0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello and welcome to
0:00:03 > 0:00:06the show that searches the homes of the famous for collectibles,
0:00:06 > 0:00:11then we take them to auction and raise money for truly good causes.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16Today, I'm meeting one of Britain's best-loved comedians and entertainers.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21He was born in Liverpool and originally he was a schoolteacher,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24but he swapped teaching for showbiz back in 1974.
0:00:25 > 0:00:32Now, during the 80's, he used to present many quiz and game shows like Name That Tune.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36He presented a show that involved crosswords, so here's one for you,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39he's an entertaining golfer, 3 across, 7 down.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Have you guessed who it is yet?
0:01:02 > 0:01:08Today I'm in Berkshire to meet all-round entertainer and a really good bloke, Tom O'Connor.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13Tom has been a regular face on our TV screens for over 30 years.
0:01:13 > 0:01:19He hit the big time when he won the prestigious 70's talent show Opportunity Knocks,
0:01:19 > 0:01:24but it was as a game show host that Tom made his mark on the nation -
0:01:24 > 0:01:30Crosswits, Gambit and, of course, Name That Tune all being huge hits for the funny man from Merseyside.
0:01:32 > 0:01:38Today, Tom spends as much time as he can playing golf. In fact, he actually lives on a golf course.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41I just don't know how his good wife, Pat, puts up with it all,
0:01:41 > 0:01:46but at least she knows where to find him and where he is at any time,
0:01:46 > 0:01:50and that's precisely what antique's expert John Cameron and I need to do right now.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Coming up on Cash In The Celebrity Attic,
0:01:53 > 0:01:58a giant drinking vessel from the '60s reminds Tom of his old routine.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01It's a bit early for a nightcap, Tom, isn't it?
0:02:01 > 0:02:05This is the new Liverpool brandy, it's called a back to school drink.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Two glasses of this and you're in a class of your own, mate.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13We reminisce about his rise to fame on Opportunity Knocks.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16- Benny Hill took his shoes off and gave them to me. - And so you walked on.- Yes.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Hughie Green said, "It's a sign, pal," and it was.
0:02:19 > 0:02:25And Tom offers the bidders an alternate use for one of his lots at auction.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30It is brass, so scrap wise it should be worth at least 1,000.
0:02:30 > 0:02:35You've done me a great favour there, thanks. We're trying to sell these things, Tom.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39But will they buy it? Find out with the final fall of the gavel.
0:02:39 > 0:02:40Gone.
0:02:42 > 0:02:48- Tom O'Connor, how did I know I'd find you on a golf course? How are you?- I'm fine.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50My goodness. This is John.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54- Pleased to meet you. - So having such a gorgeous house right in the middle of a golf course,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56I assume this is how you spend your days every day?
0:02:56 > 0:03:00Yes, of course. The daily grind, isn't it, awful?
0:03:00 > 0:03:03- What handicap are you?- Nine. - Nine, that's good.- That's fantastic.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06I'm useless on the golf course, Tom, but I play off scratch where my rummaging is concerned.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- You're the man.- On that note,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12- we're going to meet Pat, and you're going to do some rummaging, John. - Come on then.- OK.
0:03:12 > 0:03:18Well, I'm really pleased that John's eager to get started so let's hope his rummaging skills are on par.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20It is the lovely Mrs O'Connor.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- Pat, how are you? It's lovely to see you again.- Lovely to see you.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28- Will you say hello and goodbye to John because he's going to work? - Hi, John.- I've going to rummage.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32See you later. I was just saying, this is like paradise in here.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- So how long have you lived here? - 30 years.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38How did you find it, because it's right off the beaten track in a way?
0:03:38 > 0:03:45- Pat found it, didn't you?- I did. You were in Torquay, I think, at the time and I got an estate agent
0:03:45 > 0:03:50to find a list of houses, and he found 10 and this was the first one I saw.
0:03:50 > 0:03:56She said, "It's a wonderful house, it has six bedrooms, duh duh duh duh, and a golf course." "Buy it!"
0:03:56 > 0:03:58He said that's the one.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01So let's establish then what you're charity is going to be today.
