Bo'ness auction house helps raise £70,000 for charity

John Pye Auctions, backed by celebrities, professional athletes, sports clubs and businesses alike, has held three charity auctions online in the last four months from when the Covid-19 lockdown started.

The combined total has generated £70,485 and smashed the company’s aim of raising £50,000 for the entire year.

Local charity Falkirk Homeless Project is among those to benefit from a share of the cash.

A range of incredible donors - including Hollywood actor Michael Sheen, Great British Bake-Off judge Prue Leith and international cricket legend Stuart Broad - have all donated signed memorabilia lots for the events, with many sports clubs and businesses also donating some incredible items and unique experiences.

Some of the star lots from across the auctions include a Good Omen’s poster signed by Michael Sheen and David Tennant, which raised an amazing £3100, alongside a British Moto GP paddock and hospitality package that gathered £1450 and a very hotly-contested hospitality package for next summer’s Lord’s Test between England and India, which drew a bid of £3300.

Adam Pye, managing director at John Pye, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the total amount raised as it will do a lot of good for hard hit communities across the UK. There has

been an overwhelming amount of support and we’re incredibly grateful to all the individuals and businesses that generously donated items and experiences.”

The impressive total has been donated following each auction to a wide range of charities across the UK, each with the aim of making a difference to the local community.

The charities include national charity FareShare, Macmillan Cancer Support, Ashgate Hospice, Fairplay, Falkirk Homeless Project, Llamau, Thrive Women’s Aid, Who Dares Cares, the Trent Bridge Community Trust, the Nottingham branch of Guru Nanak’s mission and The Robin Hood Fund.

Adam added: “We’re delighted to have helped so many charities across the UK during what has been a difficult time for many.

"We’re hoping to hold more charity auctions this year to help further smash our targets, in particular another sport focused auction, so we are looking for sports clubs and organisations to get involved. If this sounds of interest, then please get in touch.”

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you