TRENDSPOTTER – HRH Duke of Gloucester gets a taste of Cheffins Fine Art Department

On 3^rd July 2025, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, officially opened a new swathe of woodland in Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, which has been planted as part of Cheffins’ 200-year anniversary. His Royal Highness planted a tree on the site, was given a brief tour of the woodland and was introduced to Cheffins’ senior staff who shared the firm’s 200-year history and the environmental goals behind the project.

As part of this commemorative event, Cheffins took the opportunity to demonstrate key elements of the business. From the Fine Art Department, we discussed the history of the long-running art and antiques sales, as well as a handful of key pieces which will shortly be coming up for auction, including an interesting historical portrait with Cambridge connections, a pair of Chinese famille verte vases, from the late Qing dynasty, a series of Continental treacle glazed novelty decanters modelled as bulls and a rare silver and glass wine decanter by one of the early innovators of modernist design, Charles Robert Ashbee.

The commemorative event brought together the great and good of Cambridgeshire, including the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mrs Julie Spence; Cambridge City Mayor Councillor, Mrs Dinah Pounds; Mr James Hutt; Mr and Mrs Richard Townley of Fulbourn Manor; CEO of the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust, Shelly Thake; a gathering of senior Cheffins staff and a series of other key stakeholders and was a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the diverse nature of the business.

As part of the celebrations, we also took along a flock of rare breed sheep, signifying Cheffins’ roots as livestock auctioneers when the firm was first founded in 1825 and the Cheffins’ “Charity Tractor,” a 1963 Fordson Super Dexta tractor, which will be sold at via the Machinery Department in October, with all proceeds direct to the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust.

Located five miles from Cambridge city centre, the 2,500-tree woodland has been planted by Cheffins staff over five acres and is held on a 99-year lease. Made up of 12 different native deciduous trees and shrubs, the woodland represents Cheffins’ commitment to biodiversity and carbon capture.

The woodland project forms part of a wider philanthropic effort by Cheffins in our bicentenary year. Alongside the environmental goals of the woodland, we’re also aiming to raise £200,000 for charity in 2025, with a significant portion going towards building a new playroom at the Cambridge Children’s Hospital.

If you haven’t already done so, please join Cheffins’ efforts and donate to the Cambridge Children’s Hospital here