PAUL MCCARTNEY-SIGNED BOOK RAISES £950 FOR OXFAM

A copy of Paul McCartney In His Own Words, inscribed by Sir Paul McCartney, sold at auction for £950 after being donated to an Oxfam shop in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. The book, a collection of interviews with the Beatles star, arrived as part of a wider donation of 1970s memorabilia. The shop's manager, Joan Randle, discovered the signature whilst preparing items for a window display after the book had remained on the shelf for several months. The sale raised funds for the charity, though Oxfam staff have been unable to locate the original donor.

The inscription, written in black ballpoint pen on the inside front cover, reads "All the best! to ye!" Randle described the moment of discovery as one of the best experiences during her ten years working at the shop. She had set aside time to sort through the memorabilia collection and found the signed copy amongst the final items she examined. The book subsequently went to auction with Bonhams, where it achieved the sale price.

The Beatles, formed in the late 1950s from John Lennon's earlier group the Quarrymen, went on to release their first UK number one single, From Me To You, in 1963. The band, which included George Harrison on guitar and Ringo Starr on drums, achieved significant commercial success during the following years. Memorabilia associated with the group continues to attract collector interest and achieve notable prices at auction.