675 Online Auction
Place your bid to win exciting experiences and items associated with Trinity Hall and its community as we raise funds toward Postgraduate Support.
As part of Trinity Hall’s Anniversary Campaign, we are holding an online auction of five Lots with reserve amounts. All the funds raised from their sale will be directed toward Postgraduate Support with a suggested minimum target of £6K to match fund a Masters degree.
Winning bidders will be contacted by email and also announced at the College’s 675th Birthday Party event at the British Library, which is taking place on 27 November 2025.
We are very thankful to all alumni who have kindly offered most Lots of our 675 Online Auction.
Lots
Lot 2 – Tour of his studio followed by refreshments with Edmund de Waal
Lot 3 – One-week stay in holiday cottage for six in South Devon
Lot 4 – Drawing of a building façade of your choice by Ben Peart
Lot 5 – Set of 6 crested soup and pasta china bowls
Bids for Lot 1 close at midday (BST) on Tuesday 26 August 2025. Bids for Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5 close at midday (GMT) on Tuesday 25 November 2025.
How to bid
You can place a bid by emailing the GBP amount you are willing to pay for the item to auction@trinhall.cam.ac.uk with the subject line “Lot [insert number] bid”. Find out more details under Terms and conditions.
Lot 1 (auction ended)
Named character and half-day on the set of TV series Grantchester with author James Runcie
How about having a named character in the coming season of the hit international television series Grantchester? And what if, on top of that, you could spend half a day on set with a companion and author James Runcie whilst they film it this autumn?
The series is set in the 1950’s and stars Robson Green and Rishi Nair – having in previous seasons had James Norton and Tom Brittney as part of its cast. It is inspired by The Grantchester Mysteries, a series of seven crime fiction adventures written by Trinity Hall alumnus James Runcie (English, 1978). His father’s early experience as a rural vicar served as inspiration for the story.
Reserve amount: £2,000
Further details
- The named character, which will be chosen by the winning bidder, will have to be agreed directly with Runcie.
- The 2-person visit to the set, which will take place in September or October 2025, will have to be agreed directly with Runcie.
- The winner bidder does not need to be one of the 2 people visiting the set.
- Filming takes place in Hertfordshire, Cambridge and London; the two people visiting the set are responsible for the expenses and planning of getting there and back.
About James Runcie
Runcie is the author of twelve novels, four plays and a memoir. He is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker, playwright and literary curator. He has been Artistic Director of the Bath Literature Festival, Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre, London, and Commissioning Editor for Arts on BBC Radio 4. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a member of both the Crime Writer’s Association and The Detection Club. He is currently writing a new crime series set in the Renaissance and a non-fiction book about cricket.
Photo: Robson Green and Rishi Nair star in Grantchester – credits: Kudos Film and TV for ITV1
Lot 2
Tour of his studio followed by refreshments with Edmund de Waal
A unique opportunity is being offered for a group of five people to join acclaimed contemporary artist, potter and author Edmund de Waal in his South London studio for a personal guided tour. De Waal is a Trinity Hall alumnus; he read English in 1983 and became an Honorary Fellow in 2009.
He generously donated one of his pieces to Trinity Hall in 2019. The ceramic and steel work titled Lacrimae rerum, which is in Jerwood Library’s reading room, references the loss of libraries and memoralises the relationship of his father and grandfather. The College also owns another piece of his, Tenebrae, which is on display in the Master’s Lodge.
Reserve amount: £2,000
Further details
- The tour, which will be followed by refreshments, will take around 90 minutes.
- The event will take place during 2026. The date will be set between the winning bidder and de Waal’s team once the auction is finalised.
- The visiting group is responsible for the expenses and planning of getting to de Waal’s studio and back.
About Edmund de Waal
De Waal is an artist who writes. Much of his work is about the contingency of memory: bringing particular histories of loss and exile into renewed life. He continually investigates themes of diaspora, memorial and materiality with his interventions and artworks made for diverse spaces and museums worldwide. De Waal is also renowned for his bestselling family memoir, The Hare with Amber Eyes (2010), which has been translated into nearly 30 languages and has received many literary prizes. He was awarded the Windham-Campbell Prize for non-fiction by Yale University in 2015. In 2021 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and awarded a CBE for his services to art. In 2023 he received the Isamu Noguchi Award. In 2024 he was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Photo: Alzbeta Jaresova
Lot 3
One-week stay in holiday cottage for six in South Devon
Alumnus Ian Nutt (Engineering, 1972) and his wife Christine are offering a week-long stay in their picture-perfect holiday home surrounded by wildlife. The Owlacombe Bridge Cottage is 1 mile of Ashburton and accommodates 6 people. It offers a combination of style, luxury and comfort with an enclosed garden, equipped with patio furniture, sun loungers and a fire pit.
