Academy-award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow was among a host of stars who donated items for auction at an annual RNLI Pub Quiz, organised for RNLI SOS Day, the charity’s largest fundraising day. 

The quiz, which takes place each year at The Duke of York pub in Borough Road, Southwark, raised a whopping £5,460 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the lifesaving charity that has been operating a search and rescue service on the River Thames since 2002. 

Gwyneth, much loved star of films such as Emma and the Ironman films, donated a signed copy of her cookbook, Notes from My Kitchen Table, to accompany a signed copy of Shakespeare in Love, the film which won her an Oscar. 

Among the other rare items participants bid for were signed albums from Gwyneth’s husband, Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin, and tickets to see the filming of an episode of Graham Norton’s chat show, followed by drinks with him after the show. Acting legend Sir Ian McKellan donated something from his latest career move; dinner at ‘The Grapes’ pub in Limehouse, an establishment he has recently purchased. 

Quiz organiser, Paul Cullen, who works for the RNLI said: 

‘Each year we are incredibly fortunate to receive the support of a huge number of celebrities and top names from stage and screen. We are massively grateful to those people who donate items such as these as they always help us to raise a fantastic amount to help our crew members save lives. We’re also indebted to a number of local companies such as Thames RIB Experience, Bateaux and Target Live, who also contribute substantial prizes to the night, not forgetting our wonderful hostess, Lorraine Hart, and her team at The Duke.’ 

The figure of £5460.00 surpasses previous fundraising evenings at the quiz and it is hope that this upward trend will continue in 2013!

For more information please contact Tim Ash, Divisional Media Relations Manager (South East and London) on 0207 6207426 or 07785 296252, email tim_ash@rnli.org.uk or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789