Guests at this year’s Mayor’s Ball at Ipswich Corn Exchange will be facing the final frontier in their attempts to ensure Glen Chisholm’s charities live long and prosper.

The sci-fi fan is showing real Enterprise by giving this year’s ball a Star Trek theme.

He said it seemed logical to go where no man had gone before to bring the world’s best-known sci-fi phenomenon to the Corn Exchange.

“I’ve always been a huge sci-fi fan – I love Star Wars as well as Star Trek. But I really like the Star Trek message about working together and how everyone should work together.

“It was pretty radical in its time. Star Trek was the first American show to have an inter-racial kiss. It had the underlying message that people of all nations – and even some aliens – could work together to improve their knowledge.”

Guests at the ball will be treated to:

• Kling-On beef tomato and mozzarella salad.

• “Dr Bones” McCoy’s Rib of Beef (served and carved by guests at their table) served with Spock’s seasonal vegetables.

• The SS Enterprise Trio of Desserts

• Chekov’s Cheese Board

• Coffee and “Beam me up Scotty” Shortbread

• The “Vulcan’s” Vegetarian menu will also be available on request

The Ball is on March 19, with tickets costing £60 each or £600 for a table of 10. They can be bought from the Mayor’s office at Ipswich Borough Council’s Grafton House headquarters.

Mr Chisholm emphasised that the dress code for guests would be formal black tie, as usual: “But the waiters serving the dinner will have a distinct Star Trek feel. We’re not sure exactly what we will do, but they will certainly look the part.”

The ball will not be the first time Mr Chisholm has shown off his sci-fi enthusiasm – last month he showed the force was with him by dressing up in costume and brandishing a light sabre for the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens.