Over £500 was raised for the Poole Hospital Africa Link Charity at a Dinner Jazz Evening in the Italian Villa at Compton Acres recently.

The Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Chris Mayne attended the dinner event which was supported by a number of local businesses.

Dame Yvonne Moores, patron and founder member of the Hospital Charity said the money was very welcome and would be used to purchase vital equipment for the Wau hospital in Southern Sudan, which is one of the poorest and least well known parts of Africa. Poole Hospital has been providing education and training for doctors, nurses and clinical staff, helping them to develop health services in a country where child and maternal death rates are some of the highest in the world.

During the evening, Gerry Clarke, Compton Acres Arts & Music Festival Director, announced plans to establish a series of dinner jazz evenings over the coming months.

He said: “Following the success of our recent festival in the gardens at Compton Acres which showcased local creative talent, we have decided to go ahead with a series of events to introduce talented musicians and other live entertainers.”

Performing live at the inaugural event, Poole musicians Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral with their accomplished Jazz Quintet played a number of well known jazz standards from the likes of Nora Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday. Whilst enjoying the music, dinner guests were treated to a fine gourmet meal prepared by Tony Beale’s team of masterchefs at the Italian Villa.

More entertainment events are planned for the coming months, www.the-italian-villa.co.uk

View all the Society photos taken at the event here:

www.dorsetsociety.co.uk/society_diary_photos/2014/september_2014/dinner_jazz_at_the_italian_villa/%22/