Charles Hanson has helped to raise more than £18,000 to keep the nation’s Florence Nightingale Museum afloat amid the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to a charity auction.
The BBC Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip regular reached out to help the London tourist attraction, which celebrates the life of the nursing icon, after he heard its future was under threat.
Coronavirus shut the tourist attraction overnight on March 17 and cut off its visitor income in what should have been a bumper year for the venue – celebrations were already under way to mark the 200th anniversary of Nightingale’s birth.
An online-only auction was held on Friday, June 19 at Hansons Auctioneers’ Derbyshire saleroom in Etwall, near Derby, and support came flooding in.
More than 95 donated lots went under the hammer including a VIP tour of the Churchill War Rooms which was contested to £940, a weekend stay at Nightingale’s family home in Derbyshire (£820) and a guide to 10 Downing Street signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson (£490).
Boris Johnson donated a signed book to the auction.
In addition, a set of children’s nursing scrubs donated by England’s chief nursing officer Ruth May and signed by TV’s Dr Ranj Singh sold for £100 and ballet shoes donated by Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet’s artistic director, sold for £440.
Charles Hanson said: “It was a privilege to do my bit to help such an important cause. Florence Nightingale lived for a time in my home county of Derbyshire and I felt I had to do something to help. We can’t let this virus kill off our country’s history and heritage. Nightingale has inspired generations of nurses and her legacy must not be allowed to fade away.”
David Green, director of the Florence Nightingale Museum, said: “Charles Hanson and his team have showed terrific commitment to our cause, battling technology glitches on the night to raise an astonishing amount for us.
“The museum is battling for survival at the moment and this auction has really helped to raise awareness of our campaign, as well as significant funds.
“We are extremely grateful to all donors and bidders for their support and also welcome anybody who would like to get involved and join us on our ongoing campaign.”
The Florence Nightingale Museum, an independent charity based within London’s St Thomas’ Hospital, relies on visitor income and souvenir shop sales to provide income. The lockdown has had a catastrophic impact. It needs around £160,000 to survive through to 2021 when it’s hoped visitor numbers will return to normal.
The museum is continuing its fundraising campaign. To make a donation, please visit the museum’s Go Fund Me page.
