Brereton Cash in the Attic

Hello and welcome to Cash In The Attic,

the show that finds treasures in your home and that helps you sell them at auction.

No, I haven't come to Africa for today's show. I'm in North London

and this of course is one of the capital's most famous attractions - London Zoo.

I'll tell you what, I think these guys could look around an attic or two without any trouble at all!

Opened in 1828, London Zoo, or the Zoological Society of London, to give it its proper name,

is the public face of the world's oldest zoological society.

As well as being one of the capital's main tourist attractions, it's also a global leader

in conservation, playing a key role in the breeding and reintroduction of endangered species.

Today it houses at least 700 types of animal.

There is an incredible array of primates, big cats, reptiles

and of course everyone's favourite flightless bird, the penguin.

They're great, aren't they, and I could stay here all day there's so much to see and do,

but we've got work ahead and we'd better get cracking

if we're going to find those antiques and collectables.

Today on "Cash in the Attic" there's a case of mistaken identity...

My father got the zodiac sign wrong.

He thought he was buying the star sign for Leo but he bought the bull instead!

And Jonty's making himself at home.

Now, what I'm looking for is my slippers.

-Ah, slippers!

-You haven't seen them anywhere, have you?

-No!

But there are troublesome times ahead at auction...

-I feel gutted.

-So do I.

-Oh, dear!

So will there be a happy ending?

Find out when the final hammer falls.

Well, I've torn myself away from the zoo now

and come a couple of miles down the road to Primrose Hill

to meet someone who, as it happens, is a real animal lover herself.

She's called in the Cash in the Attic team

to raise money for a cause she's incredibly passionate about.

This basement flat in one of London's most fashionable areas

has, for more than 30 years, been home to Janet Brereton.

Raised in a family of animal lovers, Janet's certainly inherited the trait, her great passion being cats

and there's no doubt it's 13-year-old feline Ashley who rules the roost in this home.

With friend and neighbour Joanna, from Northern Iraq, Janet's always on the look-out

for ways to raise money for her favourite animal charity and has called in the Cash team

to give her a helping hand.

-Good morning!

-Jennie, how are you?

-I'm good. This is posh, isn't it?

I know. We're kind of like in the posh end of town, home of Jude Law, Jamie Oliver.

-Are we at Jude Law's house?

-No, sadly not. I've been looking around.

I was really hoping I would run into Jude Law, but no, we're not!

But I hear you've been to London Zoo?

It was great, you know. It was absolutely lovely. I saw giraffes and wallabies and emus, great time!

Well, I promise you today, no stone will be left unturned and I'll check everything that's lying around!

Oh, Jonty, that's disgusting! Get in there, get in there!

-I hope you're not going to be like this all day!

-Oh, yes, I will!

Good morning, ladies.

-Hello, Jennie.

-Who's who? Janet?

I'm Janet and this is Joanna.

-Hi, I'm Joanna.

-Joanna lives upstairs.

-I see. That's brilliant! You're here to help us today?

-Yes, I'd like to.

She'd better!

Now, Janet, you called us in, didn't you? Tell me why?

I'm trying to raise some money for my struggling little animal charity.

Are you a patron of it or something?

No, I'm just the fundraiser and I put on all different events

to try and make money for a very tiny outfit that's struggling.

How much money, then, do you think we might be able to raise?

Golly, I don't know. I mean I would be thrilled if we made £1,000, I really would.

It's more than I can make in a jumble sale.

So have you got lots of bits and pieces around the flat?

-There's lots of bits and pieces!

-Are you a collector?

No, not really, but I just want to sell the items and try and make a bit of cash.

All right, well, £1,000 for a great cause there. Let's get going.

Come on, no time for gardening!

Janet's home might be compact but when it comes to antiques, it's pretty perfectly formed.

Which is lucky, as we've a big target to reach if Janet is to help her animal charity.

Fortunately, our perfectly-formed antiques expert, Jonty Hearndon, is on hand to help

and he's already dug up something which could well be the start we need.

-What have you got there?

-A-ha, look what I've found!

-Hey, you've struck gold!

-Absolutely! I've got this mounted gold sovereign in what looks like to be a necklace.

-It's yours, is it?

-No, it's not mine.

It was from my friend, Win, who died, so I know she'd like this

to be auctioned and money to go to the animals.

Sovereigns were first introduced in this country in 1489 and they've never stopped being in circulation.

Now, they were called "sovereigns"

because you had a face of the monarch on one side

-and they had this majestic feel and initially a sovereign was worth one pound.

-Wow!

But that then changed.

-Yes, yes.

-And initially when Henry VII introduced sovereigns,

-the actual purity was 23 carats.

