how stars logged on for tree fund
Sarah Fabergé, whose oak artwork is shown above, is just one of a large number of famous people Branching Out organiser Andrew Varah was able to call upon when he got the idea of auctioning celebrity wood carving exhibits.
Mr Varah, a high-class furniture maker and chairman of the Liveries Wood Group, began thumbing through his contacts book and those of his colleagues for illustrious people to approach.
He said: ‘’I knew David Gilmour as I have been making furniture for him for 12 to 15 years while Joanna Lumley knows my family, so I was able to write to her asking if she would be interested.
“A female colleague, Penrose Halson, is a friend of Sarah Faberg and Sir Ron Cooke, (Chairman of Trustees of The Arboretum Trust), knew Greg Dyke and Janet Baker.’’