A host of Scottish stars from the world of entertainment and sport have signed up to a major fund-raising drive in aid of sick and disabled children – by autographing a guitar. Thirty-one celebrities from tennis hero Sir Andy Murray to Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor have signed a Saltire-designed guitar which will go under the hammer at fine dining festival Signature, taking place at The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen.
The guitar, which also has the signatures of Aberdeen and Manchester United supremo Sir Alex Ferguson, singer Emeli Sande, cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, Dr Who actor David Tennant and comedian Billy Connolly, has a minimum starting bid of £20,000.
However, it is hoped that the opportunity to own such a unique piece of memorabilia will generate many more funds for Signature’s adopted charity, Friends of the Special Nursery – the neonatal unit at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.
Proceeds from the lot – one of dozens of incredible items and experiences to feature in the online auction – will be split with Friendly Access Scotland, which provides surfing adventures for children affected by autism, cancer and lifelong disabilities. The charity’s founder, Glyn Morris, has spent the past six years persuading celebrities to add their autographs to the instrument.
Graham Wood, owner of The Chester Hotel and the driving force behind Signature, expects the guitar to generate a significant amount of interest. He added: “We are incredibly grateful to Glyn, firstly for working so hard to gather all these signatures from some of Scotland’s most talented and recognisable people, and secondly for agreeing to partner with us in this auction to benefit both charities.
“The main idea behind Signature was to bring some of the nation’s top chefs to Aberdeen to provide a culinary experience like no other, but the fact that we are able to use the fine dining festival as a platform to help these charities which do so much to support families from across the north east and Scotland is an added bonus.”
A musical instrument also forms another of the star lots in the auction. A piano dubbed The Lawman Piano - painted in tribute to Denis Law being granted the Freedom of Aberdeen and signed by the former footballer – has a starting bid of £3,000.
Other lots include original paintings from artists John Byrne, Iain Faulkner and Alexander Miller, restaurant experiences, luxury hotel stays, and designer handbags. The online auction is open now and bidders do not have to be attending Signature in order to place a bid.
Signature – Aberdeen’s first fine dining festival – takes place at The Chester Hotel from November 4 to 16. World class patissier-chocolatier William Curley will kick the event off with an afternoon tea – including a performance from UK soul singer Beverley Knight, with exclusive tasting menus from Mark Greenaway, Glynn Purnell, Atul Kuchhar, Martin Wishart, Jeff Bland and Roy Brett in the days to follow.
The majority of dining experiences now have waiting lists in operation, but a small number of tickets are still available. Bids in the auction can be placed at www.signaturefundraiser.com
James McAvoy