Roberts Cash in the Attic

Welcome to Cash In The Attic, the show that unearths all those hidden treasures

around your home and then sells them for you at auction.

I'm in South London and don't be fooled by the sunshine, it's chilly.

I've come to have a look - and only a look - at one of the famous local attractions.

The Tooting Bec lido is one of the oldest open air pools in Britain

and it's also now home to the South London swimming club.

They have exclusive use during the winter months and I have to say

they are more than incredibly brave in these kind of temperatures.

I do hope that all of the bidders really take the plunge

when the items go under the hammer at auction.

Coming up on Cash in the Attic, our Jonty has stars in his eyes with some of today's finds.

It's worth, to me, a LOT of money, this.

Our seller is over the moon about Jonty's valuations.

-That's great.

-Yeah.

-Much better than sitting in the cupboard doing nothing for years.

And when we go to auction, which of our treasures will be manna from heaven?

-Good.

-Very good.

-Great.

Find out more when today's collectibles head for auction.

I'm on my way to meet two ladies

who have an incredibly moving story to tell.

A story that will both surprise you

and shock you.

But they've called in the Cash In The Attic team

to help them make a day out for family and friends to remember.

Celine Roberts has survived a traumatic upbringing in Ireland

and indeed has written a book about her ordeal.

Now retired from a job in nursing she's married and has one son and a granddaughter.

She wants to move nearer her family so her house needs de-cluttering

and she's asked her friend Mary and the Cash In The Attic team for help.

-Jonty...

-Morning.

-you let me down badly. I'm so disappointed.

-What have I done?

-I thought I'd see you in that pool this morning.

The sight of me in swimming trunks first thing in the morning, that'd be too much.

You've got three Irish women leching after you today.

-Mm, sounds interesting.

-I think I see a twinkle in your eye!

-Hi Celine.

-Hello.

-Thanks for allowing us to come to your house.

-Thank you.

-Mary, listen, you don't have to kneel when I come in.

You're allowed to get up. Tell me a bit about this special relationship between you two girls.

We met about two years ago at the London Irish survivors' group

in Camden which is a group that was set up for people who were in industrial schools in Ireland.

-We're not particularly familiar with what an industrial school is.

-Yes.

-But we're going to explore that in great detail...

-Yes.

..throughout the programme. Celine, why are you looking to de-clutter your house?

Partly because I want to move from here, closer to my son

because I look after my granddaughter on a Monday.

She stays with me every Sunday night.

So I'd like to be nearer to them when she starts school next September.

-Are you a bit of a collector, a hoarder?

-I am, I'm afraid,

cos we didn't have anything nice in our childhood and there's never anything pretty surrounding us,

so I tend to pick up bits that look nice more than functional at times.

We'll have to watch you at auction that you don't buy a whole lot back, never mind sell something.

That's true. I'll be very tempted.

And so what are you going to spend the money on?

I was saying earlier that it's a memorable day out, but what do you want to do?

We're planning to have a day out with our grandchildren and also

maybe if there's anything left over for us to have a bit of pampering.

How much do you think it's going to take to actually do all that?

If we get three to £400 it'd be good, yeah. Anything really.

-I was teasing Jonty, our expert, outside...

-Yeah.

I said he had three Irish women leching after him today so I think maybe

-we better go and do a bit of leching and searching and rummaging...

-Yes.

-..to find some good things to sell.

-Right.

-Let's see where he is.

So where is Jonty? He's not hiding from us, is he?

-Ah, hello.

-Jonty, the Irish have descended.

Trust you though, to start off with a punch bowl.

-Just what I would've expected of you.

-Is this a bowl that you use?

-Yes.

Yes, I use it quite a lot.

I haven't used it very much recently, but I used to make

a punch in it with brandy and white wine and orange juice.

-Where did it come from?

-I bought it from a lady in Ealing about 30 years ago.

-You're aware that it's silver plate rather than solid silver?

-Yes, I am, yes.

I wasn't aware when I bought it because I didn't know much about silver back then. But yes, I am.

Were you told its age at all?

I think the lady that sold it to me told me it was quite old,

but didn't say how old and I took it that it was probably antique.

-Was she fibbing?

-Well, she might have been stretching the truth somewhat because

I don't think it's any older than the Second World War, so it's no more than 60, 70 years old.

-Is it something that can go to the auction sale?

-Absolutely, yes.

We're talking at sale £40, £60, maybe £80, that kind of ballpark.

-Yes.

-And what did you pay for it originally?

-£80, originally.

-Did you?

-Right. It'd be quite nice if we could get your money back.