0:04:01 > 0:04:07It's a local charity called Children With Special Needs Foundation, and we literally have children in our area.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12We buy wheelchairs, lifts for them to go up and down in their own houses,
0:04:12 > 0:04:17I take them dream flights to places like Florida, get them rides on Formula One cars.
0:04:17 > 0:04:23- We make dreams come true.- Fantastic. So it's something you feel really passionate about.- Yes, yes.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26How much to you reckon you might be able to raise today?
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- Fingers crossed on £700, we'll see. - That's pretty good, that's healthy.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31- That'd be nice. - As you know, John went that a-way
0:04:31 > 0:04:35in order to start rummaging, so I think we should follow, hey?
0:04:35 > 0:04:36- OK, fine.- Lead on, dear.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42I can't wait to have a good look around Tom's stunning home,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46which at first glance looks like it might hide some fascinating pieces.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51John's already set to work and may just have found evidence of another of Tom's pastimes.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Hey, spot on cue, if I may say, John.
0:04:55 > 0:05:01- It's one big break.- Don't tell me you've time to play snooker as well. - I used to until the table went.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03What do you mean, the table went?
0:05:03 > 0:05:06What happened, we used to have the table in a room below our bedroom,
0:05:06 > 0:05:11and at 3 o'clock one morning, I heard these balls going, "Duh duh duh duh,"
0:05:11 > 0:05:14so I got up and said to my son, "You and the other two, scoot,"
0:05:14 > 0:05:16and threw them out. I don't know they were Wham.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19- You mean George Michael?- Yes.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22I got rid of the table anyway and we put it in storage,
0:05:22 > 0:05:26and they said it's so many pounds a week, and we never paid anything.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31Eventually, we ended up owing them the table, so they kept the table and I kept the cues and all the bits.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33- Are you being serious, that's the story?- It's true, yes.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35You've got some interesting bits,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39a couple of good Liverpool makers I see on there, Tom, Ashcrofts.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Interestingly, the origins of the modern game are accredited to
0:05:42 > 0:05:45a Colonel Sir Neville Francis Fitzgerald Chamberlain.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- Rather you than us. - It's still a very popular sport.
0:05:48 > 0:05:54After the heyday of Joe Davies and his brother Fred in the early 20th century,
0:05:54 > 0:06:00snooker nearly died out and it was only the commissioning of the famous TV programme Pot Black
0:06:00 > 0:06:07- that revived the sport, and do you know who commissioned that programme?- No.- David Attenborough.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12- No.- Did he really? Gosh. I tell you what I love, I just love the stand.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15I think it looks terrific with all the cues that go round it.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17It is a lovely thing, isn't it?
0:06:17 > 0:06:21- Does have a bit of damage, some of the clips are missing, but...- That'd be easy to replace, wouldn't it?
0:06:21 > 0:06:24You could get some for that, and the scoreboard's OK.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28- The triangle is coming apart at the joint, but could be fixed. - Aren't we all?
0:06:28 > 0:06:31I was just going to say that myself.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35- Some of these cues are straight. - They are?- Ruins my game completely.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37How much do you reckon we might get for it at auction?
0:06:37 > 0:06:41I think, conservatively, I would put an estimate of £100 to £200,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44but be very confident that it should hit my top estimate, if not more.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48I think that's a very healthy start, a great amount for the charity if it comes true.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- So shall we go this way and see what else we can find?- OK.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Whilst we've been hearing all about Tom's disappearing snooker table,
0:06:56 > 0:07:01Pat's been busy searching for valuables upstairs and comes across a lace funeral bonnet,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05once an essential item, I'm told, for ladies in Victorian England.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08There's still a big market for quality vintage clothing in the UK,
0:07:08 > 0:07:13and who knows, it may end up appearing in a period costume drama.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17John thinks it could fetch as much as £30 to £40 at auction.
0:07:17 > 0:07:23- I've something here that might interest you. Dad brought that back from the war.- Where was he serving?
0:07:23 > 0:07:27On the Western Front, so he ended up in Hamburg. He was an anti-aircraft gunner.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29- Really? So how come he ended up with all these?- Well, he did a deal.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33He never smoked in his life and he had a pile of fags and he swapped these with some German guy.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37It's an interesting collection and I think provenance is the key to it.
