Rankin serves pie and pint to charity auction

Published on Monday 7 December 2009 08:42

DOUR Detective Inspector John Rebus might not be known for his warm-hearted hospitality, but his creator is set to play the genial host at the New Town pub beloved of the surly cop.

Author Ian Rankin has offered to buy a pie and pint in the Oxford Bar for the highest bidder in an eBay auction, with all the proceeds going to the charity Garvald Edinburgh, which helps adults with learning disabilities.

Mr Rankin worked in the bar, in Young Street, as a student in the eighties and it is now well-known as the favourite watering-hole of his fictional detective.

Now Mr Rankin, who lives in Merchiston, has offered to dip into his pockets for the auction winner and a friend to enjoy a pie and a pint with him, after receiving a letter from members of Garvald Edinburgh, which provides day, accommodation and support services.

He said: "There's a Garvald community home on my street, so I see the good work they do. I've found that fans like to meet the author face to face, so the pie and a pint seemed a reasonable idea – as well as an excuse for me to visit the Oxford Bar!"

The charity's fundraiser Grace Nicol said it was the Garvald members themselves who had approached Mr Rankin: "We've got a Garvald fundraising group and one of the things they came up with was to write to celebrities and ask for a prize to be auctioned.

"We said in the letter that it would be great if you could donate something like the chance to meet you in the Oxford Bar, and he came up with the pie and a pint idea."

Mr Rankin's teenage son, Kit, has learning difficulties as a result of the genetic disorder Angelman syndrome, and fundraising group member, Kirsteen Bailey, 39, explained how she came up with the idea of writing to the author: "His son goes to my horse riding, so I've not spoken to him, but I have seen him there. I was surprised when he wrote back – it's nice of him to give up his time."

Richard Klein, day service manager at Garvald's Orwell Arts, said: "The money raised from the eBay auction will go towards specialist disability equipment."

The auction will go live on eBay at 8pm on Thursday and close at 8pm on 20 December. Also up for auction will be signed books by Alexander McCall Smith.

For details see www.garvaldedinburgh.org.uk