[O]n Saturday 10th February the L&K Group held a Charity Dinner Dance to celebrate 200 years of auctioneering. In 1818 the Hodgson family started Auctioneering for the then Kendal Auction Mart. The connection with the Hodgson family and North West Auctions continues to this day through M B Hodgson & Son Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiary company which trades as NWA Professional. Group director Jonathan Hodgson is also a direct descendant of that very same Hodgson family.
Nearly 500 guests attended the event, which was held in the newly built exhibition hall at J36 Rural Auction Centre, Crooklands. Guest were welcomed with a reception drink and then seated to a three course meal which was expertly prepared by Karen Rhodes Catering where guests carved their own joints of beef at the table.
Following from the meal Chairman, John Drinkall, welcomed all guest to the event and presented long service awards to members of staff who have worked for the company for 25 years or more. Jonathan Hodgson then took to the stage to talk on behalf of the Hodgson Family, giving a bit of history about the family and auctioneering at Kendal Auction Mart.
Guests were then entertained by auctioneers Michael Mashiter and Ian Atkinson who conducted the charity auction where 13 lots had the chance to be bid on with a total of £7500 raised on the charity auction alone. A silent auction was also held throughout the evening where a further 27 lots had the chance to be bid for. Guests had a chance to have a look around the newly built exhibition hall which also has five meeting rooms available to hire, before the band ‘Soul Survivors’ got the dancefloor buzzing and partying into the night.
John Drinkall, Chairman of the L&K Group said “2018 will be a year of celebrations for our company as we enter our bi-centenary and this charity event has been the perfect start to those celebrations. The support we have seen here tonight has been fantastic and exemplifies just what the agricultural and wider community does to support two amazing and worthwhile charities.”
All money raised from the evening will be split between the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, who offer financial support to farming people in hardship, and the North West Air Ambulance. A remarkable £17,500 has been raised through sponsorship, donations, charity and silent auctions and grand raffle, which will get equally split between the two charities.
Thanks must go to all the major sponsors, Lloyds Bank, Rural Law Practice Thomson Hayton Winkley, CLB Coopers, Carrs Billington and Wynnstay, supporters and attendees for helping achieve this fantastic total.
