Buddha donated to Demelza shop raises £1,000 at auction in “Del Boy’s watch” moment

The china figurine was donated to Demelza’s shop in Herne Bay by a volunteer who had been clearing her mother’s house.

Shop manager Sue Smy and her team looked online to try and find a suitable price for it. When they couldn’t find anything similar, they decided to get in touch with a local auction house, which often lists items on behalf of Demelza without taking commission.

Sue said: “They put it up with a guide price of £50 - £100 which we thought was amazing.

“We were all watching the auction live in the backroom as it was streamed online and when it came to the buddha they said it had got a lot of interest with both online and phone bidders, so we all just thought ‘oh that’s good it’s definitely going to go’.

“We just sat there and watched it going higher and higher and higher and our mouths were getting further and further open.

“I said is it going to be like a Del Boy’s watch moment and when it hit £1,000 we just couldn’t believe it.

“It was so nice we were all watching it together. We did a little dance in the back room and then I phoned the volunteer and asked if they were sitting down before letting them know how much it had raised.”

The shop staff have no idea who bought the buddha, but said the volunteer was really pleased it had raised such an incredible amount for Demelza and that it had obviously gone to someone who really wanted it and would give it a good home.

Sue said they’re not sure of the origins of the figure, but the volunteer said she couldn’t remember a time when it wasn’t in her mum’s house.

It used to sit on a dresser at the top of the stairs and she thinks it possibly came from one of the neighbours in the early 1970s.

Demelza’s Area Retail Manager, Rachael Boswell, said: “We’re absolutely delighted this figure has raised such an incredible amount for Demelza and we’re very grateful to the volunteer for generously donating it.

“The money raised will make such a difference to the children and families we support.

“Stories like this just go to show you never know what you might find, so if you’re having a clear out and think you’ve got something special, please do consider donating it to your local Demelza shop as you never know what could happen!"