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Article: A ruff of mistletoe: what am I bid?
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- December 2, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1995 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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A handbell rings out across the frosty market signalling the
start of the first pre-Christmas auction of holly and mistletoe at
Tenbury Wells in Shropshire. Local farmers and growers in trilby
hats mingle with city types in wax jackets; families of gypsies
watch to see what their entries will make; children, who
traditionally bunk off school for this first sale, run about
exhilarated in the crisp air - for everyone this sale marks the
beginning of Christmas.
This year the holly is magnificent. "The best berry I've seen
for many a year," comments Nick Champion, the auctioneer. His firm,
Russell, Baldwin & Bright has been conducting these four
pre-Christmas sales since the turn of the ...