GOSH – A 73 year commitment from the Newman family

There are some truly amazing items up for auction as part of the 2022 fund raising day in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) writes Floyd Amphlett.

In the early days, there were various items of signed sporting memorabilia supporting bigger events like stable visits or horserace hospitality. Those items are still there, but the major events have been on growth hormone. Check out, a Tuscan villa for twelve. A VIP sailing experience for ten people, fine dining, even a team of workmen to carry out building and decorating.

The auction is open and will continue until 5pm on Wednesday September 14 following the Charity Golf Day. (Details below)

The story of the Newman family’s connection goes back to 1949 as organiser and former trainer Maurice explains:

“My youngester sister was taken ill with a serious kidney complaint and ended up in Great Ormand Street. The doctors were very concerned and suggested the best hope was a new drug that was quite untested still. My dad’s attitude was ‘if we are going to lose her, we might as well try.’ That drug was penicillin and my sister is now 78 with great grand children.

“My father was a fruitier and greengrocer and used to donate to London Hospital and Great Ormond Street and also started donating money. He carried on until he couldn’t manage it and I started doing bits and pieces in 1969. I’ve carried on ever since.”

Maurice has never kept record of how much he has raised over the years, and he has been a fund raiser for a variety of charities. His nephew Philip Newman, who has his own health struggles at present, is the owner of the Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club and Maurice’s son Johnny is also active, raising money for another charity with close links to GOSH, the Woodford Green Childrens Hospice.

Maurice said: “The thing is, it costs £100 million a year to run Great Ormond Street and it is wrong that it should be about charity to keep it going. It should be the Government’s job. But the people who work there are the best in the world and what they do for the kids is beyond price. You have people like Alan Sugar who donate every year from their personal wealth. In his case every cheque is a million pounds.”

Last year, the charity day raised £26,000 and there is every chance that that will be bettered on September 14.

Maurice said: “Some of the lots are complete donations, with others the charity get above the ‘cost price’ of the donation. But not everyone can afford a grand to bid for something. Those smaller lots give everyone a chance, every forty quid helps. And we have some people who go the extra mile every year. I can’t speak highly enough about Steve Fluin and the Champagne Club who donated £3,000 last year. They are fabulous.”

Last year two pups raised £5,000 between them. Nic and Amanda Jeal have donated a Brinkleys Poet youngster this year and there is still an additional entry to come. . .

Maurice said: “Dave Firmager has four litters currently being schooled in Ireland. He has promised us the best dog from among them to be added as a late entry. He is determined that it will be a good one.”

At 87, Maurice knows there are only so many more charities days on his calendar. But he is hopeful that when he is no longer able to keep it going, others will step up.

He said: “For years it was just me. But now there are so many people giving their time for free. Wednesday the 14th will be a fabulous day. Apart from the golf, we will make sure that everyone is few with a breakfast and a bit of dinner, the golf club pay half towards the food. And then everyone will be heading up to Yarmouth for the Derby Final. It will be a great day.

“In the end though, this whole day, the whole charity, has always been about good people with good hearts.”