Charity shops are a familiar sight in most towns across the UK. They come in all shapes and sizes and provide a valuable revenue for a variety of deserving causes. Here in Newton Aycliffe, there are a number of such outlets, but one that many Newtonians may be unfamiliar with, is the goods filled repository known as ‘Allsort’, which occupies one of the rooms attached to St Clare’s Church, and now open for visitors from 10am till 1pm, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Run by Godfrey Bennett, a retired electrician and a self confessed life-long hoarder, the room is a haven for bargain hunters, offering as it does a whole smorgasbord of treasures from china vases, toys, and books to electrical appliances, clocks, watches, costume jewellery and more. most of which emanate from Mr Bennett’s own life long collecting habit, which stretches back to his childhood.
“The idea of selling what I had collected over many decades, and giving the proceeds to charity, came about some time ago” said Godfrey (a great grandfather – 75 years old), “when my wife Shirley, jokingly threatened to divorce me if I didn’t curtail my inclination to hoard ‘anything and everything’.
Looking back now I can appreciate her growing level of despair for at one stage, adding to what I had collected myself, we had an influx of other items after our respective parents passed away, the total of which completely filled our 3 bedroom house – and the garden shed.
The place was certainly chock a block, yet I hated the thought of all the goods simply ending up in a skip. Fortunately, I learned that part of the church property was available for hire and that allowed me to start the charity venture, which is still up and running.”
“Most of the items I sell have a story behind them” said Gordon, A trouser press he was given by an ex girlfriend 60 years ago, and a pair of roller skates he acquired in the 60’s, when he ran the Beveridge Roller Dance and Figure Skating Club, being but two examples.
Although he is too modest to boast about it, his altruistic endeavour has generated hundreds of pounds for good causes, specifically, the Tear Fund Charity, (the UK humanitarian relief organisation which operates in over 50 countries), The Capstone Project and The Great North Air Ambulance Service He has also contributed to the St Clare’s roof appeal, even though ‘Allsorts’ is not affiliated with the church, nor is it a business. It is simply an outlet for one man to offer for sale the many items gathered during his lifetime, as a means of raising funds for charity.
“It may not have the status of a grand emporium” said Gordon, “but I do think visitors to ‘Allsorts’ will find something of interest, as there are probably items here, no longer available elsewhere”.