Nearby hotspots include the villages of Ilsington and Ashburton. Further afield you will find the sandy beaches in Shaldon or Teignmouth, as well as the Cathedral City of Exeter. A perfect retreat for your family and friends, whether you’re looking for a cosy time indoors or exploring the outdoors.
Reserve amount: £1,500
Further details
- The cottage is available for any week the successful bidder chooses in 2026 – including the peak summer season, Christmas or New Year, and all the traditional holiday periods.
- Private parking for 4 or more cars.
- Fully-equipped open-plan kitchen, dining area and sitting room.
- 3 en suites with super-king-size beds, one of which can be turned into two single beds. Linen and towels included.
- There is also 1 ‘camp’ bed which may be used. No linen is provided. Guests will need to bring their own or use a sleeping bag.
- Games-room.
- The property has full central heating; underfloor on the ground floor and radiators upstairs.
- The property is not ideal for children under three because there are two staircases and exposed stonework with ‘hard corners’. Guests should bear this in mind if they plan to bring toddlers.
- Up to two dogs allowed, but can go up to three if they are not too boisterous.
- There is a washer/drier machine.
- There is a pay as you go phone.
- Wi-Fi available. However, internet connections are slow because the location is on the end of a 5 mile copper wire.
- Smart TVs and Sonos system.
- All LED lighting with a ‘Lutron’ control system allowing differing ‘scenes’… and a star ceiling in the downstairs bedroom!
- Open fire/wood-burner.
- The BBQ doubles up as a fire pit.
- Logs and BBQ fuel are provided.
- Enclosed garden.
Photos: Classic Cottages (interior); Ian Nutt (exterior)
Lot 4
Drawing of a building façade of your choice by Ben Peart
How about commissioning an A3-sized colour or B&W drawing of a building of your choice from alumnus Ben Peart (Geography, 2016)? Peart is a civil servant and amateur artist who enjoys drawing architecture, street scenes, and buildings. You may have seen his beautiful work in one of the cards sent out by the Alumni & Development Office.
You could choose one of Trinity Hall’s awarded* architectural gems, like the Wong-Avery Music Gallery or the Jerwood Library. You could also go for one of our landmark buildings such as Front Court or the Old Library. Or perhaps you would prefer something even more personal, like a drawing of your childhood home or of the dream house you have managed to turn into reality? The options are endless, and Peart is willing to draw whichever building that is closest to your heart – or of a loved one.
Reserve amount: £250
Further details
- A3-sized drawing.
- Whether the drawing is in colour or B&W is to be decided with Peart.
- Building of your choice to be communicated directly with Peart.
- If not a College building, the image of the building of your choice must be shared directly with Peart.
- Deadline to be agreed with Peart.
- Costs associated with postage are kindly being covered by Peart.
- To see more of his work, please find him on Instagram @benpe.art.
* The Wong-Avery Music Gallery was one of the winners of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) National Award 2024; the Jerwood Library was chosen Best New, Refurbished, Extended or Conserved Building in the city centre to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Cambridge Conservation area in 2019.
Images: Ben Peart
Lot 5
Set of 6 crested soup and pasta china bowls
Take a piece of College to your home. This is a unique opportunity to acquire a set of 6 crested Royal Worcester Fine Porcelain soup and pasta bowls. Made in England, their glossy white porcelain is trimmed in gold and display the Trinity Hall crest.
This is the perfect memento of College for yourself or a fellow alum. Just imagine all the memories you will be sharing and the new memories you will be creating whilst dining on these true pieces of Trinity Hall history!
Reserve amount: £250
Further details
- 4.1(H) x 23.2(Ø)cm; 1.6(H)” x 9.1(Ø)”.
- Hardwearing with durable rolled edges.
- Stackable for simple space-saving storage.
- Dishwasher safe for quick and easy cleaning.
- Not suitable for oven and microwave.
Photos: Eleanor Gunn
Thank you to all who have already donated toward the Trinity Hall Anniversary Campaign. Find out more about the causes you can support to ensure the next generation of great thinkers, leaders, creators, entrepreneurs, and problem solvers find their home at Trinity Hall.
