Hedge fund managers and professionals in the UK financial community answered calls from actress Uma Thurman and London mayor Boris Johnson to dig deep into their wallets at last night’s gala dinner for children’s charity Ark despite the economic downturn. The event raised £15.6m (€17.7m), down from the previous year but ahead of Ark’s £10m target.

More than 800 professionals attended the dinner at London's Waterloo International Station, where the charity lots auctioned or raffled on the night included Fiat cars customised by artwork by Damien Hirst, a week of yachting and access to the Ferrari Formula One paddock at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix.