| The Annual Ball is normally the social event of the year for staff at locally based Vodafone. This year the ball has been downsized to a party and will be held in London’s Docklands.
The guest list has been substantially reduced from nearly 13,000 for last year’s event at Blenheim Palace to 7,000 this year. The selection process is alleged to have left a lot of glum faces amongst some long serving members of staff who have been left out. Employees with less than 12 months service were not eligible. The rest of the tickets were divided up proportionately amongst the various departments. The lucky guests were decided by pulling names from a hat, rather than seniority.
The party will be taking place on a galleon moored in Tobacco Dock in the heart of London’s Docklands The theme of this years party is “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
The lucky Vodafone employees are being bussed to the event to enjoy an evening’s entertainment which in previous years has included Robbie Williams and Westlife. Top of the bill this year is rumoured to be Tony Hadley, but the rumours usually prove to be inaccurate.
Recent venues for the ball have included Newbury Racecourse (2002), Highclere Castle (2003) and Blenheim Palace (2004). Prior to that the event was held in London at Earls Court. | 
