By Tim Saunders on
A handmade guitar owned by Sir Paul McCartney was due to go under the hammer for charity in London last night, November 25.
The black acoustic/electric guitar was made especially by Takamine Guitars and has his name inscribed in mother of pearl on the fret board. A pair of the guitars were presented to the former Beatle after a tour 10 years ago.
The guitar was auctioned as part of ActionAid's Call My Wine Bluff event held to raise money for the charity’s work fighting poverty and injustice worldwide. Based on the classic TV game show, Call my Bluff, special celebrity guests included Emma Thompson, David Mitchell, Sue Perkins, Sean Lock, Hugh Dennis and Tim Brooke-Taylor – all of whom tried to trick guests into believing a story behind the wines they were tasting.
“This was an inspiring night,” said Thompson. “During the credit crunch people came to help those with no credit to crunch. I was proud of them and hopeful that these difficult times are teaching us that we are all connected and we all need to help one another. I really hope we do this event annually. As well as being very moving it raised a lot of cash and was such good fun.”
ActionAid reaches over 13 million of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world and helps them fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, education, and healthcare. Established in 1972, they have been working to fight poverty for over 35 years.
The event raised well over £180,000 (US$360,000) for ActionAid.
Copyright © 2008 Look to the Stars