-Wow!

Woo! That's serious stuff.

-Henry VIII then changed that to 22 carats.

-Oh, he would, yeah!

Yes, of course he would and now, today, sovereigns are still 22-carat gold.

-Yes.

-Are they?

-You learn something every day.

Well, value, I think we're looking at around £100 just for this.

That is very good!

All right, that's how good gold is!

-That's amazing!

-That's a fantastic start!

That is good, that really is!

Well done! Let's go and find more.

-Only another 900.

-OK.

Well, £100 really is a fabulous start and our first step towards that target of £1,000.

We're obviously in the home of an animal lover, with this wonderful array of figures

and while Joanna is searching through them,

I strike it lucky in this drawer, when I come across a couple of gold bangles.

Jonty thinks they'll bring in an incredible £140 to £160

as a single lot.

Janet finds Jonty in the living room with something she's very keen for him to value.

Jonty, look what I've found!

-What have you got?

-Have a look.

-Lovely leather case.

-Yes.

Oh!

A collection of pipes but also you've got cigarette holders in here as well.

-That's right.

-I'm assuming these are not yours?

Oh, no, no, no.

These belong to...or they did belong to, a man who lives locally,

he's a friend, they give me things to sell for the animals, so this is just one of the things being donated.

Well, once upon a time this set would have been a very expensive set,

because if you look at these four chimney pieces here, you look at the silver mounting here,

it's not plated silver, they're solid silver because they're all hallmarked.

-Good.

-That's really good news.

-That's what we like to hear!

-Yeah, that's very nice

and again you've got this lovely I suppose almost crocodile case, so that's very, very good quality.

Now, date-wise we're looking at a set here that would have been probably made around the 1930s.

You can tell that by the sort of stylisation of the pipes, in an angular form,

so around that time Art Deco was very much in,

-so cleaner lines, so this is what we're looking at here.

-Good.

So from a collecting point of view, if you think about it,

smoking pipes like this is not necessarily a growth area,

it's diminishing in interest so we can't put a very high value on this

and also we have this cheroot holder that is damaged, which is a pity really

because I think it's presented so well, so value at auction sort of £40, £70,

that sort of ball park.

-That's good.

-Is that all right?

-Yes!

-Jolly good!

-Why not!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

-What I'm looking for is my slippers. You haven't seen them.

-No!

-I'll tell you what, we'll carry on.

-All right.

The pipe set is another good find and the £40 it should bring in

takes our total to an impressive £280.

Not bad after only such a short time rummaging, and when Jonty spots these two vases,

which should rake in another £20 for the pair,

we're really motoring towards that target.

With Jonty on fire with the finds, I sneak out into stylish Primrose Hill

with Janet to find out a little more about her animal charity.

-Well, cheers!

-Cheers!

Isn't it nice! We've escaped just for a little while,

leave Jonty and Joanna, they'll be all right.

-Yes, yes.

-I think so, yeah.

So tell me a bit more about the animals at the rescue centre?

There's a wide variety from large animals like the pig who was found as a piglet on the motorway,

the piglet is now this big.

-What was a pig, or a piglet, doing in the road?

-We don't know.

She must have escaped somewhere but it was all advertised,

but nobody claimed her, so now she's Jessica and she's the front of house attraction.

-Oh, really! Who else have we got then?

-A goat, meerkats, a monkey.

The monkey is a dear little thing.

It came from a pet shop that was closing down and she wasn't wanted any more.

So which is your favourite animal?

My favourite animal? No, I like them all, really.

One of the cats I like, Nero. He's gorgeous.

You struck me actually as quite an arty sort of person.

You're very dramatic.

Are you in drama in any way or have you been?

We've been organising cabarets locally, yes, so very much involved.

We've raised quite a bit of money for the charity.

-For the animals again?

-Oh, yes, yes, yes, absolutely, yes.

I'll tell you what, it would be nice to stay here all day,

but I'm feeling a bit guilty.

We'd better get back, come on.

Much more rummaging to do.

Thankfully, while we've been gassing, back at the flat, the rummaging has gone on unabated.

As I rejoin the search, checking out the glassware in the kitchen,

Joanna sets her sights on this collection of Poole Pottery.

With its fetching floral designs,

Jonty thinks someone will be happy to part with £40 to £60.

In the bedroom our expert is sifting through old boxes,

hoping to unearth some treasures, but he might just have been beaten to it by Joanna!

Jonty, look what I've found.

That belongs to Janet's friend. She will want you to see it.

OK. Now, this is a lady's watch but it's not a pocket watch or a wrist watch.

