Rolf Harris Artwork Raises Thousands For Haiti Appeal

An auction featuring Rolf Harris artwork helped raise thousands of pounds for survivors of the Haiti earthquake.

More than 120,000 was made in two weeks by a celebrity eBay auction for Oxfam's rebuilding programme in Haiti, which was the brain child of Glastonbury Festival organiser Emily Eavis.

A Rolf Harris oil painting fetched 12,607 and was the second highest earner behind a Damien Hirst print that sold for the fractionally larger price of 12,655, while a jacket worn by Coldplay's Chris Martin and signed by the band raised 9,600.

Other notable lots included a Fender Stratocaster owned by Arctic Monkey Alex Turner's which came to 4,600, while one bidder won the chance to own a personal song written and performed by Blur singer Damon Albarn for £5,650.

Ms Eavis said: "I'd like to thank everyone involved. Everyone's been so generous. It's fantastic to see how much people care. When we first had the idea of an auction for Haiti, I never imagined we would raise so much.This should really help to rebuild some of what was lost."

Rolf Harris prints have regularly been sold at charity auctions due to their popularity with art enthusiasts and collectors while the man himself is no stranger to raising money for worthwhile causes.

The Australian has sung live for good causes and has even featured in a charity tennis match with Sir Cliff Richard despite confessing to being "completely appalling" at the sport.

Rolf revealed to the Independent newspaper that there were just some things he would not do for charity and shaving his famous beard off was one of them.

The 80-year-old said that his future wife Alwen refused to talk to him when he shaved it off before their wedding because he looked like a classic American car with all the chrome work ripped off.

He told the publication: "I wouldn't do it. When I was about to get married, I shaved it off to get some photographs done of myself. I thought I looked like the actor Peter Finch. When I met up again with my fiance, she was absolutely horrified."

The entertainer is popular with celebrities as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright started his film career with a short entitled Rolf Harris Saves the World, while Expendables star Dolph Lundgren called the Australian "funny".

Rolf Harris will play at The Prince of Wales' 12-day eco festival "A Garden Party To Make A Difference" on September 9th.

by: Martin Hofschroer

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