A BOTTLE of vintage Hereford cider dating back half a century will go under the hammer for charity next month.

The Bulmers Pomagne dates back to 1968 and has been donated to St Michael’s Hospice by Hereford resident Bob Benjamin along with a 1971 edition of the same drink.

Bob has donated the bottles to the Bartestree-based hospice as a thank you to staff who looked after his brother, Dave Benjamin, who died almost four years ago.

Bob said: “I’m happy to give these items to St Michael’s. The Hospice looked after Dave so well.”

Bob won the vintage tipple in a motorcycle scramble race, while the 1971 label was bought by Bob with his first week’s wages from Bulmers where he worked until his recent retirement.

Pomagne was a brand of cider produced by the city-based drinks giant which used to market the tipple as ‘Champagne Cider’.

The bottles will be auctioned during the Hospice’s Big Quiz of the Year at Hereford Shirehall on Thursday, 6th December.

Both were bottled at Hereford’s Bulmers site off Whitecross Road.

Bob’s daughter, Vicki Edwards, also has a close connection to St Michael’s having volunteered at the charity’s Bromyard shop on Broad Street for many years.

Last March, Hereford resident Alice Price donated her bottle of 1973 Bulmers ‘Champagne’ Pomagne for St Michael’s, which sold for an impressive £750.

Ruth Denison, St Michael’s Income Generation & Marketing Director, said: “I’d like to thank Bob for this very thoughtful gift. Hopefully, the bottles will raise lots of money on the night”

St Michael’s has teamed up with Lloyds Bank for The Big Quiz of the Year.

To book your place, visit st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/bigquiz2018