This is more like a brooch so the whole point is that it would be worn,

-look there we go, can you see, just like that.

-Yes.

That was the whole point

and the reason why it's called a "lady's" watch

rather than a gent's is because ladies' watches

always tend to be a lot smaller.

If you look at the back, all this design work here is inspired from the 19th century,

but a watch like this would have been made more like 100 years ago so this is probably Edwardian.

If we open up the back, isn't that lovely?

So, hallmarked, so this watch is silver and these two holes here

are where you wind the watch up, but if you look at the front, can you see?

Look at all of that. All of that is enamelled

and the ring round the outside is what is known as "engine turning."

What sort of value would you put on this?

It would probably cost about £100?

Well, I have to say that at auction, I would have to half that,

so we're talking around the £50 mark

so the estimate in the catalogue would read something like £45 to £75, that sort of...

-That's very good.

-It's good, but this is so beautiful it's worth a lot more than that.

Who says antiques are expensive?

-Yes.

-Good find, so thank you very much for showing me that.

-Thank you very much.

-I'm going to give that back to you for safe-keeping.

-Yes.

-All right?

-Yes, thank you.

-Excellent, so let's carry on through there.

So it's another £45 in the pot as we continue to scour for items

that will help us raise the £1,000 we need to help the animals.

Jonty is not sure this jug will be much use to us,

but when it comes to this paste-set pendant in a silver mount,

together with a pair of matching earrings, it's a different story altogether.

Janet was given the set by a friend

and at £120 to £140 it's just the sort of find we need.

And it looks as if she might be able to add even more with her latest gold find.

-Hi, Jonty.

-Hi, there. What have you got?

I've got a gold ingot.

Wow!

10 grammes! Where is this from?

This is from an old flame of mine who bought it for me some years ago, about 20 years ago, I've had it.

He bought it for me for a rainy day.

Well, I think the rainy day is today, so I'd like it to go to auction.

So it says here that this is from the Habib Bank so this little chip here would have been issued

by the bank, but this is not currency. This is just a sliver of gold.

In fact, it says on the back here 10 grammes of gold and this is the purest gold.

I don't know whether you can see this. It says "999.9"

which means that this is pure gold, 24-carat gold.

-Wonderful!

-Right?

-Yes.

And I think the reason why people covet it so much

is because it's a metal that can be handled so easily, it can be made into all sorts of different shapes

and it's pliable enough when it's heated up to the right temperature, obviously.

Well, I'm going to give that back to you because that needs to be safely kept.

We can put that into the auction sale so the auction estimate for that will be £100 to £150.

Really! As much as that? Great! That's wonderful!

-You had a very generous boyfriend!

-Absolutely!

-Good. Safe keeping for that, down the corridor.

-I will, good.

10 grammes of pure gold is valuable loot indeed

and while it may not be quite a rainy day,

if it can raise £100 for the animals,

it's a contribution worth making.

Elsewhere, a rummage through an old storage stool turns up more quality items,

including this lovely 9-carat gold wristwatch.

Produced by Winegarton's,

a London jeweller renowned for its quality watches,

it should fetch £60 to £80.

With the rummage going so swimmingly,

I take the opportunity to have some time out with the ladies and have a peek at Joanna's flat upstairs.

So, ladies, this is nice, isn't it?

We've come up to see where you live, so we're on top of your flat now?

-Yes.

-And this is your home for how many years, Joanna?

My flat has been here for ten years.

So you've been friends, I suppose, for... How did you meet?

Well, when Joanna moved in, I had a migraine and I was taken to my bed

and Joanna was busy painting and had her window open,

making quite a noise with her radio,

so I had to call and say to her, "Please, will you turn the music down"

But you were just happy, happy, happy?

Yes, I was really, really happy because I didn't expect to have a flat in this area,

-and have a good friend like her.

-So part of your friendship

with Janet is helping her with the charity, I gather?

Oh, yes, yes. You've been known to sell raffle tickets, haven't you?

-Raffle tickets...

-And you help at jumble sales.

Raffle tickets and jumble sales. Plants. Cabaret.

Doesn't mind getting her hands dirty, do you? No, she's very helpful.

-I'm glad you've struck up such a great friendship. That's lovely for both of you.

-Oh, yes.

-Yeah.

-We support each other.

-We do!

-Good!

-And Janet is a very genuine person. I like her!

-Thank you!

I think you've got to support her a bit more now

because it's all very well sitting here, but we've got to go downstairs and find some items.

Come on, the rummage is not over.

Come on, ladies!

Jonty has been in his element so far, sniffing out items left,

right and centre and as we rejoin the hunt, we're keen to match him,

find for find, so it's good news when I discover something we think could be worth selling.

