car. Thank you so much  for  the thoughtful parking arrangement.  It greatly helped as I need to get pretty close  now as my legs are not at all good.
…………………….  Main reason for coming for me was that the name Sheppard  is important to me. His elephant paintings being the very first pieces of art that I can remember enjoying back when I must have been only  seven or eight (70 years ago) and living in south London and regularly cycling down to a little art shop in Lewisham that had these  wonderful paintings  of charging elephants  signed by someone called David Sheppard.   Then Andy’s  delivery. Of course we  are all too conversant with  the nature programmes on the TV now. It has come along way since Hans and Lotte Hass.    However Andy’s  show  gave us so much  more of the fun, the jeopardy and the  danger.  Nothing you could show on TV as it would probably  contravene health and safety. It was mesmerizing  specially the  bear on that mountain track. Quite wonderful.  …………   For me it makes me want to go out and make a better connection with the  animals with whom we share the planet.
In short a  tremendous  evening 

Andy Skillen commented after the event:  I really enjoyed it – and the buzz in the room was special.    ………. It was a fantastic occasion, …… I hope everyone else did too. I got a message this morning from a guy from the USA, whom I’d met in Canada earlier this year when working with the wolves. He’d been passing thru’ London yesterday, so trekked out to the talk as he’d seen it on instagram! He loved it…and certainly wins the prize for the person that came furthest. We had people we know from Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and the Midlands there too – it was incredible.