PRIME Minister Tony Blair has put in writing his support for a squadron of air cadets who are holding a grand charity auction in aid of Keech Cottage Children s Hospice. Members of 22 Sandy Squadron Air Training Corps will be holding the auction on Octobe

PRIME Minister Tony Blair has put in writing his support for a squadron of air cadets who are holding a grand charity auction in aid of Keech Cottage Children's Hospice.

Members of 22 Sandy Squadron Air Training Corps will be holding the auction on October 6 at Russell Hall in Shuttleworth College, Old Warden Park, where the guests will include the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Samuel Whitbread, Bedfordshire High Sheriff Richard Banks and the station commanders of RAF Henlow and RAF Wyton.

John Pilgrim, presenter of BBC Three Counties Radio, will be the auctioneer on the big night.

This week 22 Squadron commanding officer Flt Lt Margaret Bell said that over 50 items had been promised for the auction including an engraved pen from the Prime Minister that also included a hand-written letter authenticating the pen and wishing the squadron the best of luck.

Other items that will go under the hammer and are expected to fetch good prices are a signed boxing glove from Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan, and a book from double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes, souvenirs from Fernando Alonso and his Renault F1 grand prix racing team and world land speed record breaker Richard Noble has sent a signed book.

Also up for grabs are tickets for the London Eye and Kensington Palace exhibition, Huntingdon races, Imperial War Museum Duxford, signed prints from the Red Arrows and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as well as a selection of wine donated by RAF officers from Henlow and Wyton.

"We have a lot more that will be auctioned and we are hoping to have more donations by the time the big night arrives," said Flt Lt Bell.

"I am very proud of the cadets who have worked tremendously hard on this project. After meeting children from the hospice it was a wake up call for many of them so they immediately decided to do something to support the hospice.

"A delegation of cadets came to see me and I told them to put together a plan which they have and it looks as though it is going to be a wonderful night."

There is still time to support the event. If you want to donate an item for auction contact Flt Lt Bell on 01234 307776 or log on to www.sandy-cadets.org.uk under the news 2006 page.