Sir Michael Palin rescues auction at egg festival

2 days ago

Alice CunninghamSuffolk

Sir Michael Palin signed two eggs so the charity auction, at the Camden egg festival called MeggaFest, could still go ahead

Simon Balch Sir Michael Palin sits at a kitchen table and holds an egg in one hand that he has signed with a pen. He has short grey hair and wears a white shirt with a black vest over the top. — Sir Michael Palin signed two eggs so the charity auction, at the Camden egg festival called MeggaFest, could still go ahead

A man's plan to host an auction at his one-of-a-kind egg festival was saved at the eleventh hour by actor Sir Michael Palin.

Simon Balch wanted to auction off a specially made bespoke egg cup at the event, but he has been unable to find a rare spherical egg that could sit neatly on top of it.

Balch, 50, who grew up in Hemingstone in Suffolk but now lives in Camden, north London, enlisted the help of his neighbour Sir Michael instead, who donated two normal-shaped eggs in time for Saturday's festival.

"He's one of my heroes so it was an amazing experience," Balch continued.

"He's everything you'd hope one of your heroes to be."

Simon Balch was given a spherical egg by Jo Willis last year, but the egg sadly went mouldy and so he started his egg hunt

Simon Balch Simon Balch stands next to Jo Willis in a kitchen. In his open palm rests a spherical egg. Jo has both her hands resting slightly below Simon's. They are both looking at the camera and smiling. Simon has short dark hair, a beard, and wears glasses, a white shirt, blue tie, rucksack and has a small microphone attached to his shirt. Jo has long red hair, glasses, and wears a grey jumper with a dark T-shirt underneath. — Simon Balch was given a spherical egg by Jo Willis last year, but the egg sadly went mouldy and so he started his egg hunt

Balch creates his own egg cups and - partnering up with a pottery company - he made his unusual design so that it would fit a perfectly spherical egg found by Jo Willis, who is from Bentley in Suffolk.

But Willis's egg went mouldy. He says he nearly found a replacement in time for the auction.

"There were a couple of near misses, in Suffolk as well," Balch explained.

"There was a nice lady who lived in Ipswich who got in touch and said that she's got a chicken call Sweet Pea who hadn't laid one, but laid three, so my hopes were up.

"But it turned out that they weren't completely spherical and I obviously need the perfect spherical egg for the egg cup."

The spherical egg cup holder was completed, but no spherical egg ever appeared in time

Simon Balch A gold plated spherical egg cup holder in the shape of an upside down chicken claw sits on a table surrounded by other items like a mug and some paint. — The spherical egg cup holder was completed, but no spherical egg ever appeared in time

The spherical egg previously found by Jo Willis in Suffolk went mouldy

Simon Balch A man holds a spherical egg between his thumb and index finger. Another person stands nearby with their hands in front of their stomach and fingers interlinked. — The spherical egg previously found by Jo Willis in Suffolk went mouldy

Balch thanked Monty Python comedian Sir Michael for being "so nice" and for signing the two eggs.

At the festival - which Balch named MeggaFest - the two normal-shaped eggs, a double egg cup and a framed picture all sold to a private collector for £100.

The money went toward homelessness charity Centre Point.

His hunt for a spherical egg goes on.

"I'm not going to give up until I find one."

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