Bids totalling over £2,000 made in fun auction in aid of Eisteddfod

* Auction assistant Mabli Lebbon with the guitar signed by the Manic Preachers which went for £350.

More than £2,000 was raised from lots that went under the hammer at an auction in aid of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in the Town Hall last night (Friday).

All 30 or so item which went up for sale were donated by well-wishers and bargain-hungry bidders paid £350 for a classic Danelectro guitar signed by the Manic Street Preachers who will star in an evening concert hosted by the Eisteddfod on June 28, £150 for a framed football shirt signed by Leeds and Wales international players and the same amount for a family portrait session put up by Neil Barrett Photography.

The hammer went down at £140 on a pair of tickets to see Tom Jones make his Llangollen debut on July 2 and at £120 for a four ball voucher including meals at the Vale of Llangollen Golf Club.

Other lots which stirred plenty of interest included packages of wine, spirits and beer, afternoon tea treats and a bread-making course in the winning bidder’s home offered by a local expert.   

* The masked singer was one of the auction lots.

There was also some intense bidding on a dinner, bed and bed breakfast stay for two people at a choice of hotels run by the group which owns the Wild Pheasant in town, That was eventually snapped up for £170.

Most novel lot of the evening came up when a masked singer clad in Sion Corn outfit gave an example of his vocal abilities to promote bidding on his offer to perform a 45-minute routine at the winner’s choice of venue – and bring along a bottle of champagne to get the party started. That went for a bargain £75.

Between the two halves of the auction, over which the gavel was wielded by Ian Lebbon chair of the Eisteddfod’s marketing committee, there was first class entertainment from a Wrexham-based ladies’ choir of Welsh learners, Côr DAW, who performed medleys of songs by the likes of Elton John, Abba, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Jersey Boys in both Welsh and English.

* Ian Lebbon wields the gavel.

Ian Lebbon said: “It was a fantastic night in which a total of over £2,000 was raised for the Eisteddfod from the many lots which went under the hammer,

“It would not have been possible but for the marvellous support we received from the people who donated items to be auctioned off and the volunteers and friends from the Eisteddfod who helped put the whole thing together.  

“I’d also like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along to join the very lively audience, which included guests from Australia and Ukraine.”

* Côr DAW perform one of their medleys.

* The football shirts on display before bidding commenced.