Auctioneers hammer dealers …but it’s all in a good cause

Organiser Lennox Cato, who captained the Dealers’ team and scored their only goal, admitted that, for once, having an eye for the finest antiques was no advantage when it came to selecting a team: “Youth and energy definitely won the day. In the last few minutes we had over 20 players on the pitch on our side and we still couldn’t score another goal!”

But while he had to hand the laurels to opposing team captain Paul Campbell of Gorringe’s, he was delighted with the success of the event, including a turnout of more than 100 spectators.

With a perfect late summer’s evening playing to their advantage, the gathering at the Bank of England sports ground in south west London enjoyed picnics and a barbecue and put up £500 for a cut glass jug donated by Mr Cato and auctioned by Philip Taylor of Gorringe’s. Further donations were made and there have been pledges for professionals, including a lawyer, to give their services free of charge to the charity benefiting from the event, The Haven Trust, which is dedicated to fighting breast cancer.

Christie’s, who gave donations along with Sotheby’s and Country Life in the Gazette-sponsored event, proved to have the strongest players on the night, with Jussi Pylkkanen scoring once and Jim Henderson scooping the Man of the Match award with a hat trick.

However, Mr Cato felt that it was the Dealers’ goalkeeper, Willie Clegg of The Country Seat, who should be singled out for praise: “He was an absolute star, and went for anything that came his way.”

Mr Cato is still accepting donations for The Haven Trust and has reported a very positive reaction to his last appeal through the Antiques Trade Gazette.

As reported in Gazette No 1604 (September 6), those who want to donate can send a cheque written out to Mr Cato, who will issue them with a receipt, to Lennox Cato Antiques, 1 The Square, Church Street, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 5BD.