THE Tiverton Group of Friends of the Children’s Hospice South West organised a really fun evening in Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Hall recently.

Three auctioneers from Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood brought with them 10 items from their salerooms and regaled us with implausible stories about their origins.

The items ranged from metal discs (which might, or might not) have been part of space-launching equipment, to amber beads, Chinese Grave furniture, and a Surgeon’s Trepanning instrument.

The audience struggled with the variety of explanations - often the most outlandish proved to be the correct one!

The hall was packed, a delicious ploughman’s was served by the Friends in the interval, and a licensed bar run by Roy Clayton was well patronised.

The Group made more than £1,000 for CHSW and members were delighted with the result. They are very grateful to the auctioneers for giving their time and acting skills, which were most impressive.

Mary Nunn