SIR,

We would like to extend a very big thank to everybody who kindly supported our recent Promises Auction.

We were fortunate to have over 70 items to auction off, from luxury holidays to horse manure for the garden, which made for a very eclectic and entertaining evening.

Both local and regional businesses supported our event as did many of our families, friends and teachers.

Anyone who attended will remember the night for a long time. The hall was superbly decorated and guests enjoyed a wonderful meal expertly served by students.

Music was provided by the excellent jazz band Merlin and the Wizards, all of whom are pupils at the school.

The meal was followed by the auction of promises. Any reticence or awkwardness among bidders was swiftly removed by the skilled leadership of auctioneer (and parent) Lyndon Trumper from Straker Chadwick and Sons of Abergavenny.

He created an exhilarating atmosphere and within a couple of hours helped to generate over £6,000 for the Monmouth Comprehensive School Friends Association.

Monmouth Comprehensive School head teacher Vaughan Davies said afterwards: "It was a fantastic achievement and the school is overwhelmed by the generosity of parents and friends.

"The money raised will go to support the learning of all students at the school.

"A major part of the money raised will be to develop the IT facilities so that all students have improved access.

"So much money was raised though, that the school will now be able to look at developing other areas of learning, especially improving social spaces for students."

After so many months of planning, we are delighted with the evening's success.

Tilly Ashton

(Monmouth Comprehensive School Friends Association