The sale of a designer case used by a BMS missionary in India half-a-century ago has raised more than £2,500 towards BMS' work in Kolkata.
Rev Frank Wells, who served in Orissa from 1953 to 1972, auctioned the Louis Vuitton travelling trunk that he and his family were given by BMS in 1960.
The family didn't have enough cases to take their possessions back to India after a time of furlough in the UK, and were given a trunk by BMS' 'Wants' department, an area of BMS where they used to keep second-hand clothes and other items.
It was only recently that they discovered it was a trunk made 100 years ago by Louis Vuitton, the French luxury fashion and leather goods company.
Inspired
It lay untouched in the Wells' garage for years - until the family were inspired after watching the BBC's Antiques Roadshow.
Mr Wells explains, "We saw a Louis Vuitton trunk valued at £1,000, so we approached the local antique dealer and he arranged to get the trunk into a fine art sale in Aylsham, Norfolk. A reserve price of £450 was placed on the trunk - but it was actually sold for £3,200!"
After dealing with administration charges, Mr Wells, who now lives in Lincolnshire, was left with £2,622.82, and sent a cheque for this value to BMS.
He adds, "As the BMS 'Wants' department had kindly given us the trunk in an hour of need, I feel that it is only right that the BMS should benefit from the sale. It comes with all good wishes."
Generosity
David Kerrigan, BMS director for mission, immediately contacted Mr Wells to thank him for his "imagination and generosity... in enabling a gift from so many years ago to be translated into a valuable resource for our ongoing mission work today."
In consultation with Mr Wells, the proceeds from the sale of the trunk will go towards the construction of BMS' new mission centre in Kolkata, and in particular helping to fill the shortfall in funding as it nears its completion.
"This work will continue the strengthening of the Church in that part of India for many years to come", says Mr Kerrigan.