Elton and Krays memorabilia sold

19 October 2010, 00:00 | Updated: 20 October 2010, 06:45

The collection of Elton John memorabilia sold in Lewes yesterday raised nearly 29 thousand pounds His Mum, Sheila Farebrother, said she was delighted after auctioning more than 100 gold and platinum discs, tour jackets, VIP passes and a piano-shaped music box. Documents from the Kray twins made twenty thousand

A highly-prized collection of Sir Elton John memorabilia was sold at auction by his mother for £28,820 on Monday

The treasure trove included more than 100 gold and platinum discs, tour jackets and VIP passes his mother, Sheila Farebrother, used for backstage access at his concerts.

Some of the top items included a music box modelled as a piano, which was a gift from Sir Elton, which sold for £1,200 and Mrs Farebrother's personal collection of records which sold for #700.

Also sold was a large American billboard multiple disc presentation for 43 million album sales in the Unites States, which fetched £1,500.

Mrs Farebrother said: ``I am delighted with the success of the sale, his fans have been able to buy a slice of Elton history and the whole event has brought back some wonderful memories.''

Mrs Farebrother sold the collection at Gorringes Auctioneers in Lewes, East Sussex, because she has downsized to a new home on the south coast.

She said: ``From an early age Elton would love to perform at family weddings and birthdays.

``When his career as a performer began to take off I would go along to his concerts and my main concern was that he wouldn't forget any of his lyrics.

``It wasn't until the concert in Madison Square Garden in 1974 when John Lennon made an appearance on stage and sang with Elton that I realised he had become a world superstar.''

Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on March 25 1947, Sir Elton has sold more than 250 million records in a career spanning five decades.

His career has marked him out as one of the world's most successful musicians, and his accolades include an Oscar and Grammy awards.

He established the Elton John Aids Foundation in 1992 and went on to be knighted in 1998. He celebrated his civil partnership with David Furnish in 2005 at Windsor Guildhall.

Andrew Elliston-Elhinn, of Gorringes, said: ``It is one of the most interesting sales we have ever had and we have already seen international interest from buyers.

``Nothing like this has been seen since an Elton John sale back in 1988, which was different because it didn't include quite so many benchmark items from his career, whereas this sale has so many more.

``His mother used to have a large games room with shelf upon shelf to store all the things he had given her but since moving she doesn't have the room anymore.

``Some of the items are autographed but, as his mum said, 'Why would he sign things for me? I'm his mum'.''

A second collection of Sir Elton items raised a total of £42,305 including £2,300 for a Theo Fennell 18ct gold cross and £320 for a group of 35 Elton John bobble-head figures.

All the prices exclude buyer's premium of 20% and VAT.

Also

A collection of personal memorabilia which belonged to the gangster twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray sold for £20,780 at auction tonight.

The sale at Gorringes Auctioneers in Lewes, East Sussex, included several letters from the London brothers with revealing details of the Boothby scandal.

Several letters sold for as much as #260 each and an original picture of Ronnie with Lord Boothby sold for £550.

Lord Boothby sued the Sunday Mirror for £40,000 after it reported in 1964 that Scotland Yard was investigating a homosexual relationship between an unnamed peer and a major criminal underworld figure.

After their identities were later revealed, the Conservative peer - who died aged 86 in 1986 - denied the story and insisted he had only ever met Ronnie a handful of times.

In a letter to the Krays' biographer, John Pearson, Ronnie bemoaned the payout to Lord Boothby, saying he had only received a written apology.

In the correspondence, written from Brixton Prison, Ronnie wrote: ``Since then the police have not left us alone and have framed us on diferent (sic) charges, and now for murder.

``I say their (sic) is a law for the rich and one for the poor.''

It ends: ``So until I see you again, the best of luck, your friend Ron. PS: Charly, Reg and Dick send you their best wishes.''

In another error-strewn letter written from the jail to Mr Pearson in January 1969, Ronnie reveals his pleasure at receiving a letter from singer Cliff Richard.

He wrote: ``John, I had a verry nice letter from Cliff Ritchards. I thought it was marvoulas of him to write to me at a time like this.

``He must be a wonderfull person to go to the trouble at a time like this. Their are still a lot of nice people left around.''

The Krays were the biggest individual donor to the Aberfan disaster appeal after they donated £100 at a gala evening in Cardiff, according to another previously unpublished letter.

The letter, from the Cardiff Committee for Aid to Aberfan, thanks the pair ``for all the kind help you gave us'' following the disaster which killed 116 children and 28 adults in 1966.

Former Sunday Times journalist Mr Pearson was asked by the Kray twins in 1967 to write their biography, titled The Profession Of Violence, published in 1972.

During that period, he became a close confidante of the gangsters, who often wrote to him from prison after their arrest and eventual conviction for the killings of George Cornell and Jack ``The Hat'' McVitie.

The collection of memorabilia comprises more than 160 previously unseen letters and photographs, revealing a unique insight into the twins' dark world.

After publishing a follow-up title on the pair, called Notorious, in September this year, Mr Pearson said it was time to close the files on the Krays.

Mr Pearson, who lives in Lewes, said: ``It's a goldmine of previously unpublished material.

``It's the sort of archive that anyone wanting to write about the Kray twins would want to have.

``In many ways, they were very charismatic men who were totally locked together in this twin bond and their strength came as twin murderers.

``They were also very powerful East End personalities, partly through their charity work but also because they fitted into this gothic tale of villainy that the East End was famous for.''

All prices exclude buyer's premium of 20% and VAT.