The ACS Hillingdon International School celebrated at their 2007 Casino Royale Winter Ball February 24. Taking its cue from the year 2007, the ball had a 007 theme. Where else would the ball be hosted but the home of the James Bond films: Pinewood Studios.

Fabulous invitations featuring Bond themed art work by senior Pia Pelkonen were created by a committee led by Lynne Citroen Barratt. These were delivered to all high school students a month prior to the event.

On the night a Bond themed searchlight led the students and their guests through the main gates of Pinewood Studios. Their limousines dropped them at  a red carpet lined which was lined with paparazzi. As the students made their way through the flashing cameras and requests for autographs, they didn’t know that one of the paparazzi was actually a photographer from Fraser Portraits, who took photos throughout the evening of the magnificently attired partygoers. Other paparazzi included the chaperones for the evening Sara Cassell, Cindy Davis, Deanna Fontanes-Halliday, Bill Halliday, Richard Hein, Kevin Larkin, Leanne Larkin, Manon St. Pierre and Kevin Woolford as well as parent, Susanne Carlsson.

Fairy lights, candles, a Bond Scalelectric race set and gadget decorations carefully placed by a committee led by Jessica Rannachan helped to provide atmosphere to the fabulous Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios. Students were welcomed with soft drinks and juice in the paneled Club Bar. Shortly after 8:00 pm the doors to the impressive dining room swung open An amazing chandelier highlighted the white clothed tables decorated with red roses in black vases surrounded by red and diamante stones and tea lights. Special appreciation is due to Kyoko Arai for beautifully arranging all the flowers. All were invited to a finger buffet of sandwiches, chicken, vegetable parcels, spring rolls, sausages, quiche and mini chocolate éclairs. A selection of Bond movies was projected silently through the famous “gun barrel eye view” silently throughout the evening.

Guests were surprised when Ashley Briggs, the DJ for the night, played a Bond theme song as hidden doors were suddenly opened to reveal a casino, dance floor and stage area. All attendees were given $100 Casino Royale money to exchange for chips as they eagerly surged into the large room. The senior class arrived in style in a pair of matching white stretch Hummers and completed the group of 211 students who had purchased tickets from the committee led by Yurika Kobayshi.

Magician Paul Megram mystified and entertained small groups of guests through the evening. A beginning of the fabulous new “Bond” movie No More Lies, produced by Kyle Rannachan and Adam Aldous and starring their classmates, was shown on the projection screen to loud acclaim. This was followed by salsa lessons by Sue Hollerbach and her daughter Karen. A student band composed of Adam Black, Ben Dyer, Aaron Ford, Jay Hiest, and Mike Stetz performed for the enjoyment of all. The announcement of the King, Queen and their court ended the celebration. Lords and Ladies Adam Black, Elyse Tucker, Mike Stetz and Grace Ferguson-Pell were elected to the court of Winter Ball King Antonio Recio and Winter Ball Queen Cansu Arslan.

Thanks to the efforts of Vershonn McIntosh, all guests were given a specially imprinted souvenir key ring fashioned from actual casino chips as they left the ball to be whisked away to the after parties.