Some fabulous items in this category – and many more in Treats and Eats
To find out how to bid, click here then scroll down to ‘How it works’
Lot A1: Loop-the-loop over Graffham
You are likely to have seen him loop-the-loop and twist-and-turn over the village in his two-seater stunt plane. Now we are lucky enough once again to offer a rare opportunity to join neighbour and 20-year vet pilot Mark Stewart as he runs through his aerobatic repertoire or take a more gentle flight over the Downs and coast, with a chance to take the controls yourself.
Tom Lill, who won this item previously and provided these photos of his trip, said: “I had a fantastic time flying with Mark – a once in a lifetime experience. The flight was an exhilarating trip coupled with stunning views across the Solent. You’re in safe hands with Mark and under his guidance could be flying your own loop the loop! A top day!”
Value: Sky high. After very competitive bidding, this lot eventually sold for £250 in 2020.
Winning bid and bidder: £120, Andy Tate
Lot A2: Private flight over your home
David Sanders has a lifetime’s experience flying – from airline jets to single seaters – and is a qualified instructor for both powered aircraft.
Join him in his RV6 two-seater – what he describes as the aerial equivalent of a soft-top sports car! – for a flight over your Graffham home from Slinfold airstrip, near Horsham, where he keeps it.
Value: Cloudbusting – £250? bi
Winning bid and bidder: £125, John Sutton
Lot A3: Table tennis tips from UK champion
Brush up your game with a one-on-one training/tuition session with Matthew Syed, British number one for a decade, three-time Commonwealth champion and Olympian, now a journalist, author, broadcaster, consultant… and Graffham resident.
Value: Lots of whiff-whaff
Winning bid and bidder: £145, Beanie Bradley
Lot A5: Golf tuition with Seaford’s pro
An hour-long, one-on-one lesson with Seaford College’s golf pro and coach Jack Halsey, at the school’s first-rate golfing facilities, which include a driving range and nine-hole course.
Value: Well over par
Winning bid and bidder: £40, Anthony Forsyth
Lot A6: Cricket tuition with Chris Adams
Catch some tips in a 45-minute one-on-one training/tuition session with Chris “Grizzly” Adams, legendary captain of our own Sussex county side and capped by England at Test and one-day international level, now Head of Cricket at Seaford College
Value: Boundaries galore!
Winning bid and bidder: £85, Di Bowden
Lot A7: Swimming staycation
A daily swim for you and your family for a week in July or August, here in a Graffham pool kept spotlessly clean and comfortingly heated by Stuart and Bridget Lewis, complete with a pool house to change in.
Value: In at the deep end!
Winning bid and bidder: £71 and 70, Karen Casey and David Sparkes
Lot A8: Golf with tips at Seaford
This is a great chance for some one-on-one tuition as you play, or there’s the possibility of a friend joining you, subject to the agreement of the donor.
Whether you are a green or seasoned player, you are sure to benefit – and teeing off at the nearest course to Graffham village, in the college’s beautiful parkland grounds under the Downs, is always a joy.
Value: 36-par, nine-holes.
Winning bid and bidder: £50, Brian Lanaghan
Lot A9: Swallows and Amazons
A Saturday or Sunday, for up to two people, following the wind on Chichester Harbour, in a Drascombe Dabber day boat, to include a beach picnic, depending on tides and weather, under the command of Cap’n and First Mate Michael and Diana Pettifer. Life jackets provided. No sailing experience necessary.
Value: Incalculable, but bidding reached £130 last time this lot was offered.
Winning bid and bidder: £100, Philip Turner
Lot A10: Kayaking on the River Arun
Half a day’s kayaking on the beautiful and peaceful River Arun – under the instruction of Graffham resident Jacky Gregory.
No previous experience necessary – Jacky will provide tips and training. Life jacket and kayak provided.
Value: Paddles
Winning bid and bidder: £75, Jules Sparkes
Lot A11: Training with Dogs Doing Better
Dogs Doing Better, which delivers puppy and dog training, agility and pet gun dog training, is offering a one-hour session one-to-one, by highly qualified Graffham resident Liz Nicholson.
Value: £45
Winning bid and bidder: £55, Gail Paterson
Lot A12: Golf for four at Cowdray
Treat up to three friends (that’s a foursome with you included!) for a round of golf at Cowdray Park Golf Club, described by website the socialgolfer.com like this: “This pretty golf course is found in some of the most spectacular rolling down-land in Sussex and is considered by some to be one of the best golf courses in the south of England. This club and golf course offers a test for all levels of golfers – an 18 hole, par 70 course measuring 6,331 yards. The condition is fantastic and whilst the course is hilly in places, you can see deer and other wildlife as you walk around the course. Fairways excellent and bunkers are very good too. All in all, Cowdray Park is a stunning golf course set in beautiful Sussex countryside.”
Value: Green fees in the winter start from £40 a player.
Winning bid and bidder: £150, Tom Tyrwitt-Drake
Lot A13: Golf and lunch for three
A round of golf for the winning bidder and up to two guests, followed by lunch, at West Sussex Golf Club, Pulborough, hosted by Sandy MacQueen.
Website top100golfcourses.com describes the course, which has hosted the English Women’s Amateur Championship, like this: “We make no apology for declaring that West Sussex Golf Club is one of favourite inland courses. It is sheer delight to play golf on this charming sandy outcrop of heathland. The course occupies a priceless, stunning, undulating site.”
Value: Weekend green fees in the summer cost £140 a person.
Winning bid and bidder: £170, Brian Lanaghan
Lot A14: England cricket bat
A souvenir cricket bat signed by the entire England team from the 2014 one-day series against Australia, including legends like Alistair Cook, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Stuart Broad, Jos Butler, Ian Bell, Chris Jordan, complete with a certificate of authenticity.
Value: A century of sixes!
Winning bid and bidder: £105, Edward Bowden
