Pot of luxurious marmalade raises £385 for Cumbria Community Foundation

The luxurious marmalade, laced with Louis Marcellin 1967 Armagnac and garnished with 22.5 carat gold leaf flakes is presented in an artisan crystal jam jar, made by Cumbria Crystal, the last remaining craft makers of lead crystal in Britain. The jar of marmalade is valued at £700.

It was auctioned on Ebay for the Cumbria Community Foundation, along with a complimentary night’s stay at the hotel to aid in the flood relief for the region still recovering from the severe floods in the region.

The winning bid came from Sharrow Bay fan and lover of the Lake District Jean Rigby, who said: “I’m intolerant of citrus fruit, so despite bidding for the marmalade, I probably will only be able to have a taste of it. However, the real reason I bid was to support the charity and my love of the Lake District and especially the Sharrow Bay - which was a haven for my husband and myself when our daughter passed away three years ago.

“The marmalade will most definitely share pride of place in my kitchen and I’m really thrilled to have won it - although I will have to watch my husband Colin as he loves marmalade and it’s too precious to eat at the speed he normally does with marmalade. I will probably scoop out the gold leaf for myself.”

Managing Director Oliver Smith said: “We are delighted to have been able to do our bit and raise money for the Cumbria Community Foundation. There is much to be done to support our region in the aftermath of Storm Desmond and we are proud to be a part of its recovery. We wish Jean and Colin a fantastic stay when they come to collect the marmalade.”