Many of the lots were of local memorabilia but the one shown right, was of national, indeed international interest.
Before he died, Mr Maple had asked auctioneer Aaron Dean to research the cap and he found it to be one of the earliest England caps known. The Rugby Football Union was formed in 1871 and this cap was embroidered with the dates 1872, 1873, 1875 and 1876. It was found to have been owned by Francis Luscombe who was a forward for the London Gipsies during the 1870s and captain England twice.
There were no fewer than five telephone bidders competing against others in the room and, just as the gavel was about to come down at £2800, auctioneer Nick Muston finally got through to another phone bidder from Majorca who then won the cap with a bid of £4000.
