THE second firefighters’ charity ball, held in the Gatsby Ball Room at Old Thorns, near Liphook, proved to be an even bigger success than last year’s inaugural function – although it was nearly derailed by an accident on the A3.

The black-tie event raised more than £2,500 and attracted 142 guests, who enjoyed performances by local band ‘Riven’, who got together for the first time in two years, featuring Liphook lad James Prosser resuming his role as the band’s lead guitar player after losing his leg in an off-road motorbike accident last year.

Fellow band members Nic Hallum on drums, Martin Richards on rhythm guitar, Russell Ayre on bass and singer Paul Jobling were also supported by 18-year-old Becca McGregor, from Liphook, who delivered her first public performance with a band, singing Blondie’s hit record Maria to rousing applause.

Fire chief Craig Morgan said: “Our second charity ball was a great success and we are planning to turn it into an annual event. Also a big thank you goes to all the shops and businesses that kindly donated raffle prizes to help raise even more money – and to Old Thorns.

“We were almost called out to the accident on the A3 on Friday afternoon, where a 44-tonne truck overturned on the northbound carriageway and blocked two lanes.

“Thankfully other fire services were called out – otherwise some members of our team would have missed out on the charity ball that evening.”

The Firefighters Charity supports more than 5,000 beneficiaries a year through a broad range of services, addressing individual needs. The re-ablement approach includes physiotherapists, exercise therapists and psychological therapists all involved in delivering the programme to get people back to health wherever possible.

The charity recently supported an East Hampshire firefighter, who was injured in Grayshott, when his fire engine was involved in a serious collision.

Mark Wilson, who was on duty at Grayshott, was badly injured in 2015 during on a call-out to an incident in Alton, when his fire engine hit a tree on Headley Road, near the Waggoner’s Wells turn off.

Mark had to be cut out from the fire engine and was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital where he was treated for a dislocated pelvis and broken leg, before he underwent intense treatment and a severe rehabilitation programme at Harcombe House, in Devon, while his family was also given support by the Firefighters Charity.