Any idea what this is?

That's a gold bracelet, a gold charm bracelet.

This is lovely, I must say. Is it something you'd be willing to sell?

-Oh, yes.

-Really?

-Definitely!

-Let's show it to Jonty. Jonty?

-Come and have a look!

-We've got more gold!

-Look at that!

-Oh, my word!

-It's a lovely little treasure.

-More treasure!

-More treasure!

Fantastic! Look at this. A proper charm bracelet, this.

-Absolutely.

-So who's is this?

That's my mother's. She's given that to me to go towards the auction.

So do you remember giving any of these charms to your mother?

I honestly don't, no, I can't remember.

Because, I'm having a look at this.

This says "To Mum from Janet, 1965"

Oh, yes! Oh, gosh, yes!

-1965!

-Yes!

-Woo!

My goodness, you were a toddler!

Absolutely, of course I was! I'm very advanced for my age.

We've got all sorts of objects here. We've got the hat and the bull.

Do you know the significance of that?

Well, the bull I know because my father got the zodiac sign wrong.

He thought he was buying the star sign for Leo but he bought the bull instead.

-OK! Latin wasn't his forte?

-No, no.

-How did you get around that one?

He just said "Oh, well I got the star sign wrong but I'm always giving you

"a lot of bull so, well, it is apt, it is apt!"

But look, we have a dog and a cat so that must have some relevance there somewhere?

-I don't remember that one!

-Yes, they're lovely, and look at the owl and the pussycat, too.

-That's really sweet.

-Oh, yes.

Now, I'm not sure, I don't think just looking at the colour of a lot of these charms

that they are not necessarily gold so they're gold metal rather than gold,

and I've looked at the lock here.

This is a 9 carat gold lock so therefore the bracelet itself will be 9 carat gold,

but this, the charm that you bought in 1965 IS hallmarked.

-That's 9 carat gold, OK?

-Really?

-Right.

-Do you remember buying that from a jewellers?

-No, no I don't.

-I honestly don't remember!

-She's forgotten!

But this is definitely, definitely worth selling,

worth putting in the auction sale and at the very least, £100 to £150.

That is good! That's fantastic!

-Happy about that?

-Yes, delighted.

My mother's given this in good heart.

She wants it to go to the charity and I'll be thrilled, so will she,

if we can make that money, that will be good.

There's lots of confidence that the charm bracelet will do well

and it's yet more quality gold we will be sending to auction,

but we're going to have to step up a gear if we're going to get anywhere near that daunting target of £1,000.

This silver picture frame is another item that was donated by one of Janet's friends

and we're hoping it will fetch upwards of £20 for the cause,

but with time running out, we're still some way off our target.

There has to be somewhere we haven't looked yet!

Jonty, Janet.

-Yeah.

-I've found a ring in your drawer here.

-That's right.

-Just rooting round your bedroom drawers, but there you go.

-That's all right.

-I think that's absolutely gorgeous.

-It is beautiful, isn't it?

-Yeah. Is it yours?

-Wow!

-No, that was my friend Win's, and she left that to me.

-Oh, Win again. What do you think?

-It's beautiful.

-Is it real? Is it diamond?

-Yes, two carats, yes.

First of all...two carat?

Gosh, look at that,

so it is, too. It's stunning. That is really beautiful.

Do you happen to know where she got it from?

This is the ring that she found and she took it to the local police station

and they just said that if it wasn't claimed within six months, it would be hers, and so it was hers.

-It wasn't claimed.

-So she was a very honest lady?

-Very, very honest, yes.

-Well, it's actually beautiful.

I mean, if you look at how all those diamonds are set because we've got diamonds round the outside as well,

but that looks like the head of a flower. That's really beautiful.

-That's right, yes.

-And if you look at the ring, this is platinum.

-Well, that's very classy, isn't it, platinum?

-Very, very much so.

In fact, platinum is 30 times rarer than gold.

Honestly acquired.

Honestly acquired, yes!

At auction, £400 to £700.

-Wow!

-That's good.

Really good. A really fantastic find.

That is so incredibly generous to think of giving that.

No, Win would love to, she would love it.

So you reckon at least £400 in our kitty! That's brilliant, isn't it?

Just sort of totting it up in my head because that's the end of our day's rummaging.

We ought to call Joanna. Joanna?

It's safe.

You don't have to work any longer. You've finished!

Is that a relief to end all the rummaging?

Yeah, what a great day!

-Have you enjoyed yourself?

-Oh, yes!

Well, I can tell you that on Jonty's estimates, we hope that when we get to the auction you should make...

