Over the last ten days, the Salford Star has held two auctions and two exhibitions from its pop-up shop in Salford Precinct which altogether has raised around £3,000.
Following the Charles Taylor auction last week of fine art and memorabilia, a further auction and afternoon of events took place yesterday at the Shopping Centre unit, which raised over £1,000.
Amongst other items, up for grabs were a genuine piece of the Salford Quays Cargo Cranes and The Last Brick in Broughton...
"This auction isn't just existential, raising money for the Salford Star, it's also symbolic of what we've done over the years" said actor and long time Star contributor Nigel Pivaro "...shining the torch where councils, developers and companies don't like it shone..."
As Nigel was auctioning the fragment of Salford Quays Cranes, he referred to their demolition by Salford City Council..."This is very sad...What a disgrace that was...Ian Stewart, hang your head in shame..."
Also up for auction was a giant bolt from the gas holders on Liverpool Street, one of which has already been demolished. The iconic gasworks were made famous by Ewan MacColl's Salford anthem, Dirty Old Town, and, last Friday, the MacColl Family Estate made a donation (unrequested) to the Salford Star. We decided to withdraw the bolt from the auction and, instead, send it to the MacColl family where it truly belongs.
The first part of the auction was conducted by the exuberant-to-the-max, Simon Williams, who chivvied up the packed shop as he took bids for everything from beautiful children's items, to artworks, vinyl albums, books and even Manchester Liners playing cards donated by the community.
Earlier, Simon had performed his latest batch of poems, as the writer and broadcaster forges a name as Salford's latest verse master, with subjects ranging from the Peterloo Massacre to Salford Red Devils and even the Salford Star.
Meanwhile Chris Flynn, accompanied by a double bass player, entertained the audience with his stunning songs, and performance artist Sandra Bouguerch brought her balloon-led family show, Party On, to the Precinct concourse.
All in all, the ten days at Salford Shopping Centre were a success beyond the dreams of the Salford Star – dozens of volunteers helped mount the exhibitions, serve in the shop and make bracelets and key rings that sold out within hours. Three orders of Salford Star t-shirts also sold out, as did our mugs and hoodies. Everyone worked together to ensure the ten days were a stunning success.
"What was incredible was that this was a real community effort, from the tower block tenants across the road from the Precinct, to those currently fighting campaigns, to people who had been with the Star from Day One and others who just wondered in and liked what saw" says Salford Star editor and co-founder Stephen Kingston
"The message that came across from the real community of Salford was that they were determined not to let the Salford Star die" he adds "And the message back to the community is that we will not let the Salford Star die. After this phenomenal support, we're lost for words – except to say that the Salford Star lives on!"
The Salford Star would like to thank the management and staff of Salford Shopping Centre, Charles Taylor Auctioneer (Salford), Nigel Pivaro, who came up from London specially, and the dozens and dozens of people who donated items for the auction, who manned the shop, created the exhibitions, donated hard earned cash and helped to create some of the maddest ten days proper Salford has ever seen...
Update: 11th December - videos of the day are now on the Salford Star You Tube Channel -
Nigel Pivaro Auctions the Salford Quays Cargo Crane Fragment, a Bolt from the Dirty Old Town Gas Holders and The Last Brick In Broughton - click here and click here and click here
Simon Williams Performs The Pope Is A Salfordian - click here
Snippet from Chris Flynn's brilliant performance - click here
Sandra Bouguerch does Party On - click here
Main photo by Gareth Lyons
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