Art auction a windfall for school

The Graham Watson collection - paintings, furniture, pottery, glass and silver - more than doubled its expected asking price after attracting international bidders at Bonhams in Leeds.

The money will be used to finance a new science block and art department, including special studios, at Giggleswick school, near Settle.

And a new award named after Mr Watson, of Heaton Rise, off Emm Lane, Bradford, is expected to be set up from 2004.

Mr Watson, who died in November aged 94, was a former managing director of Listers, based at the historic Manningham Mills in Bradford.

He had a lifelong passion for art and among his collection were works by the Skipton artist Arthur Reginald Smith and Wharfedale artist Herbert F Royle.

His collection of 70 watercolours by Smith, expected to fetch about £30,000, sold for more than £100,000.

One, of Coniston Bridge, went for £5,266 against an estimate of between £600 and £800.

And a George III library chair was sold for £41,850, more than twice the pre-sale estimate.

Christopher Proudlove, of Bonhams, said: "Mr Watson was a man of intelligence, taste and refinement, clearly demonstrated by his collection."

He was a magistrate in Bradford and a member of the town's chamber of commerce. He helped form the National Parks Act in 1949 and was involved with the Lake District planning board.

A mathematics graduate, he maintained his links with Giggleswick school all his life, serving as governor and chairman, and finally retiring after 51 years in 2002.

Giggleswick head teacher Geoffrey Boult said: "Graham Watson's generosity will enable us to continue to invest to provide pupils with the first class facilities expected of one of the best co-educational boarding schools in the county."

"It is also our intention to use some of the money to enhance our scholarship provision."

Mr Watson also left books to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and 5,200 acres of land in Yorkshire to the National Trust.