Queen Mother's note to "Backstairs Billy" makes £16,000

9:55pm Saturday 5th July 2008

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A LETTER from the Queen Mother instructing one of her servants to pack some Dubonnet and gin, "in case it is needed", fetched £16,000 at auction today.

The personal note written to William Tallon - affectionately known as Backstairs Billy for his role as Page of the Backstairs - went under the hammer along with hundreds of other mementoes from the monarchy.

The auction, run by Reeman Dansie in the unlikely setting of an industrial estate in Colchester, Essex, was being held following Mr Tallon's death last November.

Many of the items listed early in the sale, including Christmas cards from the Queen Mother to Mr Tallon, who was born in Birtley, COunty Durham, were snapped up by bidders in a packed auction room at about £60 each.

But when it came to the most sought after pieces, they could not compete with those following proceedings via the internet or telephone.

The most frenzied bidding in the early part of the sale, centred around the fascinating hand-written note from the Queen Mother to Mr Tallon.

It listed instructions including: "I think that I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed."

The note continued: "It is a beautiful day, could we have lunch under the tree - one could have fourteen at the table and four at a small table."

Bidding for the letter, which had been expected to fetch £200 to £300, started at £1,100, drawing gasps from the audience of about 400.

But by the time telephone bidding war had reached £16,000, spontaneous applause broke out.

Tallon joined the Royal Household in 1951, aged 15, and over the following 51 years of service worked his way up to become the Queen Mother's Steward and the Page of the Backstairs.

The royal aide and his lifelong partner Reginald Wilcock, who was the under butler, were devoted to the senior royal who had a special affection for them.