All in a good cause

A charity sale is always a good idea, although the reality of making it happen can be less satisfying, as Tessa Waugh discovers - at least, until all the pennies are counted

- Tessa Waugh

WHEN Caroline, one of Adam's jointmasters, suggested back in the summer that we should run a second-hand clothes sale in aid of the hunt, I was all for it. Everyone has stuff in their wardrobe they never wear and as a fundraiser it sounded like a winner. Several months later, the first donations were coming in.

"Got anything good?" I asked Caroline, as we stood at the meet one day.

Her face was a picture of concern. While we had imagined Mulberry bags and Brora dresses, the reality, so far, had been more along the lines of misshapen knitwear and "fat day" trousers. The trendy term of "pre-loved" didn't quite fit somehow.

"I'm sure we'll get some good things in a minute," I said, making a mental note to go home and ring more people.