Posts Tagged ‘charity fundraising dinners’

As detailed in The South Wales Evening Post on Wednesday, 16th February 2011(right), February 14th saw The Dragon Health & Fitness Club staff and members take part in an organised event celebrating 50 years of the British Heart Foundation. Along with other gyms and health clubs in the Swansea area, The Dragon had to promote an event with the 50 theme in mind. Some discarded ideas included 50km on the treadmill, bike and rower but we finally set the challenge of swimming a combined effort of 50km in one day, it took a lot of hard effort and some long hours in the pool, in fact 2,777 lengths in total, but we managed to hit the target at 9.30pm! We would like to thank everyone who took part and sponsored the team for this great cause, the final sum of money raised is still unknown but appears to be over £350.

Completing this challenge now frees up the team to put their heart and soul into celebrating 50 years of The Dragon Hotel – I somehow don’t think that 50km on the treadmill is going to be included in those celebrations either!

The whole team at The Dragon wish Chef Sam Thomas, who’s served us well for the last 6 years, the best of luck and success with his new venture – the kitchen certainly won’t be the same without him! But there’s no fear as long suffering Chef Steve Williams is stepping up to spearhead the culinary operations with support from Chefs Kevin Wingrave and Hayley James.

Local lad Chef Steve is no stranger to life at The Dragon Hotel having been here for well over a decade masterminding thousands of Christmas Parties, Weddings and Dinner Dances. Not easily flustered, Steve takes everything in his stride and likes nothing better than to unwind with a few cans of cider over a fishing rod.

Kevin Wingrave could easily have been lost to the culinary world if he had stuck to his first career choice of carpentry. A few too many splinters made Kevlar decide to swap his wood chips for potato chips and Swansea Bay has now sampled his cooking at both Morgans Hotel and 698 prior to his arrival at The Dragon in 2005.

Chef Hayley James is by far the prettiest of The Dragon Hotel’s culinary team and has known Kevin since they attended Neath Port Talbot College together. Deserving a medal for working alongside him for so many years, Hayley is not only our Desserts and Pastry specialist but also manages to stay on top of the dreaded paperwork – a skill seldom found in chefs!

The motley crew that makes up the rest of the team includes:

James Hallett, who also worked with Kevin and Hayley at Morgans and 698, and has once been told he’s a young Heston, a fact that is often repeated…

Adam ‘Ducky’ Harris who waddles around the kitchen busy being Kev’s Golden Boy

Ben Kerward, the wittiest member of the team who knows exactly how to press Chef Steve’s buttons!

There are, of course, a few others who do not wish to be mentioned in this blog and shall therefore remain faceless: Liam, Mark, Bernard, Chris, Ashley, Roy and Liam – you know who you are!

It’s the day after Beaujolais Day and already the Christmas decorations are going up!  The Conference Office is asking when will we get a break?!!  Although to be honest it’s been feeling like Christmas since September with the bookings coming in followed by deposits, full payments and menu orders.  There truly is no rest for the wicked…

Having said that though, Gethyn has still managed to find time to gallivant on his travels since we last spoke, fitting not one but two jaunts away.  He is forgiven though because he did bring us all some rock back from Minehead!  He’s also looking rather distinguished with his new spectacles. As trendy as they are though Gethyn, you can’t deny that old age is catching up with you!

We had a bit of a panic when Take That announced their impending tour since ARGH! Sian could not get them to pick up the phone to purchase her tickets.  A collective breath of relief could be heard when eventually news came through that at least someone in her circle of friends had managed to get a ticket for her – phew!

Cath’s still on her campaign to lose a stone in weight before Christmas – at 8lb loss so far it’s still on track but she can’t honestly say that its going well and that’s before there’s an advent calendar to be opened each day!

Well, we’d better sign off now as much thought and consideration must be given to the Office Secret Santa…

Have a Cool Yule!

Suzanne Spiller has been Conference Sales Manager at The Dragon Hotel for the past 3 years. Suzanne’s background has always been within the Hotel Industry and since joining an independent hotel in 2007 has found Swansea a very friendly and rewarding place to work. Outside of work Suzanne’s keen interest is running and raising money for some fantastic charities.

Let’s now introduce you to Suzanne’s team:

Sian Owen, Conference Sales Co-ordinator, also joined the team in 2007 and is the Wedding Co-ordinator. Sian herself got engaged in New York in January and has a sparkling rock on her left hand. But the love of her life is her beloved dog Lottie!

Last but certainly not least, Gethyn John, Conference Sales Co-ordinator, has worked at The Dragon Hotel for the past 5 years, where he began his role as Operations Manager. He then made the transition to the Conference Sales Office in 2008. Gethyn is the most green fingered amongst us and when he isn’t working he is in the garden.

Choose The Dragon Hotel for your Charity Fudraising Dinner

Looking for somewhere special to host a Charity Event? Well, look no further. The Dragon Hotel has everything you will need for that all important fundraising event… (more…)