Kindly sponsored by
The annual Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Auction took place on the 3 May at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh.
450 guests enjoyed catching up with friends and colleagues while sipping champagne supplied by Justerini & Brooks at the reception which kicked off Scotland’s largest and most established sporting auction.
Guests admired a range of Landrover and Jaguar models displayed by the reception sponsors Pentland Land Rover, while surrounded by roaming peacocks in the dramatic setting at the foot of Arthurs seat, and then heard more about what the GWCT is getting up to in Scotland from the Trust’s outgoing UK Chairman, Ian Coghill. Dinner, kindly sponsored by Saffery Champness, in the Prestonfield Stables was exceptional with melt in your mouth home grown loin of roe deer generously donated by Highland Game and cooked to perfection by the Prestonfield Chef.
The Auction Committee made sure guests were well looked after, fastidiously selecting fine wines from both Corney & Barrow and Cockburns of Leith, and arranging other delightful treats including boxes of chocolates donated by House of Bruar.
All this set the scene for the main event, the auction. Throughout dinner there was fast and furious bidding in the silent auction on the Givergy tablet system, generously sponsored by Brewin Dolphin. Then Charles Graham-Campbell of Bonhams presided over an exciting and competitive live auction. A last chance to bid in the silent auction followed before a halt was called and the raffle drawn. The two auctions between them raised over £136,000, but when all is said and done we will have raised over £143,000 for GWCT Scotland.
This event is a fantastic get-together of likeminded people who are passionate about sport and wildlife. We must thank all who came to the event and bid so enthusiastically to raise such a significant amount towards the GWCT’s excellent work.
It wouldn’t be possible to hold this fabulous evening without the enormous hard work of the committee who pulled together a terrific auction catalogue, the support of our generous lot donors and our sponsors. Thank you!
Bryan Johnston
Chairman