0:07:37 > 0:07:43Ever since the Second World War there's been an instant fascination and demand
0:07:43 > 0:07:47for World War 2 German medals, badges, insignias, and so on.
0:07:47 > 0:07:53So much so that it's generated a lot of reproductions, outright forgeries,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57so there are a lot of auctioneers that won't even make a statement
0:07:57 > 0:08:01as to the authenticity of items because they're just so unsure.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04But we've got good provenance, you're saying they came back from World War 2.
0:08:04 > 0:08:09- Let's have a look at what we've got. There's an interesting one, a great one to start, close combat.- Yes.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13- Do you know what that is? - It was given to ladies who had five or more children.
0:08:13 > 0:08:18This is the basic one, which is five kids, so you have to have nine to get the gold medal.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22- That's why they did silver and gold bars.- The things I did for you in the war.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26- That's a First World War wound badge.- The shape of the helmet.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Exactly. This one, the Narvik, this is a maritime badge,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34that was from 1940, we've got the anchor crossed with the prop, that's a popular one.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- So it's a nice collection here. - It's tremendous.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42Certainly an interesting thing at auction, I'd say at least £200 or £300's worth.
0:08:42 > 0:08:48But what I'd like to do, if I can take these to a specialist militaria collector and dealer that I know,
0:08:48 > 0:08:53and get him to cast his eye over them to confirm these are period pieces
0:08:53 > 0:08:57that have come back from the War, then my estimate might prove a bit conservative.
0:08:57 > 0:09:03And the medals prove to be a big hit with the crowd at auction, but how much will they raise?
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Any advance on 210? 220? 220. 230?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09230 I have. 240?
0:09:09 > 0:09:10240. 250?
0:09:10 > 0:09:14We'll find out how high the bidding goes later.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Thanks very much indeed, bless you.
0:09:16 > 0:09:23But as our rummage continues, we've already found effects with a potential auction value of £330,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27which is almost half of our target already.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Tom continues the search in the study where he finds this collection of model Ferraris.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Now, he gave these to his Italian son-in-law for Christmas,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38but he left them behind by mistake and he's never picked them up.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40It's too late now because Tom's packing them off to auction,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and John values them at £30 to £40.
0:09:43 > 0:09:49I'll be making sure I don't leave anything behind when I leave!
0:09:49 > 0:09:54Outside, Pat's keen to show John that it's not just the house that's brimming with collectibles.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- Here we go, here he is. - Is this it?- Little beauty.
0:09:57 > 0:10:03- So what's the story with it, Pat? - Well, the story is it belonged to two of my grandchildren,
0:10:03 > 0:10:09their other nana bought it for them, but it was too big to keep in their house.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12So we took it to a nursery that they used to go to
0:10:12 > 0:10:16and it was there for two years and the children really enjoyed it.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21But then all the new rules came in with Health and Safety, so we were asked to take it back.
0:10:21 > 0:10:27So it came back and it's been in the garage ever since so it might as well give somebody else some pleasure.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Rocking horses have been around for literally centuries and centuries,
0:10:31 > 0:10:36but they were produced in any major quantity in the 19th century after the Industrial Revolution.
0:10:36 > 0:10:42They come in three basic types, this type here on the rockers, you have a similar type, but on ironwork,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45on a fixed stand with ironwork which swings backwards and forwards
0:10:45 > 0:10:47like the old cheese cutters, do you remember in the swing parks?
0:10:47 > 0:10:53- I do, yes.- Then there's a third type, which is rare, where you have a stand, a thick spring,
0:10:53 > 0:10:57and that fixes underneath the tail so the horse bounces up and down.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02- Those are quite rare. Does look like it wants a bit of work to it, you've lost the handles there.- Yes.
0:11:02 > 0:11:07- It's got a split here. How did this happen?- I took it out one lovely summer's day
0:11:07 > 0:11:12and put it on the lawn, forgot about it, and the kids tried to lift it back in here,
0:11:12 > 0:11:16and it was so heavy, it tippled over and he nearly broke his neck.
