Brew your next cuppa in a unique teapot customised by one of a host of creative artists and celebrities.
Up for auction, in aid of the Willow Foundation, are one-off teapots designed by Victoria Wood, Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes, the loveable Mrs Doyle – of Father Ted fame, long-standing Beano illustrator Jimmy Glen and many more.
A host of celebrities and artists have personally painted, doodled and customised a teapot in support the Willow Foundation’s Piece of Cake campaign.
Run throughout June, Piece of Cake encourages friends, families, classmates and colleagues to hold tea parties to raise money and awareness for the charity.
Set up by Arsenal legend and TV presenter Bob Wilson, and his wife Megs, the charity provides special days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the UK.
Teapots by Heston Blumenthal, members of the Arsenal team, Sendhil Ramamurthy (best known as Dr Suresh from Heroes) and Johnny Vegas will be up for grabs. Cartoon images of Mr Benn, Edward Monkton and Bang on the Door also feature alongside well-known artists, including Rosie Birtwhistle, David Hensel, in this exciting auction. Beano fans have the chance to get their paws on the final piece of Dennis and Gnasher art by illustrator Jimmy Glen - who has now retired after spending a lifetime illustrating Beano and Dandy characters. Andy Titcomb, whose work has appeared on TV and in film, has also made a contribution to the collection.
As well as the one-off creations, a selection of teapots sourced from London’s leading afternoon tea venues have been donated to the charity. These include a silver Ritz teapot and a Claridge’s teapot signed by Gordon Ramsay. The Goring and The Chesterfield have also donated teapots and Brown’s Hotel has donated champagne tea for two at it’s beautiful tea room.
The Piece of Cake fundraising campaign, in association with McVitie’s Jamaica Ginger Cake, is headed up by celebrity chef and Willow Foundation ambassador Gary Rhodes.
The teapots can be viewed online now at www.willowfoundation.org.uk/teapots. The auction runs from the evening of Thursday 25 June 2009 until Saturday 4 June. All proceeds will go to the Willow Foundation.
“Artists and celebrities have got creative to support Piece of Cake and we’re sure that their unique one-off teapots will be a big hit. So get online and start bidding! Piece of Cake is such a simple way to raise money for the Willow Foundation. It also embodies exactly what the Willow Foundation is all about – a chance to enjoy time with family and friends. Every little helps so no matter how much is raises at a tea party, people will be helping many more seriously ill young adults to enjoy a special day.” - Bob Wilson
The teapot auction has been supported by Pottery House Café and Cromartie.
To see the teapots up for auction or to find out more about how to get involved with Piece of Cake visit www.willowfoundation.org.uk/teapots or telephone 01707 259777.
ENDS
The Willow Foundation
The Willow Foundation is the only charity of its kind providing special days for 16 to 40 year olds. Special days aim to provide 16 to 40 year olds living with life-threatening conditions a chance to escape the pressures of their daily routine and share quality time with family and/or friends.
To date the charity has organised and funded special days for more than 4,750 young adults living with a wide range of serious conditions including cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis, Huntingdon's, organ failure and multiple sclerosis.
Bob & Megs Wilson founded the Willow Foundation in 1999, in memory of their daughter, Anna, who died of cancer aged 31.
Bob Wilson is the former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper and TV presenter.
Notes to editors: Full list of teapots / Photos are available
Celebrities
Arsenal (signed by Arsenal (Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Denilson, Robin van Persie, Mikael Silvestre and Tomas Rosicky)
Heston Blumenthal
Emmerdale (plus signed print)
Pauline McLynn (Mrs Doyle, Father Ted)
Sendhil Ramamurthy (Dr Suresh, Heroes)
Gary Rhodes
Gordon Ramsay
Sid Sloane (Cbeebies presenter)
Johnny Vegas
Victoria Wood
Artists
Mr Benn (by David McKee)
Edward Monkton (by Giles Andrae)
Dennis the Menace (by Jimmy Glen)
Bang on the Door/Football Crazy
Sharon Pinsker
Mitchel Barrett
William DeWilde
David Hensel
Alison Hood
Elizabeth Brown
Rosie Birtwhistle
Andy Titcomb x2
London’s top afternoon tea places
Claridges' (Signed by Gordon Ramsay)
The Chesterfield
The Goring
The Ritz