Sharow Community Auction of Promises
Ripon Spa Hotel ~ Thursday 17th April
Raised about £4000 to be shared between
Sharow School & Church
What an excellent affair the whole evening turned out to be. Everyone was made welcome from the moment they arrived and were left in no doubt as to the object of the evening as programmes, pens and numbered bidding fans were given out. The ballroom was attractively set out with perhaps 10 large round tables each finely decked to seat ten for dinner. Every table was liberally scattered with messages from the children welcoming us and explaining a little of their hopes. The curried chicken was certainly tasty with plenty for seconds for those who required more. The fish pie was reported to be equally flavoursome.
The serious business commenced when our professional auctioneer, Tom Kirkby, raised his gavel. There were 59 promises listed on the programme covering such a wide variety of goodies that there was something for everyone from Children’s Parties to Garden Compost; Computer Tuition to Beauty Treatment. A little over an hour later the final promise had fallen under the gavel. The late entry offer of a clay pigeon shoot completed 60 auctioned promises.
It is absolutely clear that a lot of people put a lot of effort and skill into planning and executing this event. Everyone involved deserves congratulations, not only for an excellent financial outcome but for the very enjoyable nature of the evening. Particularly pleasing is the way the village school and the village church and the villagers themselves worked together. A genuine and healthy piece of village co-operation.
And as for the proceeds, the programme stated:
The children of Sharow C of E school would like to create an outside learning and collective worship area. We have a beautiful sweet chestnut tree and it will be wonderful to have a covered decked area under our tree.
St John's Church would like to have a bespoke community display board, that would allow much more room for information from different sections of the village.