-Not a thousand but £1,185!

-Wow!

-Really!

-Oh, great!

-That's great!

-So very nearly £1,200.

-That would be wonderful!

-What would that do?

Oh, so much, you just can't believe!

Thank you so much for helping.

-Yeah, well done.

-It is, of course, all theory at the moment

because we've got to sell these things at auction.

-Yes, of course we have.

-So fingers crossed for the auction.

-Absolutely!

-See you there.

-Good.

Thanks to that last minute addition,

we are sure we've got every chance of making the money Janet's hoping for.

Helping us to do it will be the gold sovereign

which Jonty expects should make us £100 to £150.

The lady's fob watch which could pocket us £45

and the charm bracelet,

bought more than 40 years ago,

it should add another £100 to £150 to the pot.

But it's the platinum ring given by friend Win

and valued at an incredible £400 to £700

that all eyes will be on as we head off to auction.

Still to come on Cash in the Attic...

Jonty is getting a bit too much praise!

Massaging his ego, you are!

Somebody's got to, haven't they?

-Exactly.

-We have some great results!

She's happy, she's happy, she's happy!

And some disappointments...

They don't like them, they don't like them!

Don't say that.

But will we raise the all important funds for the animal charity?

Find out when the final hammer falls.

It's been a few weeks since we spent the day with Janet at her London flat

and today we've brought all the pieces we found

here to Sworders/Olivers Auctioneers in Suffolk.

Now, remember, Janet is crazy about animals and she wants to raise at least £1,000

for the Colne Valley Animal Rescue Centre which is run by one of her friends

so let's hope all the bidders here are feeling very generous

and we can make that money for the animals when our items go under the hammer.

There are plenty of bidders here today already scouring the auction room.

We've got our fingers crossed that they're in a spending mood.

I go in search of Jonty and find him browsing through Janet's colourful Poole Pottery.

-Hey!

-Jennie, hi!

-You all right?

This is lovely. This is the Poole.

I know. It's great, but it's not the star of the show today.

-We've got all those fabulous diamonds and jewels!

-I know!

Such a tiny flat and so many lovely treasures. It was great.

I know and we've got to sell everything because she wants to raise so much money.

I know and all for a very good cause. She's so crazy about those animals you know.

If that's her passion and that's what she wants to do, let's help her.

-Can we do a thousand, do you think?

-Let's do it!

OK, let's go.

Well, Jonty seems confident we can make Janet's target. Let's just hope he's right!

It doesn't take too long for us to spot Janet, though there's no sign of Joanna.

But the stunning platinum ring is definitely here, lotted up and safely in Janet's hands.

-Janet, look at that! It's that lovely ring!

-Yes.

-Well, hopefully we'll have a new owner today.

-Yes, we hope we do.

And where's Joanna?

She's cat-sitting for me.

You and your cats! Have you been doing a lot of that lately?

Yes, I'm afraid so, yes, yes!

Well, there's no time for cat-napping for us because we've got some serious work to do!

-We have, definitely.

-The sale's about to start.

-Good. Right, ready.

-Ready for it?

-Ready.

-Off we go.

-Let's go.

-Go and find a spot.

If like Janet you've got something you'd like to raise money for

and you want to try your luck at auction, please remember that commission

and other charges may apply, so check the details with the auction house.

We take our places ready for the first lot of the day,

the bright and cheerful Poole Pottery.

Jonty has valued the seven-piece collection at £40 to £60.

I think they're lovely.

-Do you like them?

-Yes, they're unusual. They're very pretty.

I'm not convinced that was not convincing! You don't like them, do you?

I like them, but they're not my taste.

I think they're lovely. Hmm.

-But you're happy to sell them?

-Yes.

-That's why they're here.

-Yes.

£20 at 20, 22, 25, 28, 30,

32, 35, 38. 38 in front.

Keep going, come on! You can do better than that.

At £38. Are you all finished and done with that at £38?

I'm selling at £38.

-Yes! Good! £38.

-One lot less!

-We've got something sold for you!

-We have.

-Well, that's good!

-It is good!

-Just think what that will do for the animal centre!

-It will.

Hooray, our first sale.

The bidding was sticky for a while, but selling

for just a couple of pounds under estimate, it's not a bad start.

Let's see how our next lot fares. It's the two pottery vases.

One by Stoke on Trent based ceramics company Decoro and one by Sylvac,

otherwise known as potteries company Shaw & Copestake Limited.

We're looking for £20 to £30 for the pair.

10, I'm bid at 10, at £10.

-Are you all finished and done with them at £10?

-Meanies!

-I don't think they're going to sell.

-Aren't they mean?

