Event Archive

An Evening with Libby Purves OBE

On the evening of Thursday 6th November Libby Purves OBE spoke for our annual 'An evening with' lecture at Goodwood House. This year, all proceeds from the talk were given to Ocean Youth Trust South (OYT South).

Ned's Fund wishes to place on record our immense gratitude to Libby for giving such a thoroughly absorbing and punchy talk, and trust all of those who came found it equally exhilarating. We are similarly grateful to all of those who came, to Ocean Youth Trust South, to the Goodwood Estate team, and to the Duke of Richmond for our continued use of Goodwood House.

About Libby Purves OBE

A long-standing commentator in The Times and the first female presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Libby received her OBE for services to journalism in 1999, also being recognised as Columnist of the Year. She has edited Tatler, contributes to The Oldie, and presented BBC programmes including Midweek, The Learning Curve, and various documentaries. Libby is also the author of twelve novels, books about sailing – including One Summer's Grace about sailing round Britain with two small children – and a trilogy of family advice books beginning with How not to be a Perfect Mother.

Libby is especially sympathetic to the causes of both Ned's Fund and Ocean Youth Trust South. She writes a monthly column for Yachting Monthly, and was for ten years a trustee of the National Maritime Museum. Libby also lost her first-born child, Nicholas, to suicide in 2006. He was 23, had found the joy of sailing, including a trip with OYT South, and crossed the Atlantic and Pacific under square-rig on Barque Europa.

About Ocean Youth Trust South

Ocean Youth Trust South (OYT South) is an award-winning charity which provides personal development opportunities for young people aged 11-25, with the majority disadvantaged or vulnerable. The charity takes young people to sea in their beautiful 105-foot sailing vessel, Prolific, to develop confidence, teamworking, communication, resilience, the ability to cope with new situations and deal with setbacks, and much more. Young people sail as active crew members and can earn sailing qualifications - but it can also be an opportunity to make friends with others facing similar problems at home or at school.

OYT South works in partnership with mainstream and special schools, local authorities, youth groups and other charities, offering voyages for a very wide range of groups such as young carers; looked-after children; young people struggling in education or excluded from school; victims of crime, bullying, abuse, domestic violence or neglect; young people who may be unemployed or homeless; individuals with physical or learning difficulties, emotional or behavioural problems or issues with their mental health; young people living in families affected by alcohol or substance abuse; and more.

An Evening with Frank Gardner OBE

On the evening of Thursday 24th October 2024, Goodwood House was once again home to our 'An evening with' lecture.  This year's speaker was none other than Frank Gardner, the BBC’s full time Security Correspondent, covering events across Ukraine, the Middle East, Afghanistan and the UK.  

This year's talk was in aid of Snow Camp, for which Frank Gardner is an ambassador.

About Frank Gardner

Frank grew up in Hampshire before studying Arabic and Islamic Studies at Exeter University. In 2004, while reporting for the BBC from Saudi Arabia, he was shot six times at close range in a terrorist attack, leaving him paralysed in the legs. After 14 surgical operations, he returned to work with a wheelchair and was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth. He has been awarded honorary doctorates from seven UK universities and has authored five bestselling books. His latest novel, ‘Invasion’, was published in May. A keen skier and nature photographer, he is President of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

​About Goodwood House

Goodwood is the seat of the Dukes of Richmond, whose family art collection is one of the greatest in any English country house. The State Apartments can be visited before and after Frank Gardner’s talk.

About Snow Camp

Ned’s Fund was delighted to be supporting Snow Camp at this year’s lecture.  Frank Gardner is an Ambassador for Snow Camp, a youth charity Ned's Fund has been proud to support since 2019. Snow Camp is a life-changing snow sports programme for young people in need, taking them from beginners to trained snow sports instructors in just one year, and  with volunteering and apprenticeship progression routes available at the end. Alongside learning to ski or snowboard, young people also have access to life skills training and mental health support.  Ned's Fund has already funded seven young people who have been able to complete their Snow Camp journey and apprenticeships as a result.

