A FORMER Gloucester and England rugby player helped a Forest charity celebrate its first charity dinner dance.

Patron of the Forest Sensory Services, Baroness Jan Royall was joined by guest speaker Phil Vickery at the Speech House Hotel.

Also among the 70 guests were local councillors, businessmen, health professionals, and supporters of the charity who all helped raise £3,000 for the sensory-loss charity.

Jenny Green at Forest Sensory said: "A wide range of items had been donated for auction including: tea at the House of Lords, a visit to Highgrove Gardens with a champagne tea and signed items from Jack Russell and Andrea Bocelli. The auctioneer on the night, Pete Wilson of Radio Gloucestershire, did a magnificent job. The auction raised more than £1,200."