The Royal Family, prime minister and English football’s greatest manager have all added their support to the star-studded auction in honour of Sir Bobby Robson.
The Prince of Wales and prime minister David Cameron have both written letters backing Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Auction , while Sir Alex Ferguson has also added a personal touch to one of the 300 items already up for auction.
The former Manchester United manager, who released his autobiography yesterday, has been captured by renowned artist Ben Mosley in a series of portraits of football’s great and good.
However, Sir Alex has now invited the winning bidder and a guest to the Manchester United vs Newcastle match on December 7 at Old Trafford, with the lucky duo treated to lunch, meeting Sir Alex and watching him sign the painting.
Sir Alex said: “In my 27 years working in England, there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson.
“The world, not just the football world, misses him, as I do. Let’s hope it won’t be long before another like him turns up because we could never get enough of them.”
The letters from Prince Charles and David Cameron will be printed in full in the programme for tomorrow’s (Thurs) ball at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds.
In his letter, Prince Charles says: “Far too many people have had personal experiences of the trauma associated with breast cancer and, indeed, cancer as a whole and will only be too aware of the importance of tackling this devastating disease.”
The auction is hoping to raise at least £1million to be shared by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Ipswich and West Suffolk hospitals.
Organiser Gina Long said: “It is so exciting now that Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Charity Auction has started and the auction prizes are simply fantastic.”
The auction closes at 7pm on Sunday. To bid visit www.sirbobbysbreakthrough.com
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