An international online timed auction has raised an incredible €60,600 for the Save the Valletta Skyline Appeal.
Hosted by the acclaimed Belgravia Auctioneers and held between Saturday 30 September and Sunday 15 October, the auction boasted an extraordinary selection of lots donated from Malta, the UK, France, the US, and Australia.
Such a virtual treasure trove also inspired international interest, with winning bids hailing from the UK, Malta and US. Sold to these lucky bidders, the catalogue featured unmissable experiences including luxury stays at top global destinations, tickets to major sporting events such as Wimbledon or Goodwood, private flights and boat charters, and even a soiree with Joseph Calleja. The auction’s collection of one-of-a-kind treasures and stunning jewellery and antiques also attracted overseas bids, such as a handmade Swarovski crystal tiara as worn by Lady Edith on popular TV series Downton Abbey, by Andrew Prince Jewellery.
Every cent of the final sum of €60,600 raised through the auction will now take the Save the Valletta Skyline Appeal a significant step closer to its goal of restoring St Paul’s Anglican Pro Cathedral. A vital feature of the iconic Valletta skyline and an important part of Malta’s built heritage, St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral requires urgent structural restoration works to its belltower, spire and stonework, which is ongoing. The Appeal was launched in 2017 to raise the approximate €9 million needed to complete the works, and the success of the auction has continued to attract an impressive list of followers and supporters worldwide, putting the Appeal and its crucial cause on the international map.
“We send our thanks to all the donors from around the world who so generously donated these fantastic lots, to Joseph Sammut at Belgravia Auctioneers, and to the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this auction such a great success,” says Lady Stephanie Laing at the Save the Valletta Skyline Appeal.
“The dedicated action of passionate individuals like our committee members has kept the Appeal going over the years, and as we reach the final stages of fundraising, their hard work to safeguard this much-loved piece of national heritage is now bearing fruit. Soon, it is our hope that everyone who lives in or visits Malta can continue to marvel at the capital’s skyline and rest assured that it is safe for generations to come,” adds Lady Laing.
More information about the Save The Valletta Skyline Appeal is available at www.stpaulspromalta.org.
