John Caudwell and his partner Claire Johnson have opened the doors to their five-story mansion on London’s Mayfair in the current issue of HELLO!
It is where the successful entrepreneur and dedicated philanthropist entertains many of their celebrity friends and supporters of Caudwell Children , the charity he founded in 2000.Among its supporters are Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie, Rod Stewart and his wife Penny, Robbie Williams, Joan Collins, Sir Bruce Forsyth and his wife Wilnelia, Elizabeth Hurley, Peter Andre and Boris Becker and his wife Sharlely, to name just a few.
The ballroom of the property, which once belonged to Prince Jefri Bolkiah, playboy younger brother of the Sultan of Brunei, has elaborate panelled walls, edged with 24-carat gold leaf, solid marble features and a splendid high ceiling.
“Princess Beatrice came to a dinner we held here and as she walked into this room, her eyes lit up and she went, ‘Wow! I’ve never seen anything like this before!’” reveals Claire. “John and I said to her, ‘We think you have!’
”The couple are now busy counting down the days to this year’s big fundraiser, the Butterfly Ball in May which will be the 15th such event for the charity which helps up to 4,000 disabled children each year.
Says John of his heartfelt motive for making money, “The more I make in my lifetime, the more my children will have to give away. That is what drives me and it is very much a goal of mine to encourage people in my position to see what I have done and choose that path.
”This year's Butterfly Ball takes place on May 15th in The Great Room at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.
www.caudwellchildren.com or for table enquiries call 01782 600112.