Terms and conditions
These terms and conditions apply to all bidders participating in the 675 Online Auction being held by Trinity Hall.
By placing a bid for any of the Lots, all of which have reserve amounts, you agree to the following terms and conditions:
1. Definitions
1.1. ‘Lot(s)’ – refers to any item, experience or service offered for bidding in the online auction.
1.2. ‘Donor(s)’ – refers to the individual or organisation that has provided a Lot for auction.
1.3. ‘Auction’ – refers to the online auction taking place on the College Campaign website.
1.4. ‘the College’ – refers to Trinity Hall, who is facilitating the Auction.
2. Lots and reserve amounts
Lot 1 – Named character and half-day on the set of TV series Grantchester with author James Runcie.
Reserve amount: £2,000.
Lot 2 – Tour of his studio followed by refreshments with Edmund de Waal.
Reserve amount: £2,000.
Lot 3 – One-week stay in holiday cottage for six in South Devon.
Reserve amount: £1,500.
Lot 4 – Drawing of a building façade of your choice by Ben Peart.
Reserve amount: £250.
Lot 5 – Set of 6 crested soup and pasta china bowls.
Reserve amount: £250.
3. Bidding and payment
3.1. To place a bid, the individual or organisation must have a demonstrable connection to Trinity Hall – for example, as an alumnus(a), student, staff member, Fellow, donor, or family member to any of the aforementioned. If you are unsure as to whether you would qualify, please contact auction@trinhall.cam.ac.uk.
3.2. Bids and payments are only accepted in GBP.
3.3. To place a bid, the individual or organisation must email auction@trinhall.cam.ac.uk with the subject line “Lot [insert number] bid”. In the body of the email, bidders must include: 1) the GBP amount that they are bidding for the Lot, and 2) the payment method they are planning to use if they are the winning bidder.
3.4. With the exception of Lot 4, for which the Donor has agreed to cover the costs associated with postage, by placing a bid for any of the Lots being auctioned, you agree to pay the full amount if you are the winning bidder, as well as other expenses associated with the purchase of your item, experience or service – such as transaction/bank transfer fees, and travel costs.
3.5. Bids for Lot 1 close at midday (BST) on Tuesday 26 August 2025. Bids for Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5 close at midday (GMT) on Tuesday 25 November 2025.
3.6. If the reserve amount is met, the highest bid at the close of the Auction will be deemed the winning bid.
3.7. If two bids with the same amount are made by different bidders, the winning bid will be the one which came in earliest.
3.8. If the reserve amount is not met, the College reserves the right to withdraw the Lot from the auction.
3.9. Once the Auction is finalised, an invoice – including all the necessary details regarding the Lot, its cost, and payment details – will be shared with the winning bidder in an email notification.
3.10. For winning bidders paying with card, a transaction fee will apply.
3.11. Payment must be made within 72 hours of the end of the Auction – which is by 23:59 (BST) on Sunday 31 August 2025 for Lot 1, and by 23:59 (GMT) on Sunday 30 November 2025 for Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5.
3.12. If payment is not received within the specified timeframe, the College reserves the right to offer the item to the next highest bidder.
3.13. The College accepts the following payment methods:
3.13.1. Electronic bank transfer (preferred method) with your surname and matriculation year, if relevant, as the reference e.g. Smith1979;
3.13.2. Debit and credit cards.
4. Collection and postage of items
4.1. The winner of Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, which relate to experiences/services, must book/agree any further particulars directly with the Donor; contact details will be provided by the Alumni & Development Office.
4.2. Lot 5 must be collected from the College at a date/time to be arranged with the Alumni & Development Office.
4.3. With the exception of Lot 4, for which the Donor has agreed to cover the costs associated with postage, any planning or expenses associated with the purchase of a Lot, such as travel, are responsibility of the winning bidder and will have to be agreed with the Donor.
4.4. If payment has not been received within 72 hours of the Auction, the College reserves the right to request the return of the Lot(s) or offer the item to the next highest bidder.
5. Lot descriptions and liability
5.1. All Lots are described as accurately as possible. The College provides no guarantees, warranties or servicing of Lots.
5.2. Where the experience/service must be booked directly with the Donor, this is subject to the availability and terms set by the Donor. Any changes, cancellations or special requests must be agreed directly with the Donor.
5.3. The College is not liable for any personal injury or damage to property that may result from the Lot.
5.4. Once a Lot is won and paid for, no refunds or exchanges will be given.