Express & Star

GALLERY: Stars come out to raise cash and smiles for Joel

Guests showed their support at the glittering Smile for Joel charity ball.

Published
L-R: Leicester City footballer Marc Albrighton, Suzy Evans, Daz Hale, Julie Regis, Owen Richards, and Gill Jordan also known as Doreen Tipton

Footballers, comedians, and local business people turned out in their dozens to the black tie ball, organised by mother-and-son team Suzy Evans and Owen Richards.

Suzy, from Wednesbury, set up the charity Smile for Joel after her 19-year-old son Joel Richards was killed in the Tunisia beach shooting of 2015.

Her 78-year-old father Patrick and 49-year-old brother Adrian were also shot and killed in the attack.

Suzy Evans with her son Owen at the ball

The men had gone away on a special ‘boy’s outing’ to celebrate Owen, who was 16 at the time, finishing his GCSEs.

But Owen was the only member of the family to return from the trip.

The attack claimed the lives of 38 holidaymakers.

The Smile for Joel ball was held on Saturday night at Wolverhampton Racecourse to raise money for the charity, which supports families who have lost loved ones to homicide.

GALLERY: Highlights from the night

Rebecca Foster and Charlotte Beaman who work for Worcester University and taught Joel, taking time out for a selfie
Ruth Lincoln and Laura Bennett
The Copicats live on stage
The packed dancefloor
Louise Harrison presents an award to Louise Withers in recognition for the help she has given to Suzy and the charity
Julia Regis, Cyrille Regis's widow, and Karen Shearer
Suzy Evans presents flowers to Chloe Albrighton, Cheryl Stollery, Julie Grubb and Joyce Hibbs, who all lost loved ones
Suzy Evans with Gill Jordan aka Doreen Tipton
Guests enjoyed the night at the Black Tie Ball for the Smile for Joel charity
Guests enjoy the night
L-R: Leicester City footballer Marc Albrighton, Suzy Evans, Daz Hale, Julie Regis, Owen Richards, and Gill Jordan also known as Doreen Tipton

Guests included Leicester City footballer Marc Albrighton, who lost his mother-in-law Sue Davey in the Tunisia attack, BBC Radio presenter Daz Hale, Julia Regis – widow of Albion legend Cyril Regis, and Gill Jordan, also known as comedian Doreen Tipton.

Families who had lost loved ones in the Tunisia terror attack were also in attendance.

Suzy said: “It was an absolutely amazing event. It was our first one, and to have nearly 200 people there was just amazing.

Leicester City footballer: Marc Albrighton and his wife Chloe. Chloe lost her mother Sue Davey in the Tunisia attacks

“We have already booked next year’s event for November 7 at the Racecourse again.

"I want to thank everyone who came, we had so much support and it was a real team effort.

"We’ve been overwhelmed. When I think what we lost it’s hard. The boys would have loved an event like that.”