The fundraising auction St John’s has been running throughout June has already raised almost £5,000. It is due to end on Sunday, June 30 at 7pm.
The auction of over seventy lots is raising money for the school’s all-weather pitch. Many of the lots are for opportunities that money simply cannot buy – including a day at the House of Commons with MP Claire Perry and a tea-tasting experience with a Mike Wright, Senior Tea Blender at Twinings.
The auction is the brainchild of St John’s parent Jackie Ferguson. Thanks to her involvement in the local racing community, a number of the lots involve horse-related experiences.
These include a VIP day for six people at Barbury Horse Trials on July 7 (valued at £900), one year’s membership of a racing syndicate, a morning on the gallops and breakfast with a racing trainer, a day’s work experience with an equine vet and an escorted ride through West Woods.
In addition there are dozens of other lots including days out, holidays & hotels, health & beauty and a range of gifts. One of the most valuable lots has been donated by Covered Occasions Marquees whose managing director, Jeremy Sumbler, is offering the highest bidder the hire of a 9m x 12m marquee with flooring and lining.
Kate Hunter, Development Officer at St John’s, has been managing the bids as they arrive at St John’s: “We have been receiving up to 40 bids each day. We read all the emails and update the bids online once or twice a day, which is not quite up to eBay speeds, but the best we can manage.”
“Our web technician Karen Reed has done a wonderful job creating the website for the auction, as have the volunteer parents Jackie Ferguson and Jo Payne.”
“We are expecting a lot of bids to come in over the final weekend and there will be a final update on Saturday evening. After this the auction will become ‘silent’ for the final day and bidders will have to take their chance that they have submitted the highest bid”.
Other auction lots include an afternoon spent in the kitchens of the Outside Chance in Manton working with their chef to prepare a meal for the winner and five friends, a holiday in Brazil, lunch at the new Moran’s Espresso in Marlborough, work experience with an auctioneer, a sausage-making course, an electrical inspection of your home, a wooden platter made from the old St john’s school science benches.
Bids for items in the auction can be made online via the St John’s website.The final bidding deadline is 7pm on Sunday, June 30.
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