Lord Mayor of York Councillor Irene Waudby will get her Valentine Ball really rolling tomorrow (Friday, January 25) when she unveils some of the 'pot black' prizes from her charity draw - courtesy the stars of last month's UK Snooker Championship at City of York Council's Barbican Centre.

The auction will be one of the key features of the Valentine Ball which will take place at York Racecourse on Saturday, February 16. The ball is being staged to raise funds for St Leonard's Hospice and Age Concern York - the two charities the Lord Mayor has adopted for her year of office.

Tomorrow, to benefit her annual charities appeal, Lord Mayor Councillor Waudby is to be presented with a whole set of snooker balls from the final day's play of the UK Snooker Championship on Sunday, December 19.

Tournament champion Ronnie O'Sullivan also signed the winning cue ball. The balls, along with a cue and tournament programme which have been signed by all the players, will be presented to the Lord Mayor as prizes for the money-spinning draw next month.

Lord Mayor Councillor Waudby said, "The UK Snooker Championship at the Barbican was a most successful event. I was delighted to meet so many of the snooker players and senior members of the World Snooker Association when I hosted a dinner for them at the Mansion House.

"It was extremely generous of them to donate these items of snooker memorabilia which I am sure will be very attractive prizes at the Valentine Ball and raise money for my charities."

Organising this year's Valentine Ball has brought back some happy memories for Lord Mayor Councillor Waudby and her Consort husband Derek since they first started 'walking out' at a Valentine dance held at Trinity Methodist Chapel on Monkgate back in 1964.

A day at sea on HMS York and a day at York races are just some of the other prizes on offer at the Valentine Ball.

The event is open to all and ticket information can be obtained by calling the civic office on 01904 551011.

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