Scoop! Journalists Tee-Up 'Golf' Ball

MILTON KEYNES - August 4, 2008: A real old-fashioned Fleet Street-style 'scoop' has been scored by the organisers of the annual London Press Club Ball - they're launching one of the hottest new cars in Britain.

The prestigious Ball in October will mark the first public appearance in the UK of the new and sixth generation Volkswagen Golf - a hot-hatch so secret that at the time of writing even photographs of it have not been seen.

But the VW Golf will be the star charity auction prize at the star-studded mingling of 450 of Britain's most influential journalists and PRs at the Natural History Museum on October 15, hosted by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine, to raise funds for the Journalists' Charity*.

The new Golf will have its international launch at the Paris Motor Show at the beginning of October and the London Press Club Ball on the 15th marks its first UK appearance. It is the sixth generation of the car, spanning 34 years and more than 25million vehicles.

Ball committee chairman Philippa Kennedy said: 'It was a real coup to secure the next generation Volkswagen Golf as a prize.

'In the past we have had generous support from Audi, Peugeot and Honda providing cars as auction prizes. But this is the first time we will have unveiled a prize car before it has even been officially launched in Britain.

'The timing seemed perfect and, happily, Volkswagen agreed. So it's a great scoop for us and of course for whoever successfully bids for it. And those at the Ball will be among the first in the UK to see it up close.'

Such has been the secrecy surrounding the latest car that the organisers have had to use a veiled picture of the new Golf until the official photographs are released.

The Golf was secured after Daily Mail Transport Editor Ray Massey approached the UK arm of Volkswagen, whose managing director Robin Woolcock generously gave the green light after conferring with the company's headquarters in Germany.

Volkswagen's Mr Woolcock said:'The organisers spotted the possibility of getting a new generation Golf to London in time for The London Press Ball and I'm pleased that they did. It is an ambitious target and I'm delighted we have a green light. The Journalists' Charity is a very deserving cause.'

The charity auction is being conducted by Lord Dalmeny of Sothebys. The evening will also feature a 'night at the opera' with stunning diva Natasha Marsh.

Main sponsor is Barclays bank and the champagne reception is hosted by Camelot.

The charity Ball is being hosted by BBC Radio 2 and Panorama presenter Jeremy Vine, himself no stranger to Volkswagens having used one of their camper vans to tour Britain for BBC Newsnight in the run-up to the 2001 General Election. Indeed Jeremy wooed and won his wife Rachel in the Volkswagen camper. His romance with BBC journalist Rachel Schofield, working as a local TV reporter in Newcastle upon Tyne, began at a gala dinner but Jeremy admits the 1976 Volkswagen - with a top speed of 55mph and an archaic radio that could only receive one station - played a major role in the relationship.

He said at the time: 'When the van passed through Newcastle, where Rachel was working, it was a watershed moment.'

Rachel, who has also worked for Woman's Hour and the Radio Four consumer programme, 'You And Yours' said: 'Jeremy came to love that van and we had a great laugh in it.'