Sam Sommerville worked at Harbour & Jones from May 2014 until his sad death in an accident whilst on holiday in August last year. During his time with H&J he taught his colleagues and peers around him to really love life. On Monday 29th February 2016, Harbour & Jones held a fundraising dinner to help support Sam’s children Eva and Charlie over the coming years.
One hundred and sixty guests attended the dinner at The Royal Institute of British Architects, dressed in colourful clothes to celebrate the man who loved life and lived it to the full. Tables were decorated with hula girls, leis, rubber ducks and plastic chickens and a blow up palm tree accompanied guests at the bar. The menu was made up of the H&J awards finalist dishes, the main course being Sam’s own buttermilk chicken and cauliflower, which he named ‘The bird & white curd’.
A cabaret performance by alumni from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art played Sam’s favourite songs by the Arctic Monkeys and Oasis, whilst a fabulous fundraising auction saw guests purchase lots including dinner for eight at home cooked by H&J chefs and a Mercedes Formula 1 cap signed by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The auction was further supported by renowned chefs Ollie Dabbous and Jeff Galvin who generously donated lots, including signed cookbooks and tasting menus, with matched wines, at their establishments Dabbous and Galvin La Chapelle. H&J also received huge support from their suppliers with prizes and sponsorship. A special thanks goes to Jascots Wine Merchants whose Ben Scott performed auctioneer duties.
The dinner surpassed the original fundraising target, raising approximately £19,000 in total. This money will help support Eva and Charlie during the coming years and the family are hugely appreciative of the effort made towards this.
There is still a chance to donate before Monday 7th March 2016 here or by searching ‘Love Life Like Sam’ on justgiving.com