Auction of promises lowers the floor

Mary and Martin just before the bidding began

'Can I hear one hundred? Yes, to the young lady sitting in the aisle'

It's an evening of laughter and applause, of sealed bids (that always seem to end in 52 pence) and the mysterious allure of the highly valuable beef lasagne.

Two bidders fought out to win a trip round the Malvern Hills in a vintage Daimler, the loser then going on to win a trip in a 1935 Austin 12.

Watercolour lessons, a £25 voucher for the Lyttelton Well (sold for £50), a garden barbecue, a bottle of port (ideal for a future grandson's Twenty First birthday, apparently) all went under the hammer.

At the interval we are enjoying tasty canapes, serenaded by our very own Priory String Quartet.

Anticipating the second half with relish!

It just got better and better, the quarter peal of the Priory bells, the handwriting analysis, a fierce competition for 10 hours of family history research all raised considerable sums.

The health of Malvern’s orchids was explored in some depth when the ‘orchid hospital for a sick orchid’ lot came round. In the end, two orchids will be receiving tender care, to the benefit of the Priory floor levelling project.

Holiday homes in Greece, Pembrokeshire, Worcestershire, a flight in a light aircraft, greetings cards, garment mending…the promises were intriguing, different and very generous (and that is just a sample!).

And the final total? Over £10,000!

Thank you to Martin Roberts, who made the evening so enjoyable for everyone, encouraging us all to bid.
Congratulations to all who made this wonderful church community event possible and to all who bid (even if you didn’t win).
Thank you!