NEWS reached the Herald this week of strange and secret goings-on in the district of Hetton.

After the shockwaves which went through the district, and indeed the world, following the ladies of Rylstone WI's revelations in the name of charity, murmurings that men were for sale in the district raised more than a little curiosity.

Could the dark days of slavery be returning to Britain's shores? Were these men willing victims or had they been smuggled in from another county? Were they house-trained? What was to be the poor fellows' fate? Were 'phone bids acceptable?

But, alas, no such misdemeanours were taking place in the Dales.

Instead the "auction" was being accompanied by a supper and cabaret held in the very public place of Cracoe village hall last Friday evening!

The event had been arranged by Joan Hopkinson, of Hollywell Barn, Hetton, who is raising money for the British Horse Rescue Association.

"It wasn't an auction of men as such," she said. "It was more like promises and items they sent for people to buy, such as tickets to the races etc," she explained.

The evening's proceeds are not fully known yet but she will have reached her goal of £1,800.

This was needed to fund her trip to Jordan on February 19 where she is to ride across the desert in the footsteps - or hoof prints - of Lawrence of Arabia, to raise more money for the charity.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.