Historic estate The Grange Hampshire was the stunning setting for an evening featuring select outfits for the summer season from leading local designers and boutiques.

They included Tabitha Webb, Moda Rosa and Sass & Edge – all in aid of actors Sarah Parish and James Murray’s charity The Murray Parish Trust.

Held in The Grange, a neo-classical mansion located at the heart of the estate, guests enjoyed sparkling wine from the estate’s vineyard as the show, raffle and auction raised thousands of pounds for the charity's latest campaign.

Ms Parish said that the charity has already raised over £5million towards projects including the build of a brand new children’s A&E department at Southampton Hospital, a state-of -the-art paediatric iMRI scanner and a child psychologist for the hospital, “but this year we’re doing something a bit different.”

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As her husband James explained, “the pandemic has had a devastating effect on our children’s wellbeing” and the charity is “focusing on children’s mental health”, aiming to raise £36,000 for “vital funds for the Stepping Stones art lead project, working with Hampshire Cultural Trust to deliver a targeted response which will offer innovative support for 60 vulnerable children thought non-clinical arts and creative based intervention.”

Speaking at the start of the evening, The Grange Hampshire’s director Sophie Ashburton said the estate has been wanting to support, “Sarah, Jim and their team at the TMPT for some time” and applauded their, “brilliant, life-changing work for Hampshire.”  

Lady Ashburton, who is married to - as she put it - “the landlord of The Grange” Lord Ashburton, said the evening “is exactly the kind of event that we should be hosting, showcasing some of Hampshire’s finest entrepreneurs.”

She told the audience The Grange Hampshire is keen to host more events and local celebrations in the houses and buildings it has within its 3,500 acre estate: “Many of you will have been to our summer arts festival of opera, dance and jazz. But what you may not know is that there is a thriving events and experiences business here at The Grange Hampshire using the mansion and other venues on the estate. So please think of us when you are planning a celebration, a weekend away with family and friends or a business retreat - our team would love to help.”