Willie Cooper shows off a pair of Orlando Bloom's pants which she won in an auction. Picture: Paul Dennis.

by Gerry Warren

All eyes were on the star lot in a charity auction during a concert held by students in Canterbury in aid Save the Children’s work in Haiti.

Up for grabs among the beauty vouchers, jewellery, and nights out at restaurants were a pair of swimming shorts, which belonged to former Canterbury schoolboy turned Hollywood star, Orlando Bloom.

A packed audience at the St Gregory’s Music Centre at Christ Church University witnessed a bidding war for the colourful shorts which he is said to have worn during breaks from filming Pirates of the Caribbean.

They were modelled by 28-year-old Vincent Disneur, of Barton Mill, Canterbury, who works as an IT software entrepreneur.

The winning bid of £190 was made by Willie Cooper, also of Barton Mill, who is the fundraising administrator of Sounds New.

She said: “I just started bidding for a bit of a giggle and before I knew it the price was going up and up. But I’m very happy because I wanted to give something and it’s a very good cause.

“The shorts are Polo Sport by Ralph Lauren, so they are quite a fashionable make and they come with a letter of authentication from Orlando’s mother, Sonia Bloom.

“I’ve know idea what I’m going to do with them. Someone suggested I sell them on eBay because I might make a fortune but I think I’ll just hang onto them for now.”

The evening, organised by mezzo soprano Jennifer Brisk, was described as an 'overwhelming success’ and raised more than £2,000 for Save the Children. The auction was organised by music student, Clare Kingman while CCU Professor Paul Edlin was the auctioneer.

Among the musical performers were sopranos Michelle Castelletti and Jamie Kym-Mcmellon, harpist Chrissy Grimsdale, cellist Alex Rider and pianists Ivan Hussey and Tom Liddle.