18 November 2025 (Last updated: 18 Nov 2025 17:27)
The BSSH LION Project held a spectacular Fundraising Event at the RAF Club on Friday 14th November, bringing a little bit of Malawi to this stunning and historic venue in the heart of Mayfair.
The black tie Gala Dinner for 120 guests, including BSSH Presidents past and present, LION team members, their family, friends and our special guests, started with a champagne reception in the Churchill Bar. Here they were met by an enthusiastic group of young volunteers selling tickets for a wonderful Malawian-themed Tombola, took a chance on a Lotto Board to win a bottle of vintage Dom Perignon and unique hand-crafted LION mugs from Dedza Pottery. As well as promoting the incredible auction items and raffle prizes (raffle is on-going until the BSSH/BAHT Conference on 27.11.25)
Old acquaintances caught up, and volunteers shared stories of their experiences in the bar, which was buzzing until the ‘drum call’ to dinner by Aboubacar Konate (from London African Drumming). En route to the beautiful Sovereign’s Room, the guests paused for a group photo and more chatting on the elegant staircase in front of the famous stained-glass window entitled ‘RAF: Past and Present’ created by Helen Whitakker, depicting a Battle of Britain pilot and other scenes from the RAF’s history.
As the guests entered the Sovereign’s Room to the sound of a SE African drum beat, they were delighted by the beautifully decorated tables designed by Chloe Baxter with Chitenge centre pieces, tropical Anthuriums and delicious heart shaped biscuits created by Emily (@emilysfinedining) representing ‘Malawi - the Warm Heart of Africa’.
Miss Kate Owers (Fundraiser Chair and Education Lead for the Project) welcomed everyone on behalf of the entire BSSH LION Project Team and thanked all the ‘LION Party Planners’ and the guests who had so kindly donated such amazing experiences and gifts to the auction and raffle. She also welcomed and thanked our amazing special guests – Hazel Mak and Daliso Chaponda and outlined the projects aims and achievements so far. Her address was followed by Mr Jonathan Jones (Project Lead) who spoke about the links between the RAF, BSSH and Malawi and reminded everyone of Linda Chokotho’s dream to ‘Help Heal the Hands of Malawi’. We then showed an emotive video highlighting where the project started and how far it has come – with moving interviews from members of the local team.
During dinner, a rolling slide show of photos showing the local team and volunteers in action kept the discussions about the Project flowing until Hazel Mak, Malawi’s first Afrima award-winning artist, sang beautifully in her signature Southern African style of Afrohouse with soulful raw undertones during dessert and coffee.
Then on came Daliso Chaponda to entertain us. A comedian and writer - known for hilarious take on British politics and growing up as a refugee – with appearances on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, ‘QI’, ‘The Royal Variety Performance’, ‘Have I got News for You’ and multiple shows on Radio 4. And he did not disappoint – keeping the audience in stitches, many crying with laughter, for the duration of his set.
We are so grateful to both our special guests for donating their time and their Friday nights to support our fundraiser and make it such a success.
The evening climaxed with the auctions - both the silent online auction and then the live auction – where a newly formed double-act of Daliso and Andrew Aylwin (a friend of the committee and very good sport!) had us all frantically bidding against each other and spending more money than we had planned – but all for a good cause.
We are delighted to announce that this event has raised over £30,000 so far towards the BSSH LION Project – going a long way to support our ‘Education, Enabling and Empowering’ of the local multidisciplinary team to create and develop the LION Hand Unit and perform livelihood and thereby often life-saving hand surgery and therapy in Lilongwe, where before there was none.
And this amount is still increasing – as more raffle tickets, LION Christmas cards and mugs are being sold as we speak! So don’t miss out – get some Christmas shopping done today whilst supporting this wonderful cause!
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