0:11:16 > 0:11:23- What a shame.- And these two pieces here, but I'm sure it can be mended. - You say it went on the lawn?
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- I bet it made less damage than Tom with his clubs.- It did.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- We can certainly send it to auction. - OK.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33I think, even in that condition, we'll be looking at £200 to £400.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36- Wow, that's good. - Are you happy with that?- I am.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41- Hopefully, it won't fall at the first fence and will gallop all the way to our top estimate.- OK.
0:11:41 > 0:11:47- Come on, that's enough of this outside business, let's see what the others are doing.- OK, thank you.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Well, what a terrific addition to our ever-growing fund
0:11:51 > 0:11:56which gets a further boost when Tom adds this acrylic painting to the list of goodies for sale.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01It was painted by Surrey-based artist Sue Jelley, a patron of Tom's charity.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04He's very kindly donated it to the cause.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07John's impressed and it heads off to the auction
0:12:07 > 0:12:10with a very tempting £100 to £200 estimate.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16I have to say we're having such a successful day here with Tom and Pat,
0:12:16 > 0:12:22and I know with his busy work schedule and love of golf, it's a privilege to find him at home.
0:12:22 > 0:12:29It strikes me you've two lives going on here because you have the complete tranquillity of this house,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33steeped in acres of land, yet you're on the road on that busy motorway a lot.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37I always think driving home, "Where would I want to be but here?"
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- How often do you play golf? - Every day.- Every single day?
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Yes, even if it's only on a driving range hitting balls.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48It's a great hobby because, a) you choose your own company, b) you choose your own time of the day.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51And you just ring all your mates and see who's available that day?
0:12:51 > 0:12:57Yes, you find out who's in town, and if they can't play, they'll send somebody.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00- So you always have a showbiz friend to play with?- That's right.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04You didn't go into comedy originally, you went into teaching.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08So was that a given from your family, did they encourage you to do that?
0:13:08 > 0:13:13Yes. My dad wanted me to be a priest, my mother wanted me to be a doctor,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16I didn't fancy either so I said, "Will you settle for teaching?"
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Teaching in those days was a highly-respected profession.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Absolutely. It's funny with Irish families - if you have a priest in the family...
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- That's right.- ..that is special.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29- First one had to be a priest, first girl had to be a nun.- Yes.- Then they slackened that for the others.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35- A teacher, a doctor. - I enjoyed teaching, it was good. I enjoyed the response from children.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39I used to love the first half hour, whizzing in and doing quick-fire questions with them.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Did you use some of your funny lines in school as well?
0:13:41 > 0:13:44I burnished my act on school.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48So how did you transfer humour in the classroom to the stage?
0:13:48 > 0:13:54Well, Pat kept having babies, we had three before we realised.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56What was causing it?
0:13:56 > 0:14:01Then she couldn't teach any more so I decided to go into the pubs and clubs and workingmen's.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I played the guitar and sang, did a couple of gags,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08and they were great days because the workingmen's clubs were on every corner.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- Everywhere.- In Liverpool, there must have been a dozen nightclubs.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Every big city had at least one nightclub, we thought it would last forever.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18But then I went on Opportunity Knocks and that was the big one.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Would you say Opportunity Knocks changed your life overnight?
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Without doubt, it absolutely did.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29The story that happened to me was, when I went down to do the very first ever Opp Knocks,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33Pat packed my bag and she put two left shoes in the bag.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37When they used to announce you, you had to come down some steps.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41I said to Hughie Green, "Mr Green, I can't come down the stairs in the shoes,"
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and this was the dress rehearsal, all the camera crew sitting there.
0:14:44 > 0:14:50I said, "I literally cannot walk," and a voice in the dark said, "What size shoes are they?" I said, "9."
0:14:50 > 0:14:55- He said, "Put these on." Benny Hill. - No.- Benny Hill took his shoes off and gave them to me.
0:14:55 > 0:15:00- So you walked on?- Yes. Hughie Green said, "It's a sign," and it was.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- A true story, that. - I have to tell you, Tom,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06we're enjoying ourselves too much here, we'd better get back to work.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10- Get something sold.- Get more things for our £700 target, OK?
