Dame Prue Leith helps Surrey charity raise more than £20,000 at lunchtime fundraiser

The renowned chef, restaurateur, and television personality attended a very special Ladies’ Spring Lunch event and talked about her remarkable career that spans decades including her early days as a culinary entrepreneur to her role as a judge on the hit show The Great British Bake Off.

Guests were also given the opportunity to submit questions to Prue to answer on the day and from which they found out that she has turned down the opportunity to appear on Strictly Come Dancing and one of her best loved desserts is the trifle – “a perfect place to add all your yummy leftovers especially all those half-finished bottles lurking in the back of cupboards and Maltesers are the perfect topper.”

Prue said: “I had a wonderful time at the event sharing lots of anecdotes from my career as well as some more personal stories about my life. I have supported QEF numerous times over the last few years, but it never fails to amaze me just how inspirational the people it supports are and hearing about its work and the difference it makes to the lives of people, always moves me. I am delighted that we managed to raise so much and I am sure the next event in the series will be just as successful.”

The event was held at Sandown Park Racecourse in Surrey on Wednesday 2nd April and included a two-course lunch and wine. There was also the opportunity to take a photo with Prue and have her sign her new book ‘Life’s too short to stuff a mushroom’. Guests were also given a special 90th anniversary recipe card curated by Prue which is now available in exchange for a donation via the charity’s website.

All funds raised from the event will support QEF’s work. For 90 years the charity has been at the forefront of innovative and person-centred services that enable disabled people to achieve their potential and live with greater independence. It provides a unique combination of services for disabled children and adults with lifelong or acquired disabilities, supporting almost 10,000 disabled people a year across the UK. Its services are holistic and tailored to each person’s requirements, with practical support and advice at its Mobility Services and expert therapy and care at its Care and Rehabilitation Centre.

Chris Cooker, events, community and partnership manager at QEF said: “We are thrilled that our first event in this series was so well received, which was mostly down to Prue and our wonderful audience who really embraced the fun of the day. We have lots of other exciting events coming up throughout our 90th anniversary year so if anyone would like to support us, I would urge you to visit our website as we have something for everyone.”

The next “in conversation with…” event will be with a with a panel of expert gardeners, headed by gardening consultant, writer and broadcaster Peter Mills alongside Jim Buttress and Ben Pope at Loseley Park in Surrey on the 12th June with https://www.qef.org.uk/events/gardening/