A portrait of nobel prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter is being auctioned, with all proceeds being donated to The Lord’s Taverners.

The metre-square portrait, in oils, was a gift to Pinter from his teammates at Gaieties Cricket Club as a mark of their esteem and gratitude for his 40 years service. He liked the portrait so much that he gave it pride of place in his study, telling the artist, Joe Hill, “On the evidence of this painting, I should have opened the batting for England!”

After her husband’s death, Harold’s wife Lady Antonia Fraser gave the portrait back to Gaieties. The club decided that the best legacy would be to auction the portrait for charity and help give disadvantaged youngsters the opportunity to play cricket, a cause close to Harold’s heart.

If you would like to bid for the portrait please email your offer, together with full contact details, to pinter@lordstaverners.org. An opening bid of £4,000 has already been received.

The successful bidder will be announced at a special Lord’s Taverners Harold Pinter Tribute event held at The Long Room at Lord’s on 27 September, following a celebrity cricket match at the Lord’s Nursery Ground between Mike Brearley’s Lord's Taverners XI and a Gaieties XI.

Actors Robert Powell and Janie Dee will be joined at the tribute event by a host of stars of the stage and screen. Among those invited to participate in the evening include Kenneth Branagh, Sir Michael Gambon and Bill Nighy.

For information about tickets for The Lord’s Taverners Harold Pinter Tribute event on 27 September please contact our events department on 020 7821 2828.

More information about Joe Hill’s work can be found at www.joehill-art.com

To listen to Harry Burton’s essay 'Harold Pinter & Cricket', originally broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 20 February 2009 click here.

For more details please call 020 7821 2828.

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