A sparkling evening of entertainment in the name of charity saw 1981 Eurovision winners Bucks Fizz roll back the years with a performance which included their worldwide hit song Making Your Mind Up.
The Eastern Daily Press and its sister titles put on the inaugural Norfolk and Norwich Press Ball at the Norfolk Showground which saw hundreds of people eat, drink and be merry – and at the same time provide vital financial support to fabulous causes.
The Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB) and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust were among the charities to benefit from the event, hosted by BBC's David Whiteley.
Former Canaries star Jeremy Goss, speaking on behalf of the NNAB, said: 'We all know how well the EDP and Norwich Evening News champion their communities of readers and tonight's cash will enable us to do the same on behalf of the visually-impaired communities in Norfolk.'
Mr Whiteley said: 'I think it's a wonderful evening. The EDP has done a great job in putting together a great evening where people can raise money by having a good time.'
Guests arrived at the showground at Costessey for a Bucks Fizz reception, followed by a meal featuring fine dining supplied by some of Norfolk's top producers.
During the evening people were able to text bids for 40 prizes in a silent auction, which included two tickets to the Aviva Premiership rugby final at Twickenham in May 2014, and 14 prizes in the main auction, which included the chance to have a perfume designed by Ipswich-based Omega Ingredients, which makes perfumes for famous people around the world.
But it was 1980s pop sensation Bucks Fizz who stole the show at the end of a memorable evening, with original members Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston performing the band's hits, including the Eurovision-winning number Making Your Mind Up.
Chris Kennard, one of the directors of Shadwell Estate, which sponsored one of the tables at which sat people who do good work in Thetford, said: 'It's a great gathering of people from all around Norfolk. We're particularly pleased to be sponsoring a table with some really good people from Thetford who do so much.
'We're pleased to give them an evening out and support a very worthwhile fundraising evening.'
Eastern Daily Press editor Nigel Pickover described it as a 'stunning, magical evening'. He said: 'We hope to raise significant cash for the charities and want to thank everyone so much for coming.' He added: 'I'm delighted and thrilled everyone made such an effort.'
Mr Pickover also thanked BBC TV and radio presenter David Whiteley who offered his services free: 'I pay tribute to David Whiteley for spending his night down here.'
Johnny Hustler, managing director of Archant Anglia, said: 'It's a superb event raising money for some fantastic good causes. We're so lucky to have had such support from Norwich and Norfolk businesses and the bidding in our auctions has been amazing. We're also really grateful to the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. It's the second night in a row we've been here in this wonderful setting. This has been a great success.'
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