David Cassidy on the Web
Sunrise sofa auction
August 5, 2002
By Peter Grant
Liverpool Echo (UK)
THE owner of this sofa will be sitting with the superstars for the rest of his or her life. It was one of two settees backstage during the Summer Pops, and has has been covered with autographs from some of the world's biggest names.
Now the ECHO is offering its readers, businesses on Merseyside, and music fans all over the world the chance to bid for the sofa over the internet - to boost the ECHO's Sunrise Fund, which helps charities all over the region.
Paul Simon, Elton John, BB King, Shirley Bassey, David Cassidy, Tony Bennett, Meat Loaf and Boy George are just a few of the names to have signed the sofas.
And one has been donated to us by the Furniture Outlet Village, of Liver Industrial Estate in Long Lane, Aintree.
Joe Kershaw, who runs the company with brother Phil, said: "When we supplied furniture to the dressing rooms at the Summer Pops we agreed with CMP Entertainment that the two sofas would be a brilliant ideal to raise money for charity.
"One went to the CMP for their appeal and we had one which we wanted to donate to local charities - and what better way than through the ECHO's Sunrise Fund.
"We are local lads from West Derby, the ECHO is local and to think local charities will benefit is something we are proud of.
Joe, 41, and brother Phil, 44, have been in the furniture business for 12 years and they say the sofa will be on display in their shop at Unit G4, at Liver Industrial Estate, so people can see what they're bidding for.
Phil added: "We will have it sectioned off in the store because it is a star in its own right - a VIS - Very Important Sofa. We're sure people will come along to photograph it because it is priceless. We will deliver it anywhere on Merseyside."
Liverpool ECHO editor Mark Dickinson said: "This is a fantastic gesture from Joe and Phil and we're delighted they've chosen the Sunrise Fund to support. "Anyone can bid from individuals to companies and whoever buys it will be owning a piece of history."
How to bid
BIDDING for the unique sofa starts at a reserve price of £2002 - to mark the fact that it was created during the 2002 Summer Pops.
And to show what a fantastic item it is, Liverpool Film Studios boss, Colin McKeown, has put in the first bid at the asking price.
Bids open on Wednesday, August 14 on the Liverpool ECHO website: www.icliverpool.co.uk
Bids for the sofa will be accepted online at www.icliverpool.co.uk from Wednesday, August 14, until bids close midnight on August 21.
Sofa so good
ONE woman who can vouch for the appeal of the signed sofa is Claudia Hartley, a legal executive from New Brighton.
She was lucky enough to win the sister sofa in the Summer Pops grand raffle on the final night of the month-long festival.
Claudia, who won the sofa after going to see Paul Simon show perform, told the ECHO: "My friends couldn't believe it.
"I was imagining all the stars who have signed it from David Cassidy to Shirley Bassey and, of course, THE Paul Simon himself.
"There were plenty of big names so many to choose from a who's who of superstars.
"It will be great as an attraction when visitors come to my house. I will make sure it is on display but I do need to keep the cats away from it they don't know how valuable it is."
The raffle was the idea of Michael Bentwood a racing driver managed by Summer Pops promoter Chas Cole.
It raised £3,100 for Professor Sid Watkins, as the Formula 1 medical delegate and a leading neuro-surgeon.
Michael Bentwood said : "We wanted to highlight Sid's life -saving work to people back home in his native Liverpool and felt this was the perfect way to combine Chas Cole's twin passions of music and motor-racing."
