Tributes to Bernstein continue at packed charity dinner
Politicians, footballers and chief executives mingled at a champagne reception, serenaded by a string quartet. The region’s businesses were out in force last night to celebrate and raise funds in the name of former Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein.
See below for gallery of attendees
The dinner for 800 attendees, largely from the business world, was organised by the Lord Mayor’s charity I Love MCR, and raised £350,000 for a Sir Howard Bernstein Endowment Fund which will support “the ambitions of young Mancunians”.
Osborne speaks to a packed room
Sir Howard Bernstein spent 46 years working at the council, and left his position as chief executive on 31 March. Far from retiring, he’s already announced roles with the University of Manchester and Deloitte.
George Osborne gave the keynote speech at the dinner, predicting “I suspect we haven’t seen the last of Sir Howard.”
The sold-out event at Manchester Central saw companies pay around £5,000 for a table, and included a raffle and auction.
On arrival at the dinner, property professionals who had worked closely with Bernstein over the years described him as “determined” and “visionary”, while Rachel Haugh, co-founder of SimpsonHaugh & Partners, said she expected “a poignant evening”.
Tributes were paid to Bernstein from colleagues including the first chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Eamonn Boylan, and friends and family members.
Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood, left, with father and Bruntwood chairman Michael Oglesby
A lifelong fan of Manchester City Football Club, Bernstein was presented with Manchester City shirts from the 1971/72 and 2016/17 seasons to mark the start and end of his council career, by past and present captains Tony Book and Vincent Kompany. Long-time friend Marty Edelman, director of City Football Group and executive chairman of Manchester Life, also gave a speech.
Not surprisingly, there was a strong presence from the property sector, reflecting the outgoing chief executive’s deep involvement with the development community in the city. There were representatives from every major developer Bernstein worked with over the years, including Bruntwood, Argent, Allied London, Renaker, Peel, Himor and Capital & Centric.
Architects were out in force, with directors from SimpsonHaugh & Partners, 5plus, Hodder+Partners, and Studio Egret West amongst others.
Contractors Laing O’Rourke, Artez, and Eric Wright were present alongside figures from the consultancy world; Cushman & Wakefield, Deloitte, Arcadis and OBI Property.
Bernstein said: “I feel honoured that this dinner has encouraged so many people in the region to help the young people of our city reach their full potential. Manchester is an ambitious city full of talented individuals and it’s a real privilege to see everyone working together like this. Thank you to everyone who has taken part.”
Click any image below to launch gallery
- Sir Howard Bernstein, and wife Vanessa, arrive at Manchester Central
- Simon Austin-Behan, left, with husband Lord Mayor of Manchester Carl Austin-Behan
- Hazel Blears, former MP for Salford and Eccles
- Vincent Kompany, captain of Manchester City FC
- From left: Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Knowledge Quarter, Lynda Shillaw, chief executive of MAG Property, and Tim Newns, chief executive of MIDAS
- Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood, left, with father and Bruntwood chairman Michael Oglesby
- Claire Hodder and Stephen Hodder, of Hodder + Partners
- Ken Bishop, director of development at JLL, left, with Robert Hough, chairman of Peel Airports
- From left: 5plus Architects directors Jon Matthews, David King-Smith and Phil Doyle
- James Whittaker, director at Peel Group, left, and Stephen Wild, managing director of MediaCityUK
- Urban Splash chairman Tom Bloxham with Louise Wyman of the Homes & Communites Agency
- Left: Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, arrives with guests
- Gary Jackson, founder and director of DeTrafford Estates
- From left: Sir Edward Lister, chairman of the Homes & Communities Agency, with Deborah McLaughlin, head of GL Hearn in Manchester, and David Spencer
- From left: James Sidlow, project director at Allied London, Graham Skinner of Skinner Partnership, Andrea George, former Allied London director and restaurateur, and David Palmer, consultant project director at Allied London
- Footballer-turned-developer Ryan Giggs, director of St Michael's
- Former Manchester City FC captain Tony Book, left, with former Manchester City footballer and Stockport County FC manager Mike Summerbee
- Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood
- Capital & Centric co-founders Tim Heatley, left, and Adam Higgins
- Richard Upton, deputy chief executive of U+I, with Brenda Bates, head of corporate communications
- Argent staff past and present, including head of marketing Steve Alderson, and former projects director Angela Fielding
- Ian Simpson, co-founder of SimpsonHaugh & Partners
- Jessica Middleton-Pugh, deputy editor of Place North West, left, with Rachel Haugh, co-founder of SimpsonHaugh & Partners
- Alan Benzie, chairman of DWF, with Ken Knott, chief development officer at Select Property Group
- Ged Fitzgerald, chief executive of Liverpool City Council, with Pat Ritchie, chief executive of Newcastle City Council
- Ernst Ter Horst, architect at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, with Michele Steel, planning director at Select Property Group
- Steve Alderson, marketing director of Argent, with David West, director of Studio Egret West
