Actor postpones celebrity auction until March

Nov 22 2002 By Karen Grattage, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AN auction of celebrity memorabilia has been postponed until March.

Last of the Summer Wine actor Ken Kitson is holding the sale to help finance his film.

The dinner and auction, due to be held at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top, on Wednesday night night, was put off so he can sell more tickets.

Mr Kitson, who has played a village policeman in Last of the Summer Wine for 23 years, wants to finance his film, Dreamcatcher, a romantic comedy western set in Yorkshire.

He has asked his celebrity friends and contacts to donate items for the auction.

Monty Python star John Cleese has given a signed book and his old colleague Michael Palin a signed photograph.

The pop band UB40 are providing memorabilia and Brian Bennett from the Shadows has donated signed drumsticks and drumskins.

There will also be signed photographs of Daniel Day Lewis, Sean Bean and Rolf Harris.

Mr Kitson said: "I am really disappointed about postponing it - but we only had about 150 people, when we needed 300.

"A lot of people who couldn't come this time will be able to make it in March."

Several celebrities are planning to come to the March event, which will also be at Cedar Court. They include Coronation Streets actors Liz Dawn, who plays Vera, and Bruce Jones, who plays Les Battersby.

The auctioneer will be Geoffrey Hughes, whose roles include Eddie Yeats in Coronation Street, Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances and Twiggy in the Royle Family.

Mr Kitson needs to raise £2m to finance his film, after he was refused financial help from the British Film Institute and the British Film Council.