-12, 15...

-We're off!

-At £15, at £15.

-Just a bit more.

All finished and done with, then, at 15?

-I'll have to pass that over, I'm afraid.

-It wasn't enough.

He hasn't sold that. That's unsold, so...

Well, that's disappointing,

but they were one of our lower value items

so it's not a complete disaster.

Next up is the silver picture frame donated by Janet's generous friends

who are keen to help support the animal charity.

It's a relatively modern item and we're looking for £20 to £30.

-Smart.

-Very smart, yeah.

Think positive thoughts. We want £20 to £30 for it.

-We do.

-And I'm bid 10.

10, I'm bid at 10, 12, 15.

At £15, on the books with me at £15.

-18...

-18!

-I'm out. £18 in the room.

£20.

20, towards the back at 20.

At £20.

All finished and done with that at £20.

-There we go.

-You were right. Spot on!

-Very respectable.

-Yeah.

-Janet, you're saying all the right things, do you realise that?

-Oh, am I?

-Massaging his ego, you are!

Somebody's got to,

-haven't they!

-Exactly!

-No!

Well, if we do manage to make our target of £1,000

he'll deserve a massage, but until then, it's back to business.

Our next item is the continental fob watch.

It was given to Janet by her good friend Win

and we're looking for £45 to £75.

25, I'm starting, at £25.

-At £25...

-Oh, come on!

Are you all finished and done with it at £25?

-Just not got a market.

-Ooh!

-Sorry, we'll pass that over.

-Oh, dear!

-Going home.

-That's unsold.

-What a shame!

I know. That's a real pity.

Now, that really is a big disappointment.

We all had high hopes for the pretty watch, but the bidders didn't share our enthusiasm. Shame on them!

Onwards and upwards, though, as next up it's the rather stunning gold sovereign.

Jonty valued it at £100 to £150 and Janet is understandably anxious

that it doesn't sell for below estimate.

I like this piece. It's Win's half-sovereign.

-That's right.

-She used to wear it, didn't she?

-Yes, she did, yeah.

-It's very nice, very unusual.

You reckon it should get £100?

Because it's solid gold, people will want to invest in our lot,

so we do have a reserve, don't we? £100.

-Yes.

-£100, OK, so it's not going to go for less than that?

We hope not!

And I'm starting this at 55.

At 55, at £55...

-Please...

-At £55.

-Oh, no!

-Oh, no! Please sell for more.

-Are we all finished and done with then at £55?

-For heaven's sake!

-No-one's coming in.

Right, we pass that over.

-Oh, that's a bit of a problem there.

-That's unbelievable.

-It is.

There's not the buyers here.

-The buyers have not appeared today.

-They just haven't got any taste, have they?

Well, thank goodness Janet did put a reserve on the sovereign.

It would have been tragic to let it go for only £55, but what can you do when there just aren't the bidders?

We can only hope the room will take to our final lot of this half.

It's the pipe set valued at £40 to £70.

I think Jonty has taken somewhat of a shine to this little set, so here's hoping the bidders agree.

I'm never really quite sure where smoking memorabilia is going these days.

It still seems certain good items are still selling incredibly well.

This is really charming, this set. It's really lovely and the silver that is hallmarked is 1898!

-Lot 23.

-Start at 20, at £20, 2, 5, 28, 30,

2, 5, 38, at the back there at 38.

40, 2, 5, 48, 50,

2, 52. 5...

That is good!

58, 60, 2, 5, 68,

70, 2, 5, 75. 78.

80.

82, 85.

At £85.

Are you all finished and done with that at £85? Selling at 85.

-Yes!

-Yes, we did it, we did it!

-Brilliant!

-You've got a big smile on your face now!

I have, for a non-smoker!

Well, there were clearly plenty of people who found the pipe set as appealing as Jonty

and it sold for more than double its lower estimate, so we make it to the halfway stage on a high,

but it's fair to say we've had a bit of a rocky ride,

so it's just as well we've got some fantastic lots coming up later.

I do hope Janet won't be too disappointed when I tell her how we've done so far.

Well, we've reached the halfway point and if things were going to plan,

-we should now be at £500, because you want £1,000, don't you, for the animals?

-Yes.

Well, you are taking rather a lot home, which I suppose is good

that you haven't lost them, but we've had some "no sales" there

so I'm afraid at half time you've made £143.

That's something, that's something, it's not...

-That's the attitude, well done.

-It's time to take a breather.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-There's something over there hanging on the wall I must take a look at.

-All right, OK.

-And we'll grab a cup of tea.

-Right, OK.

