Rotary antiques event is a roaring success

ELY Rotary Club held its very own Antiques Roadshow-style evening at the weekend, with more than 80 people enjoying a marvellous spread organised by chairman Carole Gunthorpe.

David Palmer, Ely-based TV antique expert, was the guest speaker, who performed his normal practise of describing, researching and presenting his programme using a wide variety of articles brought in by club members and guests.

There was an interesting selection of articles for display, including several pictures, one of which was painted by Prince Charles of Belgium and fully documented, silverware, parion and marble statuette, a mystery piece eventually suspected of being a carrying handle, a pair of very old children’s clogs, a silver table clamp to hold a night-light or similar and early Victorian sewing table.

The evening concluded with a mock auction, with David Palmer as the auctioneer ‘selling’ various items chosen by him, and then described as true or fake, educating the audience to the dangers and care needed when really buying.

The raffle included more than 20 items, including donations from The Boathouse restaurant, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Twentypence Garden Centre and Scotsdales.

Profits were donated to Village Water, an important charity that helps people in Africa to enjoy clean, safe water.