THE BROWNSTON Gallery in Modbury hosted an art auction in aid of Salcombe RNLI last week, raising more than £4,000.

Champagne and canapés greeted visitors while they were being entertained with music from the Scarlet Ladies Trio and viewing the auction lots. The sale commenced with local auctioneer Stuart Cartwright from Marchand Petit, enthusiastically wheeling his gavel to encourage the best bids.

Gallery owner Catherine Gillen said: ‘Twenty of my regular artists kindly donated works of art including a stunning ceramic double sided portrait by local Salcombe artist Caroline Mercer called “Salcombe Spirit” featuring lifeboatmen from 100 years ago and present day.

‘They were so generous and will be pleased to hear the final amount raised for such a wonderful cause”.

Tim Chandler, vice chairman of Salcombe RNLI Fundraising, started proceedings by thanking all those who had helped put on the auction and gave details of the forthcoming Lifeboat Disaster Centenary events taking place later this month.

He said: ‘We cannot thank Catherine and her staff enough for all the hard work they put in to make this auction so successful and we raised just over £4000 during the evening which was a tremendous outcome and far exceeding our expectations.’

Clive Higgs, Salcombe RNLI events co-ordinator said: ‘This really was a sterling effort by a very small team. Even the extremely tasty canapés were made by Mike Astill, one of our members.’

He said Salcombe RNLI are in the process of organising a recruitment drive as they need more volunteers urgently to help on their various events and Flag Day collections. If anyone is interested they should call Tim Chandler on 01548 561678.