I was looking forward to my cuppa, but Jonty refuses to let me sit down for a minute

and whisks me away to take a look at his latest find in the auction room.

Jennie, come and have a look at this.

Now, here's a question for you.

What do you think that clock is all about?

Well, is it a clock, first of all?

It looks like a clock, doesn't it?

It does, and then you look at it and it doesn't make any sense.

My first thoughts are something maritime, I would have thought.

-Well, I see where you're coming from but it's actually a billiards score clock.

-No, is it?

Yeah, and you can tell that by the name, Burroughes & Watts.

-They're one of the big major players in billiards and snooker and cues etc etc.

-Well, I didn't know that!

-Certainly in the 19th century, yeah.

-Wow!

So you've got two hands. One will move one hand, that's the reason why you've got the circle

to distinguish between the two different players.

That is extraordinary!

Is that the biggest break you can get, 100, then?

Well, no. This is billiards. This is not snooker.

Oh, dear! Now, you're getting technical!

-Oh, God!

-Billiards is a lot older than snooker, for instance. It goes back a long while.

I'm flabbergasted. I thought billiards was the same as snooker.

I thought that was something to do with a ship, so...

-No, totally different.

-I'm glad you're here and you're the expert!

Now, even though we've got a crack in the glass, my hunch is that this should sell for between £200 to £300

and possibly more if there are keen bidders in the room.

-That's incredible!

-Amazing, isn't it?!

-It's lovely.

Yeah, it's great. Well, if you're into snooker, billiards, it is the sort of thing for you.

There really are some fascinating items in today's auction and fortunately

we have a number of really special items coming up in the second part of the sale ourselves,

so we retake our positions.

The first of our afternoon's lots

is the elegant Winegarton's lady's gold wrist watch.

We're looking for £60 to £80

and our animal charity really needs this to hit estimate.

-Remember, we didn't sell our sovereign, so what will happen this time?

-Try not to remember that.

And I'm starting this at 50.

-At £50, I'm bid at 50, 5, 60, £60 with me at 60,

-Come on!

-5, 70.

-Oh, that's better!

At £70. Are you all finished and done with that at 70?

-That's OK.

-Yes!

-Hey!

-We did it, we did it!

-£70.

-That's so much better.

Fantastic. Slap bang in the middle of Jonty's estimate and another £70 to add to the pot.

Could our fortunes be changing for the better?

Well, let's hope so, as next up is the gold ingot,

and to make sure it doesn't go for a penny less than it's worth,

Janet's put a reserve on it.

-So we've got a firm reserve of £100 on this?

-We have, yes.

-OK.

-Will it hurt to part with this one?

-No, no, I don't think so.

-It's all for a good cause.

-It is for a good cause.

-Let's hope you do part with it.

And I'm starting this at 80, at £80, I'm bid at 80, at £80.

5, 90, 5, 100.

At £100.

-All finished and done with it at £100?

-Yes!

She's happy, she's happy, she's happy!

Another sale bang on estimate. Well done, Jonty

and well done, Janet, as it's another £100 towards our target.

We're all feeling pretty optimistic after that!

Before we turn our attention to Janet's next item, it's time to see the beautiful Burroughes & Watts

billiards score clock with an estimate of £200 to £300 go under the hammer.

-Are you all finished and done with it at £250?

-Wow!

The billiards clock selling right in the middle of its estimate

suggests that the bidders are feeling less frugal.

Can our next lot,

the gold bangles, perform as well?

So far our gold items have had mixed results,

but Jonty reckons these are worth £140 to £160.

I'm starting at 50, at £50. At £50. At £50.

They don't like them.

-At £50.

-They don't like them.

-Right, pass that over.

-That's unsold.

-Shame!

I find it so curious. I mean, some things they just lap up.

-Yes.

-And others they don't!

-I know.

-Lot 172.

Well, I'm stunned at that. The bidding today really is up and down.

There's no telling what's going to sell and what we'll take home.

Janet is staying open-minded and upbeat, however, and we soldier on.

There's an awful lot of pressure on our next item.

It's the stunning platinum ring and we're looking for at least £400,

which does seem rather ambitious with the day we're having!

Well, this is it. It's the big one, it's your gorgeous gold and diamond ring.

-We want a lot for it, £400.

-We do, yeah.

A fixed reserve on it?

-Yes.

-So not less than £400?

-Oh, no.

-Well, we're either going to go out with a huge bang or a bit of a damp squib!

I'm starting at 210, at 210.

At £210, 20, 30, 40, 250,

60, 270, 80, 290, 300, and 10, 320, 330.

-Well, it's going!

-340, 350, 360, 370.

-Oh, we've stopped!

-370 then.