-It would be nice, but...

-We could try that.

At least it's a fair start today.

I know you've got lots of goodies, so let's go and find some more.

We're as pleased as punch with that first find.

As we seek out more collectibles Jonty's first to make the next find,

a nine carat gold topped umbrella,

worth between £30 and £40.

Mary is hot on Jonty's heels

with a mahogany-cased mantel clock

valued at around £40.

In the meantime,

Celine's been busy upstairs.

Jonty, what do you think of these?

Wow. I say. I like them, before we go any further,

-and unlike your punch bowl, these are silver.

-Mm-hm.

Solid silver tops. We've got these lovely hallmarks here.

-Yeah.

-That's going to make the dealers very interested.

It's an Edwardian dressing table set.

-Right.

-For a lady.

The whole concept of getting your creams and potions

in the Edwardian period would be that you would collect them,

when you bought them they would be in packets and sachets

and then you'd dispense them into these beautiful containers

that'd be permanently left on the lady's dressing table.

In the Edwardian period,

your dressing table, like many other facets of your life, was there

to show off and if you could afford it, your dressing table set all had to be silver topped, just like this.

Value-wise, ballpark £60 to £80.

Oh, that's great.

Much better than sitting in the cupboard doing nothing for years.

-Good. Let's sell them.

-Yes.

-OK?

-Absolutely.

-Let's carry on.

So leaving Jonty upstairs, we ladies take a short break.

Now I'm sure Celine and Mary have quite a tale to tell about their very difficult childhoods.

-In any Irish household, it's nice to sit down and have a cosy chat by the fire.

-Yes.

I know you've put your life story into book form

but I'd like to go over the area

where you went to industrial school.

Yes, I was five months old when I was taken from the home

where I was born which was in Blackrock in Cork.

When my mother was 19 years old she was unmarried when she got pregnant

with me and I was put into an industrial school in Limerick city.

How did the nuns treat the children in these industrial schools?

They were like prisons for children, really.

We had big grey walls, you didn't go outside of them.

Most of the day was structured. You got up at 6.00am,

you turned back your bed, went to Mass, you cleaned the dormitories

then you had breakfast which consisted of watery porridge.

How would you describe yourself today having written the book?

Amazingly, I feel stronger having written the book.

On the positive side I have a lovely little granddaughter,

Darcy, who's three and a half.

-I'm sure it's going to be very mending as well...

-Yeah.

-..for you to live close to her.

-Yes.

-So we have got to find all these items around your lovely house.

-Yes.

So that we can take them to auction and hopefully get enough money

-for this day out.

-A day out.

You girls deserve a pamper.

Celine and Mary's resilience in spite of the adversity they have faced is really humbling.

Raising £300 for a little pampering and a day out with the grandchildren

is the least we can do for them.

Helping us is this Italian red glass decanter and glasses

painted with Venetian scenes

and valued between £35 and £45.

While Celine and I search in one of the bedrooms,

I spot a very eye-catching vase.

-This is particularly beautiful.

-Yes.

-Oh, my goodness, it's gorgeous. Where did you get it from?

I bought it in Trinity Road

quite a long time ago in a little antique shop.

I have found what I think is a lovely piece. OK, I'm not the trained eye but...

That's lovely. This is proper Chinese blue and white

and believe it or not, the earliest ever discovery of blue and white is Chinese back to the ninth century.

-Wow.

-Which is amazing.

-Mm-hm.

-Is this your proper Chinese stuff?

-It's proper Chinese stuff.

-And it's all hand decorated.

-Wow.

-But in the late 19th Century, shiploads came over to this part of

the world and all of a sudden people could afford it, it was affordable.

-But as a consequence, a lot of it's around.

-Mm-hm.

It's not going to fetch a huge amount of money at auction.

-I'm disappointed.

-It's hugely disappointing.

I'm biting my nails wanting you to say how much it's worth.

Yes. If you were to place this into the auction sale you're looking at £60, £80, maybe £100.

Because it's, because of the size...

-Right.

-It's worth it. But if it was smaller, almost next to nothing.

So are you going to put it up for auction?

I'd like to still think about it.

It is a beautiful piece and I have loved it for a long time,

you know, since I got it.

-So I need to think about it a bit longer.

-Not 100% sure yet.

-Not 100% sure yet.

-All right.

-I'll pop that down.

-I'll be off into the next room.

-It looks very nice on that cabinet.

-It does actually.

-It's beautiful.

Yes, I like it there.

Onwards and upwards.

We just have to wait and see if de-cluttering wins out

over Celine's understandable attachment to this lovely piece.

