Mayor’s “The Union” themed civic dinner raises over £1,200 for charity
15/04/2026
The nations of the United Kingdom were celebrated through food, entertainment and décor
More than £1,200 was raised for charity at a civic dinner hosted by Banbury’s Town Mayor, Councillor Kieron Mallon.
The event, at the Town Hall, supported the Banbury branch of the Royal British Legion and the Huntington’s Disease Association – the Mayor’s chosen causes for his mayoral year.
Guests attended the themed evening, titled “The Union”, which celebrated the nations of the United Kingdom through food, entertainment and décor.
On the menu were Leek and Caerphilly soup, the Roast Beef of old England, Armagh Apple Pie and Scottish Cheeses.
Entertainment included Welshman Gareth Jeremy singing Gilbert and Sullivan’s Sentry’s Song, soprano Cammila Shaughnessy raising the roof with Rule Britannia and a performance from the Reynolds Academy of Irish Dancers.
Pipe Major Steve Duffy piped the Mayor both in and out, Andrew McHugh delivered the Selkirk Grace in both Scot’s Gaelic and English.
Councillor Mallon said: “As a former Irish Guardsman whose family can go back many generations in the British Army, all in Irish regiments, the Royal British Legion was an obvious choice but some may not have heard of Huntingtons: it’s a dreadful neurodegenerative disease that is incurable and devastates whole families. My Grandfather, Father, Aunt and Sister have all died with Huntingtons, which usually strikes when you are in your early forties. Its like having both Parkinsons and Alzheimer’s at the same time but at such an early age.
Donations, sponsorship and prize contributions helped generate the four-figure total raised during the evening.
Councillor Mallon concluded: “I would like to thank the town hall staff, the entertainers who gave their performances free of charge and many sponsors who gave fantastic prizes.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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