Rotary Shop presents Stanhope Forbes ‘playing card’ to Penlee House Gallery & Museum.

A Remarkable Bequest to the Rotary Shop Penzance

The team of volunteers at the Rotary Shop Penzance received a call informing them that a regular visitor to the shop, Michaela Holden (84), had passed away and that she had bequeathed the greater part of the contents of her large two-bedroom Penzance flat to the Rotary Shop.

Michaela Holden and her husband Allen moved to Bosavern Farm, St Just, at the start of the 1990s. Allen Holden had been radio station manager at BBC Radio Manchester and later BBC Radio London, and in 1992 became a director of Pirate FM.

In 2005, following the death of her husband, Michaela moved into Penzance, purchasing a newly built flat overlooking the sea. She became a regular attendee at local auctions and at charity shops — including the Rotary Shop after it opened in 2014. Over the years she amassed a huge collection of small antiques and vintage items including silver, jewellery, treen, studio pottery, glassware, books and more.

The challenge of emptying Michaela’s flat was a huge one for the charity’s volunteers, so local auctioneer — and now Rotarian — Barbara Kirk was invited to assess the contents. More than 350 collectables were identified for auction, and numerous carloads of other items were transported to the Rotary Shop for sale. Barbara’s offer to sell the items without charging commission proved invaluable, and Rotary has expressed immense gratitude for her support.

When asked to comment, Barbara said: “I knew Micky (Michaela) for over 20 years. She was an avid collector of antiques, art and crafts. She loved nothing more than browsing an auction or a charity shop! She was kind and generous to all her friends, always thinking of those who were less fortunate than she was. We all miss her greatly.”

Mrs Holden was especially aware that the funds raised by the Rotary Shop are used exclusively to support local causes and to benefit local families.

Amongst the thousands of items in her collection, one stood out: a small hand‑made playing card by Stanhope Forbes. The trustees of the Rotary Shop agreed it would be a fitting tribute to Michaela’s generosity for the card to be given a permanent home at Penlee House Gallery & Museum.

The card depicts the King of Clubs on one side and carries a handwritten message on the reverse, signed by Stanhope Forbes. Sent to Mr Millett of Bellevue, Newlyn, the message politely declines an invitation — likely to an evening of card playing. It reads: “Dear Mr Millett. Regret that I cannot accept your invitation for tomorrow night being engaged over here. Yours sincerely Stanhope Forbes.”

In total, over £30,000 was raised from Michaela’s bequest. The funds have been distributed to local food banks, community welfare groups, and — via local schools — to families experiencing severe hardship.