GRAYSHOTT’S Gurkha Durbar restaurant hosted this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations with a selection of inspirational women speakers and performers attending.

Organised by Sudha Rai and husband Mani, the event raised in excess of £400 for Surrey-based charity Eikon, which provides long-term support to vulnerable young people and their families.

Caroline Olivero and Ann Mari Campbell from Eikon, who are based at Rodborough School, in Godalming, provide preventative help as well as hands on counselling for young girls and boys aged between 11 and 16.

Guest speaker Rachel Humphrey, the chief exectuive of four companies, including UFO, a networking organisation for cargo agents based in Liss, explained how she built up her worldwide business from scratch, without financial backing or knowledge of the market.

She said: “When I am asked how I managed to build-up companies in a global, male dominated industry with no experience I have to say – on the face of it – it should not have worked.

“I was young, inexperienced, uneducated, I had no money behind me, no capital and a year before I started my first company, I was living in a homeless hostel in Farnham called the Marshalls.

“But I had an idea about how the company could work and I did not try and hide my weaknesses when I got all these international business people together to network, which was ultimately what they wanted and needed from me.”

Stand-up comedy was provided by the Reverend Anna Lubelska, who was part of the clergy at St Luke’s in Grayshott for a number of years.

Waverley Ensemble’s star violinist Ishani Bhoola entertained her female audience with a medley of classical masterpieces.

The Ensemble’s popular concerts at St Christopher’s Church, in Haslemere, are arranged and presented by Ishani and feature professional and award winning performers including vocalists, flautists, oboists and keyboard players.

Raffle prizes were provided by the Liphook-based General Wine Company Grayshott Folk Club, Amazing Grace in Haslemere, Grayshott Wine Centre, the Gurkha Durbar, Grayshott Pottery, Mirabelle in Haslemere, Pins & Needles in Grayshott, Kathmandu Link Beer Suppliers, Haslemere Singing Studios and Grayshott’s Applegarth Farm, as well as a signed book by Tess Burrows the well-known adventurer and author.