50 Years at Rudding Park September 2022 marked 50 years since the Mackaness Family bought Rudding Park

To celebrate, on Tuesday 27 September we held a celebration lunch for the Rudding Park team. Nicky Villars, from our meetings and events team revealed an incredible cake she had been made specifically for the occasion, with no detail gone unnoticed!

This was followed on Wednesday 28 September with a cocktail party which saw the Mackaness Family host 250 family, friends, long service employees and associates, who had in some way helped ‘shape’ Rudding Park over the last 50 years. String Infusion performed on the balcony of Rudding House to welcome guests as they enjoyed Champagne and canapes in the Radcliffe Room. 

Simon Mackaness and his brother Mark both spoke on the last 50 years, whilst Simon’s sons, Matthew and Nick Mackaness also spoke with great affection and admiration of what their father and Uncle have achieved.

Guests enjoyed a video a rendition of the classic song, ‘Hotel California’, with lyrics adapted for the occasion to provide an insightful and humorous glimpse in the Rudding Park story of the last 50 years. This was followed with some surprise congratulatory video messages from ‘friends of Rudding Park ; TV presenter and Strictly Come Dance contestant, Helen Skelton, rock band, the Stereophonics, Triathlete and Olympian, Jonny Brownlee; Chef and TV Personality Rosemary Shrager; TV Presenters Steph McGovern and Kris Kamara, followed by none other than Jason Donovan!

As they said on the evening, here’s to the next 50 years!