Covid-19 saw many traditional activities and events curtailed and some never saw the light of day again. One such event was the traditional Harvest Auction hosted by the The Cricketers in Wisborough Green the last of which was held in 2019. This year, however, the new landlords, Katie and Luke Hamon, decided to re-establish that tradition and a Harvest Auction was held on Sunday 6 October.
One difference, this time, was the disconnect between the auction and the Harvest Thanksgiving Service at St Peter’s, which had taken place two weeks previously. Because of this, an appeal was launched in Ad Vincula and on Facebook for donations for the auction. Many people rallied round to help, in particular Nick Riley (former chair of the Hort Soc) and Simon Meadows. Alan Brown was persuaded to act as auctioneer and it was agreed that the proceeds would be split between The Elliott Charity (a WG charity – see page 21) and Macmillan Cancer Support. As in previous Harvest Auctions, in keeping with tradition, the Vicar pulled the first pint before the auction got underway!
Katie said: “Between Nick and myself we got all the donations, he spent countless days calling and picking up donations. We couldn’t have done it without Nick and Simon; they took control and organised the evening and made the pumpkin soup. They also donated so many things.”
Katie continued: “We had the juke box play for free in the evening and people stayed and danced the night away making them spend more money on the auction. The community came together to raise as much as they could for such a great cause.
Alan Brown and his daughter Mel made the night comical and really pushed people to spend as much as they could.”
A few pictures by Katie and Nicole Wright are below.
Nicole Wright posted on Facebook after the auction: “Amazing turnout tonight, always blown away by the generosity of this village in both the gifts for auction and the money spent bidding for them .. most expensive homemade pickled onions in the south east! Anyone wants soup, knock on your neighbours door we’ve all bought our body weight in vegetables! Balloon flights, holidays, meals, cakes, home made pies, Fishers Farm Park tickets, candles, pictures, chutneys, jams, booze, birdseed packed by Loxwood preschool .. and apples & more apples & more apples”
Over £1,700 was pledged on the night – an amazing amount!
