THE astonishing generosity of the Somerset farming community saw more than £73,000 raised in memory of auctioneer, Charles Clark.
A true testament to the character of the late Mr Clark, an auctioneer and valuer with Greenslade Taylor Hunt who died earlier this year aged 59 from cancer, was witnessed on Saturday at Sedgemoor Auction Centre.
A packed ringside of farmers, friends, family, colleagues and clients jostled to the forefront to bid on some absolutely incredible lots, all of which had been donated to the Big Farming Charity Auction that was organised in his memory to raise money for four superb charities.
The atmosphere was electric as crowds queued out of the doors and from the start of the auction it was clear that people had wholeheartedly come to support the cause.
The four charities, chosen because in some way they had all been part of Charles’s life, were The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), the Farming Community Network (FCN), St Margaret’s Hospice and the Somerset Bowel Cancer Support Group.
They will all benefit from donations in excess of £18,000 each from the event.
TIPPLE: A bottle of whiskey signed by Boris Johnson sold for £3,000
A truly varied catalogue from turkeys and cakes through to holidays abroad and throughout the UK and even livestock were all donated.
The top call of the day was a luxurious house in Ireland that sleeps up to 14 people and sold for £5,100.
A fully staffed Sri Lankan Villa sold for £4,800.
Many unique items were donated and Charles’ wife Rebecca Pow MP secured a bottle of parliamentary whisky signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the auction.
This created an incredible amount of interest and after some very spirited bidding a local farmer secured the whisky for an astonishing £3,000.
Farmers were generous in their support of the auction and charities donating a number of calves and sheep and producing a record calf price, as long standing calf buyers chased up a British Blue bull calf to £1,000.
Auctioneer, Andrew Clements, said: “The auction itself raised just shy of £70,000 with a raffle held in conjunction creating the final outstanding total of in excess of £73,000.
"Sincere and grateful thanks to all who donated, purchased and everyone who bid and supported the event."
POPULAR AUCTIONEER: Charles Clark
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