Press Club Ball Secures East Midlands Airport’s Sponsorship
Press Club director Ed James, Karen Dodd, of sponsor Barclays Commercial, and
Melissa Dickinson and Llewela Bailey
28 August 2009
Sponsored by East Midlands Airport (EMA), this year’s Annual Press Ball organised by Birmingham Press Club is being re-branded as the “Midlands’ Press Ball” to reflect increasing interest from East Midlands media in the activities of what is the world’s oldest Press Club.
The event – themed on “A Night of Elegance” – takes place at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, in Birmingham city centre, on Friday, October 23.
The move follows a decision a couple of years ago to re-name the club’s Annual Media Awards as the “Midlands Media Awards” to allow journalists and photographers from the East Midlands to compete against colleagues from the Press Club’s traditional heartland of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Press Club Chairman John Lamb said: “We have been delighted at the growing support shown by East Midlands publications, journalists and photographers, in the Media Awards. Now we hope to welcome a strong contingent from the East Midlands at the Ball – one of our social highlights of the year – especially as we have the continued backing of East Midlands Airport. We are also very pleased to confirm further sponsorship support for the ball from Barclays Bank, another of the Press Club’s long-standing allies.
“With the challenging economic outlook at the moment, we thought we would try to introduce a theme which would give people an excuse to have a good night out. So we’ll even have a special prize for the most elegantly-dressed couple of the night,” he added.
Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said: “We’re very proud of our long association with the Press Club. East Midlands Airport serves businesses and individuals from across the Midlands making us a high profile organisation. Having strong a relationship with the media is very important to us and that’s why we continue to support this great event.”
Birmingham-based Ed James, Heart FM’s ever-popular Breakfast Show presenter, will again be the compere, while proceeds from the Ball raffle will be divided between the Birmingham Mail Charity Trust and the East Midlands Airport-based Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance.
Ray O’Donoghue, Managing Director of Barclays’ Midlands Region, said: “We are delighted to continue the excellent relationship we have with Birmingham Press Club. The Midlands Press Ball comes at a time when we are cementing our presence in Birmingham with the opening of our new Midlands headquarters at One Snow Hill."
Click here to download the event flyer.