Our hunt continues and Jonty digs out this mahogany coal scuttle

with floral brass decoration.

Let's hope it heats up the auction room and raises between £30 and £50.

Mary find this unusual brass-top glass inkwell

which was given to Celine years ago.

It's now worth between £30 and £40.

We're not doing too badly. But the £300 target is still some way off.

I wonder how much Celine's next find will add to our kitty.

Jonty, could you have a look at these, please?

Oh, a set of spoons here.

They're from Canada, or they were about Canada.

Having a look here we've got the ten provinces of Canada here and we've got two spoons here.

This is interesting, 1867 to 1967.

-Right.

-In 1867 was really the birth of modern day Canada.

-Oh, right.

-It was an act called the British North American Act.

-Oh, right.

Which brought together all those ten provinces of Canada into what, of course, we now call Canada.

-Canada, yeah.

-Very nice to see they haven't been cleaned. True to form.

-Yes.

-But that's absolutely fab because these will be silver plated.

-Right, OK.

-That's what these are, silver plated spoons.

As a whole collection here, that's very good news indeed.

-OK.

-Value-wise we could be making a bit of a stir. £40 to £60.

-Great.

-Oh, great. Fantastic.

-Happy about that?

-Yes, absolutely.

-Excellent, girls. Follow me - we've got more work to do yet.

-Right.

-OK.

They've been sitting in a drawer for over 20 years

since we brought them back from Canada in 1981.

It'd be nice if Mary and I could enjoy a day out with the proceeds.

Well, Celine seems to be in the mood for clearing out her cutlery

and remembers a case set of hallmarked silver knives.

She's happy to sell them for £30 to £40.

What we need are some forks to complete the set,

but Celine has other plans. Now where is our antique hunter?

-Where did this come from?

-I'm not quite sure where I got this really.

I have a funny feeling somebody gave it to me a long time ago.

-OK.

-I don't remember buying it.

-Yes.

-So it must have come from somebody.

-And that's not you?

-No,

although I have used it at Christmas time.

-What causes those marks?

-Crazing inside the kiln.

-Ah.

-Oh, right.

-This plate is dated between 1825 and 1830.

-My goodness.

It's that old.

But I tell why it's so interesting to me - because this house here is three miles away from where I live.

-My goodness.

-You're not being serious?

-I'm serious.

-So what would they have done? Taken maybe a scene

inspired by China and put an English house on the corner?

Well, this is inspired by the Chinese blue and white,

but this is the English interpretation.

So all of a sudden you have English designs, English patterns.

You don't see the Oriental scene -

you see the tranquil country English scenes with the English house, the English church,

the thatched roof and down below we've got the gentleman fishing,

what looks like fishing, on the lake.

Wonderful thing. Ballpark I suppose, anything between 50, maybe £100.

-Very good.

-Very nice.

-How cool would that be, if it got £100?

-How about that?

-That's great.

-What d'you think, Mary?

-Good result.

-Isn't it?

-Absolutely.

-I'm sure you're anxious to know exactly how much

you've raised because you wanted £300 or £400 to have that fabulous day out with your grandchildren.

About my person - I didn't want you to see this, by the way.

As we were washing the dishes I've written it all down.

So without the blue and white urn upstairs in the bedroom,

you have the grand total of £385.

-Well, fantastic.

-Wow.

-And...

-We'll definitely be able to take them all out.

-You will. You'll have a great day for that. And if you decide to put the vase in the auction...

-Yes?

-You will have the grand total of £445.

-We'll have to put it in, Mary.

-Oh, we'll have to.

-Yes.

I think a bit of a massage and a facial and something spoiling for that.

Something relaxing, that could be.

-Are you pleased with that?

-Absolutely.

-Very. Never expected it.

It's very exciting because it's going to be really exciting at the auction.

-Thanks very much.

-Thanks for having us.

-We love you girls, we really do.

Thanks for coming.

A very happy note to end a good day's rummage.

Here are just a few of Celine's treasures soon heading to auction.

This silver plated and copper punch bowl has been valued at £60.

Hopefully someone will take a punt on the Venetian decanter

and glasses with at least £35.

The magnificent oval serving plate

depicting Jonty's local landmark Newnham House.

Made in 1825, it's now worth £50 to £100.

And if Celine can bear to part with it, the blue and white oriental vase

worth between £60 and £80.

Still to come on Cash In The Attic, once we get to the sale room, what will raise the cheers?

Oh, yay!

-Brilliant.

-Give us a hug.

-And what will cause the jeers?

-I give up.

-I'll start crying.

