Last month, staff at Coutts Tunbridge Wells office hosted a glittering reception at Hever Castle in aid of Multiple Sclerosis Society, raising over £8,000 for the charity.

The MS Society is the UK's largest charity for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the most common disabling neurological condition affecting young adults. At least 85,000 people in the UK have MS, which is the result of damage to myelin - a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system . When myelin is damaged, this interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body. For some people, MS is characterised by periods of relapse and remission while for others it has a progressive pattern. For everyone, it makes life unpredictable.

At the entrance to Hever Castle, guests were greeted by a dazzling display of Aston Martins, ranging from a 1962 DB4 to a silver 2008 DBS. Inside the castle guests were entertained by a wandering minstrel, while treated to a champagne reception. As part of the fundraising, two tickets to a performance of Don Carlo at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, including a backstage tour, champagne reception, supper and drinks with the artists were auctioned raising a staggering £1500.

Following the auction, a prize raffle with tickets selling at £10 each raised an additional £4,590, with many raffle winners donating their prizes back for auction, raising additional monies. The prizes, all generously donated by clients and local companies included a night for two at Hotel du Vin, an original signed drawing of Mr Bump, and a special trip for two to France.

John Goss, Client Partner for Coutts in Tunbridge Wells commented: "We're delighted that the event managed to raise more than £8,000 for the MS Society, while also giving clients a fantastic evening of champagne, music and networking. One of our colleagues within the team here in Tunbridge Wells was diagnosed with MS, so it's a charity that is very close to our hearts. We would also like to thank Hever Castle and all their staff, for allowing us to use their venue at no cost."

The local office was joined by Rick Holland, Head of Fundraising at The MS Society who commented: "We are extremely grateful to have the incredible support from Coutts in Tunbridge Wells that extends to hands on event delivery and expertise as well as fund raising. The team there delivered a truly memorable event that ultimately raises tremendous funds for a very worthy cause."