Corporate event management: Charity to auction Thameside venue for Diamond Jubilee pageant

Date: 06/02/2012

A children's charity which has a base on the Thames is to auction off the venue for the day of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Those involved in corporate event management will be given the opportunity to enter sealed bids for the Westminster Boating Base up until February 28th, reports Event magazine.

Despite the actual anniversary of the Queen taking the throne being February 6th her 60 year reign is to be marked on June 3rd with a pageant on the Thames.

It is likely to be an event which impresses locals, those visiting from abroad and clients as everyone tries to get a great view.

Westminster Boating Base gives children the opportunity the chance to learn skills including sailing and canoeing out on the river for the price of £10.

The decision to auction the premises off for the day came out of the unprecedented number of requests made to hire the venue.

Given that the charity needs to raise money in order to continue helping young people, it was decided that this was a good chance to make some money for the organisation.

Peter Selby, of the Westminster Boating Base, told the news provider: "We have been inundated with enquiries and the auction route has been picked as the best solution."

Sealed bids over £25,000 will be considered with the highest one granted dry use of the venue with the money going towards the charity.

It is expected that around 1,000 boats will sail down the river as part of the pageant which will measure approximately seven and a half metres in length.

The Queen will be in a specially converted barge and entertainment including fireworks will accompany the event.

Elizabeth II took over the throne after her father died in 1952, while she was in Kenya and on flying back to the UK she was met at the airport by then prime minister, Winston Churchill. ADNFCR-2060-ID-801285220-ADNFCR