I have in the past attended the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem on a charitable basis to perform vitreoretinal surgery.  Most patients are Palestinian and often from poor backgrounds.  The hospital relies on charitable funds and the black tie event at the Mansion House in London was to raise funds for the hospital.  It was attended by the Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior of the most venerable Order of St John, the Dutchess of Gloucester and Fiona Woolf, Lord Mayor of the City of London.  Speeches were given by Vanessa Redgrave and the journalist John Snow who helped with an auction.