Silence is golden

A silent auction with some stunning lots is currently underway to raise money for Naomi House and Julia’s House - two children’s hospices, which support life-limited children and their families who live in Dorset. 

The auction forms part of the Great Dorset Dinner – the UK’s largest dinner party, which will be held in stately homes, manor houses and cosy country cottages throughout Dorset on 7 March. On the night, the silent auction will be beamed to the dinner parties. 

The event aims to raise £100,000 for the children’s hospices and came about because Valerie Pitt-Rivers, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, wished to garner the support of the local community to fundraise for children’s hospices. The Great Dorset Dinner was the innovative idea of Jenny McVeigh and Russell Lucas-Rowe and has been organised by a special committee. Parties range from close gatherings of six people nestled around the kitchen table for supper to full banquets for up to 100 guests. 

Some of Dorset’s leading food producers are wholeheartedly supporting the event by providing top quality discounted local produce, to help keep expenditure to a minimum.

Although the Great Dorset Dinner is by invitation only, anyone can take part in the silent auction, which can be found at www.buyoncegivetwice.co.uk/event/the-great-dorset-dinner   Lots include: a week’s skiing in Val d’Isère; ‘Surf and Turf’ for six people along the Dorset coast in a 24-foot motorboat; a cookery course with Giuseppe Sinaguglia; a case of excellent wine; two tickets to Glastonbury 2009.