0:15:10 > 0:15:14To be honest, I could listen to Tom's stories all day,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17and I think if Tom had his way, I probably would.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21Whilst we've been chatting, John has been having a good look upstairs,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24and he spots a framed picture of the Queen Mary II.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28It's part of a collection of limited edition memorabilia,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32which Tom was given by a friend who was on the ship's maiden voyage back in 2004.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Now there are two china cups to go along with it, and John thinks
0:15:35 > 0:15:40this historic lot could fetch upwards of £75 at auction.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42That's what we like to hear.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Now, to get us in the mood for his next find,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48young Tom has slipped into something a little more comfortable.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Oh, my goodness!
0:15:52 > 0:15:55It's a bit early in the day for a nightcap, Tom, isn't it?
0:15:55 > 0:15:59This is the new Liverpool brandy, it's called a back to school drink.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Two glasses of this and you're in a class of your own, mate.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Are you trying to tell us that you're a drinker here, Tom?
0:16:05 > 0:16:08No, I don't drink at all actually.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- That was presented to me by a pub, you know.- Was it?
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- A Merseyside pub gave me that. - For what reason?
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I won Opportunity Knocks and they sent a lot of votes in for me,
0:16:16 > 0:16:20so it's to cheer me on my way. The first week I won, they sent me that.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- Isn't that phenomenal?- So this has got to be late 60's, early 70's.- That's right, yes.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Known as a brandy glass or snifter, although it's a rather...
0:16:27 > 0:16:29- Large one.- ..big brandy glass.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32You can swish the brandy round in the bottom and that shape
0:16:32 > 0:16:34will funnel it up to one's nose, get the aroma.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38It's so heavy you need a brandy to be able to lift it, don't you?
0:16:38 > 0:16:42It's a nice thing with a good provenance and certainly something we can send to auction today.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46So, John, big question for a big glass, how much do you reckon at auction?
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Ordinarily, if that came in, I'd say £30 to £50, something like that,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53but with star provenance who knows where we might end up?
0:16:53 > 0:16:55In the meantime though, this one is going.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57I think so. A nice item, I'd be glad to see it taken to auction.
0:16:57 > 0:17:03- Are you going to carry it out and look after it carefully? - I think I ought to.- You go first.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08We're really finding a great mix of collectibles and memorabilia to take with us to auction,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11so hopefully there'll be something for everybody come sale day.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14However, will there be any takers for this sporran?
0:17:14 > 0:17:18That's enough now, John, thank you very much indeed. Enough, enough.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Tom won it, I'm told, together with the hip flask,
0:17:20 > 0:17:25after beating his great friend and fellow comedian Russ Abbott at a round of golf many years ago.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Tom hasn't found too many opportunities to wear it,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31surprise, surprise, so he's happy to let it go along with the flask.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35And John thinks they could add another £30 to £50
0:17:35 > 0:17:37to the ever-increasing kitty.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Well, this is like rogues gallery,
0:17:39 > 0:17:47it's like the long gallery with all your family and career and everything. It's fantastic.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52It reminds me of the family, starting with our four children and going through to 13 grandchildren now.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56And is this the very young Tom O'Connor with the guitar?
0:17:56 > 0:17:58It is. He's 25 years old, I was never that old.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03The guitar was amazing, it's a pre-war Gretsch guitar.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06I sold it for £12 when we had absolutely no money,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10the kids were starving and we needed money, and it's probably worth several thousand now.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13- It was worth hundreds when I sold it. - Isn't that amazing?
0:18:13 > 0:18:17- Are you being serious that you had no money?- No money at all. - Do you remember that period, Pat?
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- Oh, I do, very well.- So you were glad of the 12 quid?- I was.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23As teachers, it was one and a half month's wages.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25- It was an amazing amount of money. - Actually, that's a very good point.
0:18:25 > 0:18:32The pair of you were teachers in the early part of your relationship, where was that?
