Linklater Charity Auction

I ring up Ann Thomas, who is organising the charity auction in aid of the Linklater Pavilion on the Railway Land, to ask her what sort of items the public have donated to the cause: raising money for a state-of-the-art eco-designed centre inside Lewes’ riverside natural oasis. “Ooh, all sorts of things”, she says. “I’m surrounded by them in my living room, as we speak.” I ask her what sort of things, and her response reminds me of the ‘didn’t-she-do-well’ bit at the end of the Generation Game. “£40 bottles of whisky and expensive French wine,” she begins. “A brand new exercise bike; a 1900 weighing scales; paintings by local artists such as Tom Walker; some antique boxes; a set of children’s books signed by local author Miriam Moss; an invitation to tea in the House of Lords with the Baroness of Southover; a lovely old clock; a collection of old spoons…”
The list goes on and on. There are silver candelabra, Japanese cloisonné, santons from Provence, beer tankards, a marble chessboard which is “beautiful to look at and heavy to lift” and the promise of a cruise from Chichester Harbour on a 29 foot yacht. There’s a raffle, and a bar, with the alcohol provided by Harveys. “The lovely thing is that the money will be raised in the community, by the community, for this very community-oriented cause”, says Anne, audibly clinking some antique cutlery as she speaks. “The auctioneer is Julian Dawson, who is a great entertainer”, she continues. “We raised £2,500 for the library in a similar way, and hope to better that. But even if we don’t, we will have raised the profile of a very good cause”. AL