Hill Valley VIP Launch Night

6th June 2008

From the left, Marc van de Wynckele,
Whitchurch Mayor Cllr Doris Ankers,
Ruaridh Macdonald, the Mayor of
Shrewsbury Cllr Anne Chebsey, Iain Gray
and Debbie Johnson sampling wine ahead
of the VIP dinner at the
Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf and Spa

Around 100 VIPs attended the official multi-million pound completion and launch of a luxury Shropshire hotel.

Whitchurch Mayoress Cllr Doris Ankers and the Mayor of Shrewsbury Anne Chebsey were among the invited guests to a black-tie dinner at the Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf and Spa to mark the completion of the £11.8 million refurbishment and extension.

The evening of Champagne and Sparkle at the complex in Tarporley Road, Whitchurch, featured a four-course dinner in the Shropshire Suite followed by a spectacular firework display.

Ruaridh Macdonald, the group's UK marketing director, welcomed everyone to the evening which raised £500 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the special care baby unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in a raffle.

The second charity was chosen after the hospital recently cared for Zara Lowe, the daughter of Kelly Lowe, who works at the hotel, when she was born with a problem with a pulmonary artery in her heart.

Macdonald Hotel's group wine development manager, Mark van de Wynckele, gave a humorous talk on the different wines served with each course before regional director Debbie Johnson gave the closing speech.

Iain Gray, general manager of the Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf and Spa, said he wanted to thank everyone for attending the memorable evening.

"We wanted to officially mark the completion of all the development work that has taken place over the last few years and the opening of our fantastic health club and spa means we have now finished this major project," he said.

"The transformation is just unbelievable and we have certainly increased the standard of conference, banqueting and leisure facilities in Whitchurch as well as Shropshire to add to the fantastic golf courses that were already here.

"It was great that so many dignitaries could attend to share our special evening and just as importantly to have boosted the funds of two worthwhile charities."