-We've stopped!

At £370.

At £370. Are you all finished and done with it at 370?

Right, we're having to pass that one.

-Oh, no!

-Oh, bum!

-Oh, no!

-I feel gutted!

So do I!

It was going so strongly there.

-I know, I know!

-But it wasn't quite enough.

Well, that's a real blow to our target

and frustrating when the bidding got so close to the reserve of £400,

but Janet wouldn't have been comfortable selling it for less and it goes home.

It's essential that our last two items sell.

I can't see how this pretty costume jewellery pendant in a silver mount

with matching earrings won't be snapped up.

Jonty valued it at £120 to £140 and I think it's worth every penny.

You've got so many good friends, Janet,

that have donated to this cause?

-I'm very fortunate, yes.

-You are!

-All animal lovers.

Yeah, yeah, clearly. We've got the pendant and earrings which were from some of your friends?

Yes, one friend of mine has given those, yes.

Well, let's hope they can fetch £120. Here we go.

And I'm starting this at 85,

at 85, 90, 5, 100,

-5, 10, 110 at the back in the doorway at 110...

-No!

At £110.

At £110.

Are you all finished and done with at 110? I'm selling at 110.

-Are you happy?

-Yeah, I can't believe it!

She's delirious!

That's just £10 below Jonty's estimate, but who cares!

We're all delighted with that result.

Our very last item of the day is the pretty gold charm bracelet

and we're looking for an all-important £100 to £150.

-I love this, this charm bracelet. It is your mother's, wasn't it?

-My mother's yeah.

-Does she know we're selling it today?

-Oh, yes. She wants it to be sold.

Are you going to ring her and tell her how much it made?

-Yes, yes.

-And sold for the cause as well?

-Oh, yes, yes.

You put a reserve on again, I think?

-Yes, £100.

-£100.

-£100 discretion.

-Yes.

-Right.

So that the auctioneer will, if he's near he will put the reserve off?

-So he'd let it go for 90 if necessary?

-Yes.

There or thereabouts, if necessary.

-Good.

-Let's hope it actually makes the hundred.

And I'm starting this at 90, at £90 I'm bid. 100, 10, 20...

-We don't need discretion!

-30, 40, 50.

150 on the books with me at 150.

-I think it's fantastic!

-At £150 with me.

-It's a lovely bracelet.

Are you all finished and done with at £150?

-Your mum will be pleased.

-Yes!

-I hope you're more than charmed.

-She'll be delighted, won't she!

-She will be.

-That's great!

-She would, yes.

That's so generous of her.

Very, but she's daft about animals like I am!

-Is that where you get it from?

-Yes!

A brilliant result! The bracelet sells bang on top estimate.

A critical boost to our target and we finish with a flourish.

It's been a rollercoaster ride for us today with five items unsold,

but Janet is still smiling and she can always try the unsold items another day.

I hope she'll be happy with what we've made.

Well...it's over, it's done.

-Before we started, you were feeling very apprehensive, actually.

-Yes.

How are you feeling now?

Relieved. A bit disappointed about the ring.

-Yeah.

-That's very disappointing. To sell that would have made all the difference.

-It would!

-But we just didn't quite get there.

-No.

Yes, some of our gold items didn't sell the way we'd hoped.

-That's right.

-People just not investing. You just never know with an auction.

However, you actually haven't done too bad at all.

-You had a big old target there of £1,000.

-I know I did.

You haven't made it, but you have made £573.

-That's pretty good, isn't it? It's very respectable.

-It is, isn't it?

-A million thank yous.

And all the little animals will be very, very happy.

They will.

Not long after the auction, Janet pays a visit to Colne Valley Animal Rescue in Essex

-run by her friend, Margaret.

-Hello, Margaret.

Oh, hello, Janet. It is nice to see you.

We had the auction last week, we had a great time. We've raised £500

and that money will go to the Animal Rescue, where I am now,

and we're handing over the money to Margaret to spend as she will on vet fees etc.

And with the animals needing constant care,

every penny is vital for Margaret to be able to run the rescue centre.

Well, I take in all the rescued animals and people just turn up

with them and I get phone calls, hard luck stories, people moving etc.

and they just bring their animals here and I re-home those that are suitable for re-homing.

As always when she visits, Janet takes a walk around

to say hello to the residents, including Jessica the pig.

Look, you're making a pig of yourself!

And having handed a cheque for the proceeds

of the auction over to Margaret, Janet is delighted with the outcome.

This is the end of our visit here and I'm really pleased with how we've done so far at the auction

and I'm very glad, I'm very pleased everybody has

helped me make some money so I've got to think up the next fundraiser now.