1st April 2016 saw Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces celebrate the endangered Indian tiger in along with their partner, The Born Free Foundation, and the launch of St. James' Court’s limited edition hardback of The Jungle Book.
The famous names present included Gary Linekar with his ex-wife Danielle Bux, and Vic Reeves with his wife and children. Also attending was former Blue Peter presenter Tim Vincent, now based in the USA and working in television there.
British film actress and founder of The Born Free Foundation Virginia McKenna, now in her eighties but still elegantly beautiful, was escorted by her son Will Travers, President of the Born Free Foundation. Will’s father Bill tragically died some years ago. The family trio was completed By Virginia’s granddaughter Lily, who has just returned from India after shooting in Gurinder Chadha’s latest epic about Lord Mountbatten.
The elegant Edwardian I Banqueting Suite at St. James' Court Hotle was decked out in a complete jungle theme with jungle theme canapés and desserts a-plenty.
The star-studded event showcased the magnificent Shere Khan diamond necklace, designed by Catherine Best. Last valued at over a quarter million pounds, the necklace is scheduled to be auctioned later in the year to raise funds for the Born Free Foundation.
The Disney movie adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book has just been released in the USA with more versions planned, so there is a lot of Jungle Book around.
Proceeds from sales of the limited edition hardbacks have been committed to Born Free’s tiger conservation work in India. Digvijay Singh, General Manager of Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences and St. James' Court Hotel also announced a number of initiatives to support the charity, like Jungle Book menus and banquet event themes.
Mridula Tangirala, Director Operations, Taj Safaris, the creators of India’s first luxury wildlife travel circuit in Madhya Pradesh, was present and announced the opening of Taj’s first lodge outside India: Meghauli Serai at the UNESCO World Heritage Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
Pic courtesy: Alan Strutt