"Snow Camp is fantastic and I'm so honoured to be a part of it. Snow Camp goes into places and meets young people, who have got talent but need to find a way to use it. Snow Camp gives them that opportunity and, in many cases, saves them from bad situations in terms of life choices, and discovers the talent that wouldn't otherwise be discovered." - Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent 

Open Garden in aid of the Sussex Cricket Foundation

On Sunday 28th July 2024, David and Victoria Thomas opened their fabulous garden for free to encourage donations through Ned’s Fund for the Sussex Cricket Foundation. It  included a glass of sparkling wine and some nibbles!

​Located in Kirdford, Parsonage Farm is a major garden in a beautiful setting developed over 30 years with a fruit theme and many unusual plants. Formally laid out on grand scale with long vistas, the garden includes an 18th Century walled garden with borders in apricot, orange, scarlet and crimson, as well as a topiary walk, pleached lime allée, tulip tree avenue, rose borders and a vegetable garden with trained fruit. Other highlights include a turf amphitheatre, autumn shrubbery, yew cloisters and a jungle walk. 

As a result of the event, Ned's Fund was able to raise further funds to support Diyon, a promising young cricketer who would otherwise be unable to pursue his love of the game. Our funds are being used by the Foundation to help with his travel, provision of kit, and other training expenses.

An Evening with Rupert Maas

On the evening of Thursday 9th November 2023 we were treated to a highly insightful and entertaining evening with Victorian art expert and dealer Rupert Maas at Goodwood House. Huge thanks to Rupert for kindly giving up his time for Ned's Fund. Thanks also for the generosity the Duke and Duchess of Richmond for letting us use their home and to all the staff who helped on the night. And of course thanks to all of you who came along and continue to support Ned’s Fund. With the funds raised this year we have been able to give thousands of pounds to charities that support young people and let them experience opportunities they may otherwise not get. 

As well as talking about some of his favourite works of Victorian art,  he talked about some of the successes (and failures!) of owning an art gallery in London. He also gave us an insight into who it works behind the scenes at the BBC's Antiques Roadshow. 

Knight Frank Marathon Walk

On 3rd October 2023 Knight Frank’s International Residential and Private Office teams walked 26.2 miles along the  River Thames to raise money for Ned's Fund. Thanks to their efforts and your generosity, they smashed their £6,000 target, raising nearly £10,000 from 160 supporters.

This tremendous support has allowed Ned's Fund is able to continue to provide funds to charities that make an incredible impact on the lives of young people via their sponsorship of ski trips, sailing, and agricultural work and by raising awareness for mental health. We are hugely grateful to all involved.

An Evening with Andrew Graham-Dixon

On November 10th 2022 Goodwood House was home to 'In the Picture' with Andrew Graham-Dixon. We are hugely grateful to Andrew for this highly entertaining and intriguing talk. Thanks must go to the support and huge generosity of the Duke of Richmond for kindly allowing us to host this highly entertaining evening, this being the third such event.

In this wide-ranging talk, Andrew played the role both of biographer and detective to discuss the principles and practice of art appreciation. He explored some of his favourite paintings from many different corners of the history of art, telling us the fascinating stories that lie behind them and revealing their often hidden meanings.  

"I was really delighted to speak in order to raise some money for Ned's Fund, which is such an important cause, working in an area where every last little bit of extra help is deeply needed. I felt honoured to be asked and would do it again in the blink of an eye." 

- Andrew Graham-Dixon 

An Evening with Philip Mould

We had a hugely enjoyable evening at Goodwood House on Thursday 18th November, with nearly 250 people in attendance. During An Evening with Philip Mould: A life in art, Philip, the co-presenter of the award winning BBC1 series Fake or Fortune, gave us an insight into his past and present life as an art hunter and lover, where he introduced us to some of the pictures and stories that have driven him.

Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets, to Philip for an enormously entertaining and interesting talk, and to the the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon who generously gave us the use of their home for the night.

"I was one of those incredibly lucky children who found a vocational path when I was young, and it led me forward. I put this partly down to luck. Without this navigational guide, I too could have drifted. I see Ned’s tragically short life and challenges as an exhortation to me - and others in a position to do so - to help people like Ned in the ways we can." - Philip Mould 

Jo's Petworth Tennis Tournament

Who needs Wimbledon!! We had a brilliant day of tennis at Petworth Lawn Tennis Club on 27th June 2021 and managed to raise over £1,000 for the fund.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and to everyone who donated. Congratulations to the winners in the day: Jo and her wonderful doubles partner for the day, Jim.

A special thank you to grill master Rusty for providing the food, to club Chairman Michael for all his support and Peter for organising what turned out to be an almost overwhelming turnout. Everyone had such fun and we suspect some of them might still be on the courts!

Many, many thanks.

Bonham's Art Auction

​On 27 November 2019, Bonhams sold ten works donated by these wonderful artists in aid of Ned's Fund: Antony Gormley, Michael Craig Martin, Alan Kitching, Jonathan Knight, Christopher Le Brun, Norman Ackroyd, Emily Lamb, Alison Crowther, Quentin Blake and Philip Jackson. The sale made just under £14,000, which has allowed Ned's Fund to help many more young people find their path in life. A huge thank you to all the artists, and to those who bid.

"It’s wonderful to see Bonhams and so many artists come together to help Ned’s Fund with such style and generosity. It’s a cause that certainly deserves all our support. When a young person suffers some kind of setback in life, they can find themselves stuck on a course that damages their education and hopes for the future. Ned’s Fund exists to give people in that situation a chance to move to a different place, to work in a team, earn respect and responsibility. It is a positive approach to dealing with what, sadly, seems to be a growing need. Please do everything you can to support the Ned’s Fund sale!" - Evan Davis, Broadcaster

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“A few months ago, Jo had just given me a good drubbing on the tennis court. However, it had not seemed to make her happy. In fact, she was a bit of a wreck that day. I did not know her well at that time but we got on well together from the “off’. It was only as we chatted at the end of the game that we realised the sense of connection that we both felt was from our shared experience of a family tragedy. I had, a few short years before, lost my wife to the cruel and sudden blow of inoperable brain cancer. Jo had lost Ned in circumstances nearly as unforeseeable as my wife’s brain tumour, but worse, much worse, because of his youth and the preventability of his passing.

​"This is what Ned’s Fund is all about. To help prevent the deaths of young people, suffering from exclusion from family, education and society. Jo had seen my Puffin and, at the end of our revealing chat - with typical directness - suggested that I might like to donate it to the Ned’s Fund auction. I was very happy to give my immediate assent." - Jonathan Knight 

Alison Crowther is a sculptor and furniture maker working exclusively with English Oak sourced from UK woodlands. Since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1989, she has received a number of substantial commissions including Winchester Cathedral (1996), Chatsworth Park, Derbyshire (1999), The Cass Foundation, West Sussex (2006).

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"I felt moved to donate a piece of my work for the Neds Fund auction because I have three young sons. As a craft practitioner I understand the holistic value of working with your hands so I wholeheartedly support the Neds Fund’s aims of encouraging the development of those skills in young people." - Alison Crowther 

Jonathan Knight

Alison Crowther

An Evening with Sir Jonathan Marsden

Sir Jonathan Marsden, former director of the Royal Collection and Surveyor of The Queen’s Works of Art, opened our An Evening with lecture series at Goodwood house on 21st October 2019 with an excellent talk entitled 'The Royal Collection in Three Dimensions; Adventures of a Sculpture Cataloguer.' Guests were also able to enjoy the opportunity to view the State Rooms at Goodwood House.

A huge thanks to Jonathan, the Duke of Richmond, Sally Lower, and everyone who attended the evening.