JK's magic touch helps fire-hit club

Published on Thursday 17 January 2008 09:24

A RUGBY club which was devastated by fire last year has reopened with even better facilities than before – thanks to a little help from JK Rowling.

The Harry Potter author donated signed copies of all seven of the boy wizard books to help Portobello Rugby Club rebuild itself after a blaze started by vandals gutted the building last May.

The collection – believed to be the first complete set of signed Potter books ever to be auctioned – sold for just under 7000, which was more than triple the reserve price. The cash makes up the final part of the club's major fundraising drive.

The fire destroyed decades of history, wiping out trophies, memorabilia and photographs dating back to the formation of the club in the 1950s, as well as causing extensive internal structural damage to the building, which is home to three senior and seven junior teams.

While the club's insurance paid to reinstate the gutted building on Duddingston Road West, members needed an extra 25,000 to improve the club by adding disabled access, better facilities for the youth section and upgraded security.

Rowling rose to the challenge of helping the club achieve its fundraising goal when asked by one of her friends, who is on its committee.

The books were yesterday snapped up in the Capital by an anonymous Harry Potter fan, who is said to have bought the unique collection as an investment.

Iain Goodall, rugby club president, was at yesterday's auction to see the books fetch the unexpected 6960.

He said: "It was so exciting, especially knowing all the time that the club was benefiting.

"We were told to put a reserve of 2000, but the bidding started at 3400."

The club was officially reopened back in November, and Mr Goodall said the new improved version looks "fantastic".

He added: "The money (raised from the books] has gone towards the enhancement of the club and we would like to express our gratitude to JK Rowling. We'll have to offer her a membership."

Philip Gregory, from auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull on Broughton Place, said the books were bought by an auction virgin via a telephone bid.

He said: "Nobody has ever sold a full set of signed Harry Potters and while only three of them were first editions, it still makes a great collection. If it had been any other author, it wouldn't have caught the imagination of the public. Today's result just shows what a phenomenon JK Rowling still is."

This is the latest in a long line of Harry Potter books which have gone under the hammer.

Last year, 19-year-old Toby Rundle from Somerset sold a rare first edition of the original Harry Potter book, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, to fund his university degree. The book fetched 7200 at auction.

Back in 2004, Lyon and Turnbull also sold a first edition of the Philosopher's Stone for 2000.