0:18:32 > 0:18:39Well, we met in Richmond and when we got married, we went to live in Liverpool.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Then I started having children
0:18:42 > 0:18:48- and we couldn't manage without two wages.- So hence the guitar had to go?- So hence the guitar had to go.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53Then I got a cheap guitar and went on the clubs and pubs round Liverpool singing.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57It was a hard time. What was good for me was I was teaching maths,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00she would mark the papers for me while I was out working in the clubs.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02What's it like living with somebody so steeped in comedy?
0:19:02 > 0:19:09It's great fun, you know, every day is different, but you have fun all the time.
0:19:09 > 0:19:10Pat sets a test me.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14If I wake her up with a story and she listens, then it's a good story,
0:19:14 > 0:19:19if she laughs, that's just to shut me up. If she actually listens, I put it in the act.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23Well, we've a few more things to look out so why don't we head in that direction?
0:19:23 > 0:19:26- I love these photographs, they're great.- Thank you.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31As we commence one final search of the house, Tome decides that the time has come
0:19:31 > 0:19:38to part with a possession he holds very close to his heart, it's his Top Shirt Wearer of 1989 award.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I'd like to know who Tom was up against if he won it!
0:19:41 > 0:19:47It's fun, and John thinks that with a bit of luck and hopefully some Tom O'Connor fans in the room,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50it might fetch £30 to £40 on sale day.
0:19:50 > 0:19:57And it would seem that Tom is not done yet as he may just have been saving the best to last.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00- I have to tell you, he's got quite a fine leg there.- He has.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05- He's ready for dancing. - We're talking about your legs.- I'm staggering under the weight of this.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09- What have you got there? - Hang on to them. - What an imposing looking book.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11So what's the story with this, Tom?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14- Where did you get this?- The charity gave me this particular copy.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17I've got two other books of Princess Di, which will be part of the lot.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Was this when all the dresses were auctioned off at Christies?
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- That's right.- So it was a very special event, wasn't it?
0:20:23 > 0:20:28It was a fantastic book, a huge sell, it made worldwide news,
0:20:28 > 0:20:33- and do you know the sale was suggested by her son, William? - I didn't know that.- Yes,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37and the sale took place in New York to huge demand for the catalogues,
0:20:37 > 0:20:41so much so they printed this very fine, glossy hardback version here,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43which is now almost a collector's item in its own right.
0:20:43 > 0:20:49- I think 80 dresses in total, which made around 3 million.- Really?
0:20:49 > 0:20:51I'm sure you'll remember when she visited the White House
0:20:51 > 0:20:56- and danced the very famous dance with a certain John Travolta.- Yes. - John Travolta, yes.
0:20:56 > 0:21:02That was the dress she wore, there we are, dark blue velvet designed by Victor Edelstein.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05When this dress came under the hammer, it raised nearly 0.25 million,
0:21:05 > 0:21:11breaking the auction house's previous record for an item of clothing,
0:21:11 > 0:21:17- which coincidentally was the suit worn by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.- Isn't that amazing?
0:21:17 > 0:21:19- Wow.- You met Diana, didn't you? - On a couple of occasions, yes.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24I did a show at her behest and the joke she fell about laughing at was, I said,
0:21:24 > 0:21:31"We've got a 14-year-old grandchild who's on a student exchange in Paris. She's learning to sulk in French."
0:21:31 > 0:21:35- But she had a great sense of humour, didn't she?- A great girl.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39All right, so it brings us to what you might expect of a book like this?
