Legacy of much-loved Swindon woman moves closer with silent online auction this November

Swindon business owner Fiona Scott of Scott Media will host her fifth annual virtual charity auction, aiming to raise the last £1,000 needed to start the rebuild of Purton Cricket Pavilion in memory of her much-loved friend Ainslie Duffell.

Auction is live from Monday 9th November – Sunday 6th December 

• Raising funds for Ainslie’s Pavilion Project to enable everyone to enjoy and participate in local cricket and creating a lasting legacy for Swindon woman Ainslie Duffell.
• Supported by Fiona Scott, Founder and Director of Soctt Media and Phil Duffell founder of Ainslie’s Pavilion Project.
• Highlight auction lots include multiple business strategy sessions with leading local business figures, handmade silver jewellery, cricket tickets and handcrafted Christmas decorations.  

Since Ainslie Duffell, who lived in West Swindon, passed away from breast cancer in 2015, one of her best friends Fiona Scott has held an annual online social media auction, among other events to support ‘Ainslie’s Pavilion Project’. 

Ainslie’s Pavilion Project focuses around rebuilding the cricket pavilion at Purton Cricket Club, Purton, near Swindon following Ainslie’s personal experience of not being able to watch her son play due to being a wheelchair user in her final months. The pavilion will be a living legacy, with disabled access as well as facilities for female players, reflecting the needs of the sport in the modern era. 

The final fundraising event, ‘The Purple Soiree’, was originally planned for April 2020 and was to be the celebratory culmination of five years of efforts to raise £50,000 to kick-start the project. However, COVID-19 and the subsequent national lockdown resulted in cancellation, and it seemed as though the five year target would not be met.

Fiona, a PR consultant and journalist, has decided to make her 5th annual auction bigger and better than ever, aiming to raise the final £1,000 needed to hit the £50,000 target which will open access to grants and additional funding. 

She said: “I wasn’t going to let the pandemic stop us achieving our goals. It is so poignant that we reach the £50,000 target this year, as Purton Cricket Club will be 200 years old – it’s time to bring the facilities into the 21st century so no other wheelchair user will struggle with access and female cricket players will have access to their own toilets and changing rooms.” 

The online auction is intended to raise the final sum before grant funding can be sought to complete the pavilion in its entirety. 

Fiona added: “Local businesses including branding expert Mike Land of Nickel Design and Paul Holmes of PCH Business Support have been very generous, donating multiple business strategy & support sessions totalling more than £2,000. 

“We also have items including handcrafted Christmas decorations from Ard Alume, handmade silver earrings from Barking Hen Jewellery and cricket tickets from cricket fan Ged Montgomery, and will be adding a whole host of others, so there will be something for everyone.

“The starting bids will range from £1 so there’s a real chance to grab a bargain while supporting a fantastic cause at the same time.” 

The auction will begin at 8am on Monday 9th November, and items can be viewed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PRWiltshire - anyone wishing to see the lots via email can do so by emailing [email protected]

Picture shows Ainslie Duffell with her son Alex who is now 20 and a student at university in Cardiff. Also there are some images of just a few of the auction lots on offer, many donated by local business owners.