Going Going Gone

Southwell and District Round Table members are preparing for their major fund raising event of the year.

It’s the eighth Grand Charity Auction on Sunday 18th October at Merryweather’s Garden Centre.The first Auction was held in September 1974 and every year since, Auctioneer Tony Theobald has sold, for local charities, the various items donated by local people and collected by the Tablers.

Some unusual items have been collected and sold – for example, a hip bath, a five barred gate, and complete bathrooms, including windows and doors!

Amusing incidents as well – like the time two Tablers went to the top floor of an old house to collect a radiogramme in excellent working order; carrying it carefully down three flights of stairs to the waiting transport; turning the kindly donated piece of equipment on its back to put in the van, only for the back to fall off and all the insides to fall in a heap on Burgage Green – it was sold as being “eminently suitable for conversion into a cocktail cabinet”.

Another time it took ten Tablers to bring an upright piano from the upstairs bedroom of a house in Easthorpe.The local Children’s Home Caudwell House has benefitted from funds raised at previous auctions as have Bleasby Children’s Home, local OAPs with with Christmas gifts and parties, shopping trips at Christmas as well as visits to Pantomimes – the list is almost endless and does include some projects where confidential assistance has been given.

The last Auction raised approximately £2,000 and it is Table’s hope to top the £2,500 mark this year.  Anything saleable will be collected.Lat year a new idea was tried which proved a great success – Tablers collected donated tins – fruit, baked beans, etc – and a separate stall will be operated again this year when all tins collected will be offered for sale.Sunday 18th OCtober promises to be a good day for all the family – viewing of the lots is from 9.00am to 12 noon on the morning of the sale – doors open at 2.00pm with light refreshments available.  So if you want to pick up the bargain of a lifetime and help local charities at the same time, come to the delightful setting of Merryweather’s Garden Centre on Halam Road – come to the original Southwell & District Round Table Charity Auction – accept no substitutes!