Rowdy guests ‘wound up’ speaker at Burns Night event (From Bournemouth Echo)

Rowdy guests ‘wound up’ speaker at Burns Night event

10:00am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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THE organiser of the charity Burns Night celebration which ended with a council officer and an elected member in an alleged fracas has spoken of his disappointment over the way some guests behaved.

The event, at the Highcliff Marriott Hotel, was to raise money for the mayor of Bournemouth’s charities – Tenovus, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Can’t Walk Away and the Community Foundation.

Labour leader Ben Grower is said to have passed a note during parking enforcement manager Gerry Bolland’s speech asking him to wind it up.

Afterwards, there was a confrontation during which Cllr Grower’s bow tie was allegedly ripped off. Mr Bolland handed in his notice on February 1.

Organiser and former councillor Anson Westbrook said: “It was a very successful evening and raised a lot of money for the mayor’s charities. It’s unfortunate that it was marred by this incident. If anyone had anything to say, they should probably have approached me as master of ceremonies.”

Guest Sarah Bates said: “There was a table that heckled Mr Bolland from the moment he started. I felt sorry for him. He was pushed to the limit. They were rowdy all evening. I thought they behaved atrociously.”

A female guest who asked not to be named said: “Gerry’s speech was long, it was late, and people had had too much to drink. He wasn’t shown the respect he should have been shown. Mr Westbrook stood up and said how appalled he was at people’s behaviour.”

Cllr Anne Rey, one of the mayor’s fundraising committee, said: “The first two speakers spoke for about 10 minutes. People were getting fidgety. We wanted to get on with the raffle.

“Ben went behind the top table and put a very polite note on the table to say ‘Can you hurry up?’ Gerry looked up and said ‘Charming’.”

Mr Bolland has been approached for a comment on the events but has not responded.