Don't cry.

It's all to come when Celine's collectibles go under the hammer.

It's been several weeks now since we helped two amazing ladies, Celine Roberts and her friend Mary,

to search Celine's house for treasures and collectibles

to go under the hammer here at Bonington's Auction House in Essex.

Remember that the two girls want to raise £300 to have a fabulous day out with their families,

so let's hope that all their items have an equally fabulous day out when they go under the hammer.

But where's our Jonty?

He's not train spotting, is he?

Every boy should have a train set. You're just loving that, aren't you?

You caught me red-handed.

We're going to meet these special girls, Celine and Mary.

-They're fabulous women.

-An incredible story.

How do you think all their items will fare today?

I don't know that anything will go through the roof,

but there are certain things that I think will do well.

I think the punch bowl is just fun and decorative and the plate,

that's a nice quality thing, that's almost 200 years old.

I just want everything to be sold so they can have a fun day out.

I know. They're just such nice women.

-Shall we go and say hello?

-Yeah, let's go.

-OK. This way.

I think it's the first time any of our sellers have come to the auction by boat.

-Mary and Celine, good morning.

-There you are. Hi there.

-Hello.

-I hear you came by ferry today?

-We did, on the Woolwich ferry.

-At least that's a different way of getting to an auction.

-A new way.

-I see you brought the ginger jar.

-I did.

-Yes. Very good.

-Have you girls been to auctions before?

-No.

-No never. Never.

-Never ever?

-Your first time.

-First time.

-Gosh.

-How are you feeling about it?

-It's exciting.

-Exciting.

Well, your very first auction is about to begin, so I think we should go and get in position.

-Do you want to follow me?

-Yes.

It's great news that Celine has decided to de-clutter with gusto.

Her oriental vase should hopefully add another £60 to our kitty.

If you feel spurred into going into an auction, remember you will be charged commission.

It's best to check these details and other charges with your local auction room first.

As the sale gets underway, let's raise a glass to our first lot.

Lot 109

is the silver plated punch bowl set.

Well, it looks very attractive, doesn't it?

I'm hoping that we're talking £40 to £60, maybe even more than that.

What shall we say for that? 60 for that?

Start me at 50, then.

-Yes.

-£40 if you like. I'm bid. Looking for two.

-Come on.

-40 I'm bid, 42. 44. 46.

-Yes.

Looks like they'll go for it now.

Five. 60.

-Five.

-That's good.

-Bid's here at £60. Looking for five.

£60 I'm bid. Looking for five.

I'm selling it at £60.

Are you all done now at £60, then?

-That's more like it.

-Hey.

-That's more like it.

That's more like it.

I'll say cheers to that.

A fabulous start and Celine certainly seems happy with that.

Will our next item find favour with the bidders?

I'm hoping for a result on this one. This is the lady's vanity set, so I'm looking for £60. Here it comes.

-Here it comes.

-60 for those.

Start me at 50, then.

40 if you like. 40 I'm bid.

Looking for two.

42. 44. 46.

48. 50. Five.

50, 60. Five.

70?

65's the bid and I'm selling at £65.

Are you all done at £65?

Yes. That was splendid.

Pleased with that, aren't we?

-Pleased with that.

-Drunk with excitement, she is.

-Yes!

-Just two lots sold, but Celine's already delighted.

Let's hope our good luck holds out if we're to make the £300 we need to give Celine and Mary a great day

of pampering plus, of course, a day out with the grandchildren.

We do manage to sell our next item, the set of six silver knives.

I'm selling them at 25.

Are you all done at £25?

For only a fiver under estimate. £50 is the price Jonty put

on the next item, the serving dish dating back to 1825.

Our antique hunter has high hopes because it depicts Newnham House,

his local beauty spot.

Bids on commission start with me at 25, 30, 35, 40, £45.

I'm looking for 50 in the room.

45 on my commissions, looking for 50.

I'm selling at 45.

Are you all done at 45, then?

-Great. That's great.

-I love it.

Celine and Mary are very pleased to see the back of that plate.

Though Jonty's looking envious of the winning bidder.

Still, £45 is very welcome.

Let's hope it's a red letter day for the glass inkwell,

valued between £30 and £40.

Are you all done at £20, then?

A little under estimate,

but Celine's still pleased it found a buyer.

Now for the item Celine almost didn't bring along.

Lot 10 is the 19th Century Chinese vase.

-How much did you pay for it?

-I think I paid about £20, probably not any more.

And what are we hoping to get for it today, Jonty?

Oh, we want more, much more than that.

If we can get £60, we'll be very happy.

