This year’s Lunch with an Old Bag at Prestonfield House last month raised £760,000 for The Prince’s Trust Scotland, taking the ten year total to £5 million.
300 men and women raised the funds bidding at an auction of luxury prizes. Celebrating the iconic cabaret’s 130th anniversary, Moulin Rouge dancers Lucy Monaghan, from Glasgow and Michaella Rondelli, from Perth returned home with lead dancer Sarah Tandy, from Whitburn, to support the ‘Old Bags’ in raising the funds.
Presenting the event favourite ‘Fast Bags’ auction, while showcasing 12 show stopping vintage handmade Swarovski costumes featured in Toulouse Lautrec’s famous posters, the Scottish dancers dazzled guests with a series of designer handbags from Chloe, Gucci, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Christian Louboutin, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino raising almost £50,000 in the quick-fire auction round.
Heart FM DJ and Prince’s Trust Ambassador Des Clarke took up hosting duties to keep all the guests entertained. He was joined by Christopher Biggins and Capital DJ Amy Irons with Grant Stott conducting the Live Auction with a steel ArtFe Highland Coo, artwork from Mr Brainwash, a Norwegian Cunard cruise and an Etoupe Hermes Birkin.
Lunch with an Old Bag has raised more than £5m in the past decade which directly helps thousands of young Scots.
Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador Sophie Ross shared her story alongside other Young Ambassadors at the event. Sophie, who now works as a Call Handler after completing a Prince’s Trust programme in partnership with NHS24, previously suffered from depression and didn’t work in six years.
She said: “The Prince’s Trust gave me my confidence back because they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Working for NHS24 I now have pride and passion, something that was lost to me for years.
“So, I know exactly how important events like Lunch with an Old Bag are and how the money raised has a positive impact on young people’s lives. To be here and spend time with so many amazing women who have donated not only their money but time to be here each year has been brilliant. As a young person who has benefitted from The Prince’s Trust I can’t thank the Old Bags enough.”
Fiona Donaldson, Chair of the Lunch with an Old Bag volunteer committee, said: “Every year we’re astounded by the generosity of our guests, and this year’s support has been exceptional. And it simply wouldn’t happen without the incredible support of so many extraordinary people, including our loyal and enthusiastic sponsors. It just shows the difference a room full of “Old Bags” can make.”
Founder James Thomson OBE, who has hosted the invitation-only event at Prestonfield every year, added: “Every young person should have the chance to succeed, and with the right support and understanding, this generation of young people, who face challenges which simply couldn’t have been imagined when LWOB was launched in 2009, will fulfil their potential. We can’t thank our guests enough for helping make this ambition a reality.”
Some of the organising committee 
Ladies arriving 
Charlie Nicholsby and Kathleen O’Sullivan 
Elaine Duguid centre committee member since the first LWOB lunch with her friends Helen Wallace and Michele Stewart 
Rob Hussey left and Johnny Bacigalupo 
Fiona Donaldson Chair of LWOB and James Thomson OBE owner of Prestonfield House Hotel 
Patrick Hayes the toastmaster
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
