Thanks to our generous donors, who bid on an array of prizes from a signed rugby shirt to tea in the House of Lords, we have raised a significant amount towards our current target project.
The auction was held on Zoom on 16th March 2023, and was expertly compered by BBC Radio Oxford presenter Sophie Law. The event opened with an update from WATSAN’s Chair Ian Bensted, who explained that times are difficult for the WATSAN team, with the fall-out of COVID and a cost-of-living crisis still being felt. Trustee Kate Parrinder shared a video about the Kazuru gravity flow scheme, a project in one of the remotest areas of Uganda that will benefit a large community with first-time piped water supply.
Sophie then led the bidding on 26 auction ‘lots’, including weekend stays at rural retreats in Wales and Devon; a signed rugby shirt by the 2004 England rugby team; tea on the terrace at the House of Lords; a chauffeur-driven ride in a vintage car; jewellry and crafts; tickets to family days, theatre and classical music concerts; and a hand-drawn sketch of your favourite pet! Sophie’s radio presenter patter made proceedings fly by, with lots of laughs and enthusiastic bidding from the assembled audience.
The event culminated in a lovely announcement from donor Martin Fosten, who had inherited a collection of historic football caps and offered to auction them off, with all proceeds to WATSAN.
Huge thanks to Martin, Sophie and in particular Jenny Vaughan, who had the auction idea and obtained many of the prizes.
WATSAN Uganda 