It's Auction Time!
October 25 th that is! It sounds like a long time away but before you know it, the leaves
will be falling from the trees and you will be off to White Waltham for the Annual
Fairground Auction. This year my event goes under the banner of The Fairground and
Circus Auction. So not only will there be the normal array of slot machines, pedal cars
and fairground art, there will also be some very fine circus memorabilia.
Any lot will be considered for the auction although I would prefer pieces that can
be easily taken away on the day of the auction, simply because this seems to be where
the market is strongest. In other words - I am not interested in small roundabouts with
unrealistic reserves! I would urge anyone entering lots to have no or low reserves, as this
is a sale not a valuation service. Any item that does not make its reserve will be stated as
unsold.
This year we have a special section to the auction - a segment 100% for charity;
one of my many ideas that has gone down very well! Our charity of the year is the
Teenage Cancer Trust. There's never a good time to get cancer, but for a teenager the
timing seems particularly cruel. Young people can get some of the most rare and
aggressive forms of cancer while the emotional upheaval of adolescence can make a
cancer diagnosis even harder to cope with. Every day in the UK, six young people will
have to face that diagnosis. Teenage Cancer Trust understands that teenage cancer
requires specialist care and that young people have a much better chance in their fight
against cancer if they are treated by teenage cancer experts in an environment tailored to
their needs. Teenage Cancer Trust builds units in NHS hospitals, which improve the
quality of life and chances of survival for young people with cancer. As it receives no
government funding, Teenage Cancer Trust relies on voluntary donations.
It occurred to me to ask as many fairground artists as I know to do a piece of
artwork to auction off commission free. This has the obvious benefit of raising much
needed funds for a very worthy cause, and it also highlights the fact that if you want
traditional hand-painted artwork you can still have it done for you - you just need to
know where to look! All too often you see a set of gallopers with vinyl scrolls on the
steps or a vintage slot machine with stick-on letters - why? Because it is cheap and
traditional artwork isn't and nor should it be - it's a dying art form that deserves
celebrating and this is my way of doing so. We have already got two fabulous pieces
here - one by my Mum, Anna Carter and one by Vicky Postlewaite. Myself and my
apprentice, Aaron Stephens are both half-way through our pieces - mine being a guitar
kindly donated by Fender - possibly the hardest thing I have ever decorated and will be
a one off one of a kind piece! Many other famous artists are painting pieces for this
event, including a very well known artist from Australia!!!
We look forward to seeing you on the last Sunday of October.
Joby Carter
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