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The Guest Speaker for the Grays of Westminster and Nikon Owner Magazine Grand Christmas Event 2017 was Andrew Main Wilson.

Inspired and influenced along the way by interviewing world leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir David Attenborough and Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Andrew Main Wilson shared his exciting stories and the iconic images of his epic adventures across the globe.

Friday 1st December 2017 – The Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London

The glittering evening at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London, hosted by Gillian Greenwood, Senior Features Editor of Nikon Owner magazine and Gray Levett, founder of Grays of Westminster, began with a champagne reception and canapés in the Morning Room, followed by a traditional Christmas Dinner in the IoD’s magnificent Regency Restaurant.

Michael Main Wilson, Uri Zakay

Guest with Michael Eleftheriades, Mark Fury of Nikon U.K.

Guest, Peter Hearson, Tabitha Hardy

Alison Batchelor, Raffi Silvanian

This year, distinguished guests at our Christmas event included Nigel Atherton editor of AP, Heather McGlone editor of the Daily Mail Weekend magazine, David Wigg showbiz journalist, Robert Noel the Lancaster Herald from Her Majesty’s College of Arms, award-winning photographer Simon Stafford and Gavin Stoker editor of BPI (British Photographic Industry News).

Michael Eleftheriades who runs the very successful Nikon Owner London group along with photographer Simon Weir were in charge of sound mixing and vision. Adrian Cochrane represented the very popular Nikon Owner South Coast Group. Visitors came from all over the UK and one regular attendee flies over from the USA every year.

On Table 10: Keith & Susan Dimond. Robert & Elaine Walker, Molly & Johan Immerzeel, Nigel Jennings & Tish Jennings, Diana Tombs

Raffi Silvanian, Alison Batchelor, Becky Danese, Tabitha & Tom Hardy

Simon & Kate Stafford

Andrew Main Wilson, David Wigg, Heather McGlone

After the delicious meal, guests returned to the Morning Room. Andrew Main Wilson’s sold-out talk was introduced by Gray Levett.

Guest Speaker: Andrew Main Wilson

Andrew began by enlightening us as to what his father, Dennis Main Wilson, arguably the most important and influential of all comedy producers/directors in British radio and television, achieved while at the BBC, bringing us unforgettable shows such as The Goon Show, Hancock’s Half Hour and Till Death Us Do Part, as witnessed by a very young Andrew. He then explained how he was inspired and influenced by being fortunate enough to interview leaders in their field such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir David Attenborough and Astronaut Buzz Aldrin during his time as Chief Operating Officer at the Institute of Directors.

He then showed us a selection of his magnificent photos from his highly adventurous and epic Long and Winding Road Across the World project. He has set out to become the first person to visit every country in the world and tell the story of the 1,000 greatest travel experiences on Earth in images and words. He has, so far, undertaken photographic shoots in 175 of the world’s 200 countries and he is now very close to finishing his global odyssey.

Andrew pointed out that every single image from all 175 countries was shot using Nikon cameras and lenses, from the Nikon F4 to the Nikon D800, and the 14-24mm to the 80-400mm Nikkor zoom, and how his equipment has never let him down. Andrew also found time during his talk to praise Grays of Westminster for the excellent service he has always received from its dedicated, knowledgeable and helpful staff.

Solari Fonseka, Michael and Lara Main Wilson

Tabitha Hardy, Becky Danese, Gillian Greenwood

Many thanks, as always, for organising another excellent evening at the IoD – such a lovely venue. Thanks also, for your thoughtfulness with regards to the table plan. I thoroughly enjoyed the company of my fellow table guests, only two of whom I had met before – on Mike Eleftheriades London Group walks.

I very much enjoyed Andrew’s presentation and had no idea that his father was behind so many of the TV programmes that my own father used to love (and I can just remember)!!

Finally, I wish you and Gray, all the teams at Grays of Westminster and Nikon Owner, a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful 2018.

Neil Lupton

I wanted to say thank you for a lovely evening at the Grand Dinner. It was the first time Adela and I have attended for a few years and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The evening just seemed to fly by. I would be very grateful if you could also extend our thanks to the team.

Robert Piper

A big thank you, to you and Grays for another brilliant dinner, The Institute of Directors is such a wonderful setting.

James Crease