May 19th - Going, going, gone!
The grand auction for charity took place on Saturday May 17th in St.Nicholas Church Hall. For weeks the organisers had been gathering goods and furniture from the neighbourhood and storing it ready for the great day. Many thanks to all those who responded so generously to the pleas to turn out the cupboards. And it was raining, wasn't it, as the boxes and furniture were brought into the hall on Friday evening!! There was some anxiety, as is always the case, that there was not enough stuff, there wouldn't be enough people, nobody would bid etc.
From 9 am on Saturday the punters started to arrive. Seasoned campaigners who recounted with relish past bargains and had a weather eye open for current ones. They took their seats well in good time. By 9.45 it was standing room only. As John Brown, a genial and experienced auctioneer, took his place on the throne - a velvet-cushioned chair on a table, the proceedings began. First box of assorted bric a brac. "What am I bid for this mystery assortment?" Dead silence. For one heart-stopping moment it looked as if it would all be a complete waste of time but then the offers began 50p - £1 and so it went on. One of the most exciting bids was for a child's metal rocking horse in fine condition and there was a ding-dong battle of bids between three people and the price crept up from £5 to a respectable £22 at the finish. There were some amazing bargains - a brand new type-writer for £5; lots of good-as -new children's toys and games for under £1. Makeover merchants could have had a field day - candelabra, carpets, curtains, chairs and tables galore for less than the price of a pint of beer. A very fine double and a triple settee in superb condition went for £15. The pace of the auction was kept up by John Brown, who clearly knows his audience and what appeals. Thanks to his amazing speed and expertise almost everything had been sold as the clock struck twelve.
Thanks must go to the organisers and helpers from St.Nicholas parish, Thorne Methodist Church and St.Joseph's Catholic Church, Moorends. The total amount raised was £425. This has been allocated to Cafod and Christian Aid. Never having attended an auction before, much less helped at one, I found the whole experience highly entertaining and enjoyable - and I have half a dozen books to read,which I bought for less than the price of a Sunday paper. Can't be bad! We all hope this will be the first of many joint ventures for the Christian community of Thorne/Moorends in seeking to further justice and solidarity with the poor - and enjoy ourselves at the same time.
If you wish to comment on anything please do so, either in person, by phone or by e-mail. to Kate Heywood
