Former Speaker of the House of Commons Betty Boothroyd’s estate fetches £84,600 at Newbury auction house, with all proceeds going to charity
Nearly £85k was raised for charity as the estate of the first woman speaker in the House of Commons went under the hammer in Newbury.
The items, all belonging to the late Baroness Betty Boothroyd OM, were sold today (Tuesday) at Special Auction Services, realising £84,600 – with all proceeds from the 224-lot sale going to charity.
The auction comprised items relating to the former House of Commons Speaker’s career, as well as her home life.
Top lots included a souvenir programme for the inauguration of JFK signed 'To Betty Boothroyd, with very best wishes, John F Kennedy' that was sold for £7,250 and her black leather House of Commons dispatch box which went for £6,500 – over 30 times the pre-sale estimate.
SAS director Thomas Forrester said: “The auction was a tremendous success. In the 223 lots which sold there was something for everybody in all of them.
“Even the bellringers from St Margaret’s Church Westminster Abbey were able to attend and buy souvenirs of Baroness Boothroyd. Friends of hers were excited to attend the auction and people that admired her enjoyed bidding in the live auction and they are all thrilled to be going away with their own mementos of her.”
Highlights of the jewellery section were an Edwardian twelve pointed diamond set star brooch which sold for £4,750; a platinum and diamond tennis bracelet (£4,000); a pair of Oscar Heyman of New York diamond encrusted cuff earrings (£3,500); a high carat House of Commons brooch worn by the speaker in many portraits and on state occasions (£2,500); an Omega De Ville 18ct gold ladies wristwatch (£2,625); and a yellow metal diamond and cz House of Commons speakers brooch often worn by the Baroness Boothroyd, which sold for £1,875.
Betty Boothroyd’s letter patent with notice that she should now sign and be referred to as ‘Baroness’ was snapped up for £2,100, while her Grant of Arms dated 1993 made £1,375.
Photographs of momentous times in her career were also offered in the auction and sold for several times over their estimates. Examples include a framed picture of her with Bill Clinton that made £550 and one with Nelson Mandela that fetched £263.
A pair of signed bust photographs of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also made £2,375.
A parliamentary bottle of single malt scotch whisky in a pine fitted case, labelled ‘Madam Speakers Order’ went for £690, a Special Limited Edition The Battle of Culloden 1971 Glenmorangie single highland malt whisky realised £1,500, while a pair of House of Commons Speakers whisky tumblers were sold with a set of matching placemats for £550.
Other more unusual lots include a Fornasetti Milan wastepaper bin which went for £1,375, her collection of board games and a complete DVD series of Columbo (£550) and a Frances Segelman resin bust of the Baroness which she never liked and therefore kept in the garden made £400.
