Seventy invited guests gathered at Eyot House, built by Richard D'Oyly Carte and his wife, Helen, on D'Oyly Carte Island in Weybridge. All were in attendance to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first night of Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury which opened on the same date in 1875. Guest visited the Melvyn Tarran G&S collection and enjoyed champagne and canapes. Michael Tripp, chair of D'Oyly Carte Opera Trust, welcomed guests, and Ian Martin, General Manager, read a message from Lord Glendonbrook who couldn't be there. Without Lord Glendonbrook and his extraordinary philanthropy none of us would have been there to enjoy the celebration. A number of guests of The D'Oyly Carte Foundation (US) were also attending. Andrew Wimble, chair of The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, made a toast to D'Oyly Carte and there followed a brief musical entertainment involving Richard Suart, Ellie Laugharne and John Savournin, accompanied on the piano by Bryan Evans.
