BRASS and gras took centre stage at The Fleece Inn on Sunday (May 25) for the annual asparagus auction.
Hundreds of spectators crowded into the courtyard of the historic National Trust-owned pub to witness the spectacle of bundles of the Vale’s most famous vegetable sold to the highest bidder to raise around £3,000 for the Bretforton Silver Band.
Dancing by Pebworth and Belle d’Vain Morris kickstarted proceedings before the band led by conductor Paul Wood entertained a windswept audience with a concert of traditional banding tunes and modern classics.
Then it was time for auctioneer Joe Chatterton to start the bidding in earnest for the so-called king of spears which recently acquired protected food status in Japan.
The star of the show was a hundred of gras (120 spears) traditionally tied together with willow twigs which sold for £1,000 in a joint bid between Fleece landlord Nigel Smith and Bretforton Manor.
Michelle Everall, chair of Bretforton Silver Band said: “It went fantastically. It was a bit chilly but everyone braved the weather.
“We couldn’t do it without the support of the village and are so grateful”.
Bretforton Silver Band consists of 35 members and is the last remaining village band in Worcestershire. Money raised on Sunday will go towards buying new instruments.
Asparagus grown in the Vale of Evesham is renowned as some of the finest in the world. The season runs until June 21.