Starting at £50 for this one.

Start me at 40, then.

£40.

30 if you like.

Is there £20 anywhere?

No-one wants it, no?

20 I'm bid, looking for two.

20 I'm bid, looking for two.

I shall sell it at £20. Are you all done at £20, then?

Oh, Celine.

It sold for exactly the price you bought it for.

Oh, calamity. It really should have sold for more.

I can't help thinking that Celine should have actually kept it.

That's auctions for you. Some you win, some you lose.

Halfway through the sale and with any luck, our next item will strike the right note.

163 is the mahogany case mantel clock.

Is it worth much, do you think?

We're looking for £40, that kind of ballpark.

-We'll be very happy if we can get that kind of figure.

-Yeah.

-OK?

And here it is.

40 for that.

£40.

Start me at 30, then.

Is there £20?

20 I'm bid. Looking for two.

22. 24.

26. 28.

30. 32.

32's the bid. Looking for 34.

Cheap little clock at £32.

-Is there 34 anywhere?

-Come on.

-34 now. New bidder.

36. 38, sir.

36 is the bid.

And I'm selling at £36.

Are you all done?

-Very good.

-Oh.

That was good, wasn't it?

Now that's more like it. Just under estimate.

Will our next lot also light someone's fire?

-Lot 57 is the mahogany coal box.

-And what did you pay for it?

-About £15.

-So Jonty, will we get more than the 15 today?

-I'm hoping we can double that today.

-At least.

30 for that. £30.

Start me at 20, then.

£20, surely? 20 I'm bid.

Looking for two.

I'm selling it at £20.

Are you all done at £20 only? Are you all done?

It'd be worth more money if there was coal in it, you see.

Mm. Disappointing, but it was a sale nonetheless

and has cleared a little more room in Celine's home.

With three lots left, we're really counting on our next item raising a cheer.

£35 actually, would be better still.

244 is the Venetian glass decanter and glasses with painted scenes.

30 for those.

Start me at 20 then.

10 if you like.

No-one wants them.

-No.

-Oh.

How pathetic is that?

-I can't believe that.

-I know.

-How pathetic!

What a pity no-one went for this eye catching, if incomplete,

set of glasses and decanter.

Let's hope we do better with our penultimate item,

the set of 12 silver plated spoons that Celine bought in Canada.

They're worth between £40 and £60.

30 for those.

-Start me at £20.

-Please.

No-one at 20? Ten if you like.

Ten I'm bid. Looking for 12.

I'm selling at £10.

Are you all done at £10?

I give up. I just give up.

Shocking. That's less than £1 per spoon.

What's wrong with the bidders today?

We've got all our fingers crossed

that the final item doesn't dampen our spirits completely.

We're looking for at least £30.

With the weather we've been having in the last few years,

I'm surprised you're selling your umbrella. Where did you get it?

I think a friend gave it to me in London.

Not that long ago, I think. Just a few years ago.

I hope the friend's not watching cos you're going to get rid of it now!

Nice little lot this one and bids on the books start with me at £25.

I'm looking for 30 in the room.

Straight in £25. That's good.

I've got two. 38. 40 with you, madam.

Is there two anywhere? £40 and selling.

Are you all done at £40?

That's brilliant.

Yay!

Give us a hug, love. Marvellous.

Thankfully a great sale

and I hope it makes all the difference when it comes to

the day's final reckoning.

-Originally, how much were we looking for?

-300.

£300 to have this great day out.

-The good news is...

-How've they done?

..that you have got...£341.

-Oh!

-Thank you very much.

-We wish you both well and have the most wonderful day out with your children.

-Great. Yes, fantastic.

Celine's raised enough money at auction for a day's luxury pampering for her and Mary.

But before that, Celine invites her family out on a very different kind of treat.

We're here today at Godstone Farm for a family day out with my granddaughter Darcy

and my son Anthony and we're hoping to have a lovely day.

What a lovely, lovely scene.

And of course, family is extremely important to Celine.

So the plan to move closer to her son is not only good news for her, but also for little Darcy,

who'll be able to spend plenty of gorgeous days like this with her grandma.

I love coming out with the family and hopefully we'll have a lot more family days in the future.

If you'd like to join us here on Cash in the Attic,

if you think you've got some treasures and valuables hidden around your home and you'd like us

to come and sort it all out and, of course, bring it to auction then all you have to do is fill in the form.

You'll find it on the website:

Go on, fill in that form and I'll see you on Cash In The Attic.

Until then, good luck.

For more information about Cash In The Attic,

including how the programme was made,

visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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