Late Boycie actor items sold for animal charity

Herefordshire resident John Challis was renowned for playing Boycie in much-loved BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses

Items owned by Only Fools and Horses star John Challis are to be auctioned to raise money for a Shropshire animal charity.

The actor who died in 2021, known to millions of viewers as Boycie, was a longstanding patron of Cuan Wildlife Rescue Centre in Much Wenlock.

"John was a big lover of hedgehogs," said the charity's office manager, Nikki Backhouse.

"It really is a really important thing to us to have those extra funds for buying food and medications for the animals that we treat," she added.

Items for sale include scripts from Only Fools and Horses spin-off The Green Green Grass

Seven lots are on sale during a Facebook Live auction on Wednesday, including TV and theatre scripts and photographs signed by the actor who lived in Herefordshire.

The items were donated by Challis's widow, Carol, who remained "a great supporter" of the Shropshire centre, Ms Backhouse explained.

The auction has been organised by the Only Fools and Horses Social Group, which has more than 2,600 online members.

Founder Edwin "Trotter" Morris, from Telford, explained the group started auctioning cast members' items for their chosen charities in 2020 and had since raised about £70,000.

"In 2021, I did a big auction for John when we covered all his charities and we raised over £4,000," he said.

"While people are supporting them, I’ll keep going," he added.

He said he usually dressed up as a cast member during the Facebook Live events and described Wednesday's auction as "extra special".

"Four out of the seven lots are scripts which were John’s own scripts. He’s even made notes in them himself," Mr Morris explained.

He added his favourite lot was a book about Dreamland in Margate, gifted to Challis after an episode of Only Fools called The Jolly Boys' Outing.

"Carol told me that was one of John’s favourite pieces and he'd often read it," Mr Morris said.

"For me that’s my favourite lot as it was a gift and something John treasured."

Edwin "Trotter" Morris, pictured with John Challis, started auctioning Only Fools and Horses cast members' items in 2020 with the help of other group members

It is not the first time the group has organised an auction on Cuan Wildlife Rescue Centre's behalf.

"They do them every so often - I think last time they raised over £1,000 for us which was really really appreciated," Ms Backhouse said.

The auction starts on Wednesday at 19:45 GMT.