THE catalogue for Bridport Museum’s Auction of Promises is now available, with an extraordinary range of offers from around West Dorset including bread-making, paragliding, a knitted garment and a mini-facial.
About £2,000 must be raised this Friday night (March 12) to ensure that entrance to Bridport Museum in South Street collection remains free this year.
Star lots include the use of three holiday homes, one in Chamonix, one in Cornwall, and one in London.
Also on offer are two paintings by artist Philomena Harmsworth, a dolphin-watching session, and a table arrangement masterclass by florists Lavender Blue.
Curator Alice Martin said: “We’ve had an absolutely amazing response from everyone we asked.
“People have really understood how important the museum is to the cultural life of Bridport and have been very generous as a result.
Just what the doctor ordered: Bridport Museum curator Alice Martin with catalogue of promises and a model of historic Bridport apothecary Dr Roberts
“We now have to hope that enough people come along and get bidding so that we can raise the necessary money.
“We are already off to a great start after Denhay Farms gave us £300.
“But so many of the things that people have donated are the kind of items that normally money couldn’t buy.
“So it’s all up to our auctioneer Jim Rowe from estate agents Symonds and Sampson to make up the rest.
“If we can keep the museum free this year it’s hoped that we will be able to scrap admission charges for good.”
Bridport Museum saw visitor numbers double after it dropped its £2.50 admission charge last year.
Anyone unable to attend the auction on the night may still take part by contacting the museum office on 01308 458703 and leaving a maximum bid.
Catalogues - which are free – can be picked up from Bridport Arts Centre and Bridport Music.
And people will be able to follow the auction, which is being held at Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, live on Twitter from 7.30pm on Friday.
Doors open at 7pm and the auction commences at 7.30pm. Entry is £2.
The full list of lots:
£100 voucher for Hix Oyster & Fish House
Leisure Centre induction and joining fee
Fishing trip for one on Ruby Jay
Week’s rental for four in Cornwall cottage
Mini-facial at Beauty and Beyond.
2 x Brace of pheasants.
Family history research.
2 x paintings by Philomena Harmsworth.
Family weekend bike hire from Revolutions.
Round of golf for four at Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club.
Guided walk along Jurassic Coast with Earth Science Manager Richard Edmunds.
Flight for one in a Ran6 airplane.
Jaxson’s Deli Hamper.
Dolphin watching with Marinelife.
Real Tennis lesson at The Hyde.
Pass to Mapperton House.
Computer doctor with Mark Beed.
Bottle of champagne.
Dinner for four at The Bull’s The Stable.
Pottery lesson with Miles Bell at Symondsbury Pottery.
Washingpool Hamper.
Clay pigeon shooting for two at Bridport Clay pigeon club.
£100 furniture restoration by English Home Antiques.
Knitted garment by Sandra Brown.
Personal or Business Security consultation by Bridport Police.
Family portrait by photographer George Wright.
Dinner for two at the Olive Tree.
A tour behind the scenes of the Museum.
One week holiday let for six in Chamonix.
A year’s subscription to Dorset Life.
2x Palmer’s Brewery tour.
Guided heritage walk of Bridport.
Forest Products hamper.
Handmade set of silver ammonite stud earrings by Goldfinger.
Paragliding taster session.
One hour boat trip on the Ruby Jay.
Three night’s use of central London flat.
Horwood’s Landscape Gardening spring clean.
Swimming membership at Highland’s End Leisure Club.
Year’s full membership of Dorset County Museum
The Leaker’s bread-making masterclass.
A Carlton Ware plate.
Peppers by Post seed selection.
Table arrangement masterclass by Lavender Blue.
2 x tickets for Hitler Moustache at the Electric Palace.
Child’s DVD postcard by Margie Barbour.
Haircut and restyle by Designers Edge Unisex salon.
