The Yew Tree Hall Grand Auction

Saturday 22 November will go down as one of those sparkling evenings in the life of Yew Tree Hall - the kind we’ll be talking about for years. Our Grand Auction, held in aid of the hall’s redevelopment fund, drew in a wonderfully packed crowd, an impressive array of donations, and a healthy dose of Cumbrian good humour.

The evening was steered (with equal parts charm, mischief and immaculate record-keeping) by our auctioneers Ian and Catherine Armstrong, who kept the room buzzing from the first lot to the last. Jennings Brewery kindly supplied a cask of their classic Cumberland Ale alongside a taster barrel of their new imperial creation, Lorton Ale, brewed especially for the occasion. As supporters of the Yew Tree Hall project, the brewery’s new owners, Rebecca and Kurt Canfield, joined us on the night together with head brewer Buster Grant, adding a lovely local touch to proceedings.

There were, of course, moments destined for the village folklore. Liz Irlam’s now-legendary “year’s supply of ginger cake” reached an astonishing £1,000 - a testament to both her baking reputation and the competitive spirit of Lorton. Not to be outdone, the very first bottle of Lorton Ale fetched an impressive £400. And in an act of bravery (or possibly temporary madness), Nev Mills offered up his head for shaving, raising over £250 in the process.

By the end of the evening, laughter had echoed around the rafters, Cumberland Ale had flowed, and the community had once again shown what it’s made of. The grand total (an extraordinary £22,000!) surpassed all expectations and stands as a testament to the generosity and spirit of everyone who contributed.

It was, in every way, a tremendous occasion. A reminder that Yew Tree Hall is not just a building of stone and history, but a place where people come together to make things happen. And with nights like this, the hall’s future is looking very bright indeed.