Heacham & District News

Michele Rudd and Carole Hall accept floral tributes for their fundraising efforts

Two local ladies, Michele Rudd and Carole Hall, are bucking the recession to launch an exciting new business.  Shazarele offer – for sale or hire – a range of exquisite ball gowns and prom dresses.  A charity fashion show, in aid of Campaign Care 94, launched the new business on 11 March 2010 at the Le Strange Hotel in Hunstanton.  Campaign Care 94 was formed to raise funds to fight against cancer and Tapping House Hospital (now Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House) became associated with Campaign Care.  Michele and Carole were very keen to support such a worthy cause and launch their new business at the same time.

As a result, a glittering evening of glamour was created and it was a resounding success.  (More tickets had to be printed to try and accommodate the over-subscription!)   The Barn Hair & Beauty Salon from Dersingham styled the hair and make up for the models and Jazzy Gems provided the jewellery accessories and   Nick from Scent With Love in Hunstanton provided floral displays and a silk flower for each show goer.  Each of these local businesses had stalls for show patrons to visit during the interval alongside The Hat Shop from Burnham Market  and the sumptuous Cherry Hill Chocolates from Hunstanton.

Michele and Carole were also assisted in pulling off this wonderful  event by 17 local ladies who consented to be models for an evening.  Our  would be “Claudia Schiffers” were: Kerry, Jamie, Susan, Holly, Tiffany, Sian, Paulette, Beth, Wendy, Sharon, Kelly, Antonia, Jackie, Sinead, Tanya, Michele and Julie.  The male models included Alan, Jim (Race), Leon, Morty, Chris and Simon.  The evening was relaxed and fun filled with some of the male models (particularly Jim Race) providing  the laughs by seizing numerous opportunities to show off whilst walking the catwalk to the tunes of hotel pianist, Jim Rock.   All the models looked the business – the guys were dapper and the dolls were stunning to say the least.

Kerry & the gents have a laugh as they make their final exit from the catwalk

There was a high quality range of raffle prizes from numerous local businesses and friends.  Among them were lovely meals for two courtesy of the West Norfolk Pub and Heacham Manor Hotel (both in Heacham), the Le Strange Hotel in Hunstanton and the Coach & Horses in Dersingham.

Carole closed the evening by thanking everybody involved.  Bob and Ann Willey and Carl and other staff at the Le Strange Hotel made sure everything was right on the night at the venue and Carl had even given up his holiday to put in many hours in the week prior to the event.  Gloria Hurn from Pentney House provided fascinators and lovely goody bags for show goers, Nicola and Alice from Active Hands of Heacham did the nails, Theresa Rudd steamed and pressed all the dresses and  Julie Flegg did the necessary alterations.  Carole also thanked Gary Tillet from Goddards of Kings Lynn who assisted the male models with their dress and Goddards also provided the male outfits for the evening.  And last, but by no means least, Rob Topliss did them proud with their advertising and photographs on the night and Charlie videoed proceedings.

Let’s not forget that the event was designed to raise funds for Campaign Care 94 and Carole and Michele were delighted to learn that they had raised in excess of £900 which is a fantastic result for everyone who participated.

The evening certainly had a lot of hard work put into it and boy did it show.  Well done girls.  No doubt Shazarele will go from strength to strength with all this drive behind it.

Have a look at our Gallery page for more pictures.