A fundraiser held aboard a Southampton cruise ship has netted £6,800 for charity - with the help of a £1,000 necklace.
About 100 guests were welcomed aboard Bolette by the Lord Mayor, Cllr Valerie Laurent, who was raising funds for Southampton Sea Cadets, Oasis Southampton City Farm, and Saints Foundation.
They were treated to onboard entertainment and live music, plus drinks and pastries.
A tour of the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship, including a visit to the bridge, was followed by a three-course meal with wine in Bolette’s Bloomsbury Restaurant.
The event included a raffle and an auction of donations, which included a £1,000 necklace, tickets to see Everybody's Talking About Jamie, and a five-night Dutch Waterways cruise aboard Bolette.
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Cllr Laurent said: “This was a fabulous fundraising event. Nothing was too much trouble for the crew and the hospitality was second to none.
“My grateful thanks must go to the Fred Olsen team for their support, which has helped us raise thousands of pounds for my charities in Southampton."
Georgina May, a member of the charity committee at Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, added: “What an incredible privilege it was to host the Lord Mayor of Southampton on board our beautiful Bolette to raise funds for three fantastic charities.
"Supporting local causes and charities is incredibly important to us, and we look forward to continuing to help our charitable partners in the future."
Launched in 2000, the 238m Bolette is named after Fred Olsen Jnr’s great-great-grandmother. Originally named Amsterdam, the ship has almost 700 cabins and can carry 1,338 passengers.
Details of the three good causes supported by the Lord Mayor were published when she took office at the Guildhall in May this year.
Saints Foundation - the charity of Southampton FC - aims to help those in need by providing them with life-changing opportunities.
One of its priorities is enabling residents of all ages to lead happier, healthier lives. It also works with schools to improve attitudes towards education by raising the aspirations of young people.
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Oasis Southampton City Farm provides services to a range of people, including those with learning disabilities and brain injuries.
Southampton Sea Cadets, established in 1942, is a registered youth charity based on the banks of the River Itchen. Its 65 cadets and 26 adult volunteers meet twice a week and on many weekends.
Members aged 10-17 take part in a variety of sports including sailing, rowing, and kayaking.
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