Amy Johnson moths to go under the hammer

Stars of Hull's moth trail will fly off to new homes when they go under the hammer next week as part of a charity fund-raising auction.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Apr 2017, 13:23 BST
Updated 9th May 2017, 19:02 BST
From left to right Michael Baiton, Andrew Baitson and Rick Welton (Amy Johnson festival director) with the moths which are up for auction on May 6From left to right Michael Baiton, Andrew Baitson and Rick Welton (Amy Johnson festival director) with the moths which are up for auction on May 6
From left to right Michael Baiton, Andrew Baitson and Rick Welton (Amy Johnson festival director) with the moths which are up for auction on May 6

Nearly 60 fibre-glass moths, inspired by the pilot Amy Johnson’s De Havilland Gipsy Moth, landed on walls in the city and elsewhere in the UK last summer. Several fluttered as far as Croydon Airport, where Amy started her solo flight, and Herne Bay, Kent, close to where she died in an accident 75 years ago.

Many of the moths, which were part of the Amy Johnson festival, have already been bought by their sponsors. But 25 will go on sale at The Royal Hull Hotel on Saturday May 6.

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Seven years ago Hull-based Gilbert Baitson auctioneers sold off the fibreglass toads, which were installed as part of a Philip Larkin festival, and they raised up to £4,000. Proceeds will be split between the HEY Smile Foundation and the Amy Johnson Arts and Engineering Awards.

Legendary flier Amy JohnsonLegendary flier Amy Johnson
Legendary flier Amy Johnson

Auctioneer Andrew Baitson said people shouldn’t expect to pick up a moth for a song: “There will be some very serious bidders and we can reach more than a million of them alone.

“There is a growing market for fibreglass animals and there are people out there buying cows, sheep, owls and much more.”

Related topics:HullKent