Magic Day Auction List 2023

Here we go, this year’s list is looking good!

1, A week in Barbados

Just 5 minutes walk from the beach is the holiday home to retreat to whenever you have a chance. An elegant but relaxed 3-bed home with quality furniture and air con throughout, this is a place to rest, recuperate, and rediscover yourselves.

The complex of 30 homes shares a pool, tennis court, a bar and a gym, but you may find yourself just dipping in and out of your own jacuzzi and relaxing on the sun-loungers in the garden, being visited by hummingbirds and random troops of shy monkeys, who are intent on stealing the mangoes from the trees within the complex.

The house has a large TV with access to all Sky and US channels (and Netflix of course). There are chess and backgammon boards, books, and a variety of games for children and adults alike. Beach towels and snorkelling kits are also available.

A 5 minute walk takes you past the 24/7 grocery store to the local beach, and there are around 8 different restaurant options. On the beautiful sandy beach itself you find a ‘destination’ restaurant – the Sea Shed – a calm space with a relaxed vibe selling fabulous food and cocktails including some of the best pizzas on the island, often accompanied with live music that can vary from jazz to reggae and rock. Another famous restaurant sits close by, as does a typical beach bar with sunbeds for hire.

A hire car allows you to explore the amazing island of Barbados, but is really not needed because everything can be found within minutes, and the small nearby towns can be reached by the frequent local buses that are an experience in themselves (ever wondered where the inspiration for the night bus in Harry Potter may have come from? Brace yourself…). Sitting on the infamous ‘West Coast’ and between the towns of Speightstown and Holetown, you are a world away from hustle and bustle but can still dip easily into discovering the small island.

Hunte’s Garden is my favourite daytrip recommendation – a retreat of beautifully landscaped gardens where classical music accompanies you, and where you will struggle to escape without sharing rum with the eccentric owner on his verandah. You can also wander deep into a pottery factory – Earthworks – and chat to the workers as they throw pottery, paint, and empty the furnaces. ‘Health and Safety’ definitely has a different meaning on the island, but the experience – and the beautiful pottery on sale within the factory outlet – is amazing. Diving, learning to surf, swimming with turtles, catamaran trips and snorkelling over shipwrecks are just a few of the other options available, should you wish to tear yourself away from your sunlounger and that book that you have finally found the time to read.

Night time options a few km away include a piano bar, a couple of clubs, bars with live music and a weekly karaoke party which sees the local road cleared for a carnival-like evening where locals and tourists party together. Nowhere is ‘cool’ but it doesn’t need to be; this is a place where the locals genuinely want you to share their love of life, and where you may well pick up dinner from a local fisherman who has dragged his impossibly rickety boat onto the beach in front of you in order to tempt you with tuna, king fish and lobster caught just offshore.

This holiday home is just a relaxing space on a friendly, welcoming and sunny island, and it isn’t paradise; but it feels like it sometimes.

One week at this wonderful location, excluding Christmas, New Year and Easter 2024 – your week is booked with the owners who may have other bookings already.

(There will be a reserve on this item)

2, A private tour of Air Salvage International

Our friend, Mark Gregory, Founder and CEO will take you on a personal tour of the facilities at Cotswold Airport, Kemble, you won’t be disappointed.

This is your chance to bid for an exclusive opportunity to have a personal tour for two people around one of Europe’s largest commercial aircraft recycling facilities at Cotswold Airport. This is something that money cannot buy.

Mark Gregory, the founder of the business 26 years ago, will give you an insight into this unique sector of aviation and take you on a tour its hangars and of the commercial aircraft on-site that are at varying stages of recycling. How often do you get chance to stand underneath a Boeing 747 and touch the wheels! There will also be a photo opportunity sat in the cockpit of a vintage Boeing 727.

3, Williams F1 engine cover

Our amazing Williams F1 contact and fellow Associate in the Club has managed an epic pile of Formula 1 bits, starting off with this, it’s huge, it measures just under 1.7m in length and 0.6m at its widest. This would be quite the talking point in a kitchen, living room and could add a touch of class to any other rooms in your home. Happy to store this for a week if you win it and have come in something that you can’t take it home in.

4, Williams Tour

This is for you and 3 guest(s) to visit the home of one of the world’s most successful Formula One teams, Williams, in Grove, Oxfordshire.

The private technology campus in Oxfordshire’s Horsepower Valley is home to over 500 designers, engineers, aerodynamicists and other experts with world class skill and commitment to excellence, The Williams Experience Centre is the focus for your visit join your host before commencing a tour of the state-of -the art, multi-million pound Grand Prix Collection and trophy room. This interactive museum houses around 40 Williams Formula One cars dating from 1978 onwards. Seminal race cars that carried World Champions such as Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve to victory over three decades of racing are on display, together with interactive displays tracing evolving technologies and historic racing incidents. You will also have the opportunity to browse the private Williams Grand Prix Collection, as well as test your speed and coordination in our F1 Simulators. Complimented by our excellent hospitality and friendly service, our Heritage Tours make for a great day out.

MUSEUM AND FACTORY TOUR DATES. Heritage tour times start from 10:30am. Please visit the website linked below to see the availability: Experience Centre Williams Racing (williamsf1.com) Please note, dates are subject to availability T 01235 777700

5, 2 person Kayak

Picksons truck & trailer parts kindly donated a 2 person inflatable kayak

with thanks to Jo Stokes

6, Cider Trip

A family ticket ( family if 5) to Weston cider Mill Ledbury for a guided tour & tasting experience.

with thanks to Jo Stokes

7,Kubota pedal tractor with front loader, back hoe & Trailer. Age 3 to 7.

Donated by Lister Wilder and thanks to Jo Stokes

8, Mercedes Benz Haul

With thanks to Carl Gomez for arranging this collection of merchandise worth over £250!

Jacket, backpack and cap

9, Signed Dakota and Lancaster Print

Signed by all of this year’s Lancaster and Dakota aircrew and engineers, framed. Thank you to the Brosch Family

10, Jeremy Clarkson Haul

Thanks to the Gooding family for going up to Clarkson’s Farm and grabbing this lovely lot.

Bee Juice

Chilli sauce

T towel

Honey dropper

Signed photo of JC

Plus much more

11, TCT Royal Albert Hall Comedy Night March 2024

Tickets are for 4 Stalls tickets for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall Comedy Night. Exact lineup and date TBC, but highly likely to be 18th to 24th March 2024. Last years line up included Harry Hill, Alan Carr, and Russell Kane. The winners will also be able to get a pre-event backstage tour around the Royal Albert Hall, Provided courtesy of Production AV.

With thanks to Pete McCrea

12, A Wine tasting and tour of Hattingley Valley Wines

Hattingleyvalley.com worth £50

13, Porsche Toy Bundle

with thanks to the Starr Family and Porsche Wolverhampton

14, Signed Williams Shirt

A brand new unworn Williams GP top/team-jacket signed by Albon and Sergeant. With two signed cards from them. with thanks to Simon Taylor

15, LUMI Keyboard

Everything you need to learn how to play the piano, keyboard worth £269 plus a years subscription worth £60. This will make an excellent gift for someone or maybe keep that promise you made to yourself to learn the piano. playlumi.com

With Thanks to Helen Jacob

16, Nick Mason mega bundle

Chief cake maker Kirstine and Jess, neighbours to Nick Mason have managed to get this incredible pile of signed goodies. Those of us of a certain age will know who Nick is, for the Members and those under 25, he is a serious petrol head and has one of the most fantastic collections of motor cars local to us, yeah; he plays the drums in a band as well!