A SKETCH by a North-East artist who produced a major book for the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is to be auctioned for charity.

The sale comes just as an exhibition of the Queen Mother's private collection is due to close at the Bowes Museum, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

James Alder, who died in June, aged 86, came to produce his book The Birds and Flowers of the Castle of Mey and Balmoral for the Queen Mother through a locally-produced quilt, now in the collection of the museum.

John Anderson, picture specialist at Newcastle auctioneers Anderson and Garland, said: "James was evidently sitting at home one evening when he had a call from a group of ladies asking him if he would contribute a drawing of a dipper to the design of a quilt they were planning to make to raise funds for the Northumbria Historic Churches Trust.

"In the event, he was drawn into much of the design of the quilt, and even its later promotion as a print to help raise more funds.

"And, as a final gesture, he offered to commemorate the creation of the quilt by producing a book, not only detailing its design, but featuring the names of its creators, and those who bought the print."

He added: "One important feature of the book, however, was the signature of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, which had been incorporated in the quilt's design. And the only way to get it was for James to visit the Queen Mother at St James's Palace.

"Commendably reticent about this meeting with the Queen Mother, except to say that she liked his work in the book, it was undoubtedly this meeting which led to his work on The Birds and Flowers of the Castle of Mey and Balmoral."

An original sketch for the book and a complete set of framed colour illustrations from it are to go under the hammer in a fine art sale in Newcastle on September 4, also in aid of the Northumbria Historic Churches Trust.

The sums raised by the sketch will help the trust's work to restore churches throughout Old Durham as part of its regional commitment.

Its work in recent years has helped to restore St Brandon's in Brancepeth, following a fire, St John's, Seaburn and St Hilda's, South Shields.

For more details about the sale, call 0191-430-3000.

A memorial service for Mr Alder will be held at St Ann's Church, Byker, Newcastle, at noon on Wednesday, September 19. The church has received substantial financial help from the trust, and Mr Alder had taken special interest in fundraising for it preservation because of its close proximity to his birthplace.