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Well, at auction today, I'd expect this to make no less
0:21:42 > 0:21:45than about £80 to £120 because they are collector's items now.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50That's a nice note to end on, and I've been doing a bit of mental arithmetic -
0:21:50 > 0:21:56at the beginning of the day you were hoping for £700. Well, I'm really pleased to tell you
0:21:56 > 0:22:01if everything goes according to plan and the right people turn up on the day, you have £905.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03That'll do.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05That's pretty good, hey? 905.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08So we might get well above 1,000. Well, thank you so much,
0:22:08 > 0:22:13I can't tell you how much we've both enjoyed coming to see your fabulous house,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16and if we never need a break, we'll know where to come.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18- You know where we are. - You know where we are.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I hear that Pat does a very good Irish breakfast.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Now, I'm sure this unusual collection,
0:22:23 > 0:22:30ranging from a Victorian lace veil to a giant 1960's brandy glass, will have quirky appeal on sale day.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Also going to auction, the amazing collection of German medals.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37His father swapped them for a packet of cigarettes at the end of the war,
0:22:37 > 0:22:42but we're hoping the next owner will pay upwards of £200 for them.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44The very collectable assortment of memorabilia
0:22:44 > 0:22:47from the maiden voyage of Queen Mary II.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Together it could all fetch £75 to £150,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53and of course the wonderful family rocking horse
0:22:53 > 0:22:56that's been relegated to the garage,
0:22:56 > 0:23:01but it's off to pastures new and could bring in £200 to £400.
0:23:03 > 0:23:10Still to come on Cash In The Celebrity Attic, there's a message to the bidders from a pop legend.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11George Michael thanks you.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15And Tom shows that he's not overly attached to all of his lots.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18If this goes, I can get my bike in the garage.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24But will we be laughing at the end of the day? All will be revealed.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34I have to admit we had such a laugh when we visited Tom and Pat at their home in Berkshire.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36As well as Tom's endless stream of jokes,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40we also found some great items and we've brought them here to auction.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45Just to remind you, Tom wants to raise about £700 for his favourite charity
0:23:45 > 0:23:49so let's hope everyone here's in really high spirits when his items go under the hammer.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57We've come to expect a good crowd over the years here at Chiswick Auctions in West London,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59so let's hope that today is no exception.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01John was one of the first through the doors this morning,
0:24:01 > 0:24:07and I'm pleased to learn that all of Tom's items have arrived in one piece and in their entirety,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10including the brandy glass and the fabulous collection of medals.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Was it your father who brought them back?
0:24:12 > 0:24:15My dad brought them back from Germany.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18This is exactly the way, someone had put them on the card and everything,
0:24:18 > 0:24:22you can see the way the 7 is a German 7, and he always said these are real,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26and I was thinking, "Blimey, they can't be that important, but apparently they are."
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- Are they, John? - They're certainly all right, that was the main concern.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34There's nothing rare, but what was in doubt was their authenticity.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Had a second opinion, it is the most heavily faked area in militaria.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42They all seem OK and they've got good provenance so interesting to see how well they do today.
0:24:42 > 0:24:48- The podium over there, I would guess it will take a lot to keep you off it today.- I'm ready now.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54I didn't think Tom would take too much persuading to perform in front of a crowd.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58He'll have to wait though so that he can see just how it should be done.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00With the official auctioneer in place,
0:25:00 > 0:25:04it's time for our first lot of the day to go in front of the room.
0:25:04 > 0:25:10It's a giant brandy glass, and it would seem it didn't come from the boys in the local after all.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15I thought we got it from a pub when I won Opportunity Knocks as a souvenir,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17but I was wrong, Pat corrected me.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21- We got this from my mother on our Ruby Wedding.- So how much do you think it might go for?
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Well, I put 30 to 50, and I like it.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28I like the kitschness about it and I'm hoping somebody in the room also loves the '60s.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33An oversized Venetian red glass goblet, provenance Tom O'Connor.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37There you are, an offer of money here, £30 for it.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41- Straight in.- At £30. Take 2. At £30. 32...
0:25:41 > 0:25:4435, 35... 38, 40?
0:25:44 > 0:25:4842? At £40. At £40 selling... All done.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51£40, first lot goes. £40.
0:25:51 > 0:25:57- Middle estimate, good.- Not bad, happy with that?- Yes, happy.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Tom may have forgotten where the vase came from,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02but there were several bidders who were certain
0:26:02 > 0:26:04that they wanted to take it home,
0:26:04 > 0:26:08and as a result we have our first contribution to the charity pot.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12I'm going to be really interested to see what the room makes of our second lot,
0:26:12 > 0:26:17I'm still finding it funny that Tom and Pat had that hat in their house,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19it's a Victorian funeral bonnet.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21So, John, will it sell at all?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24We want £30 to £40 for it, so it's a great thing for dress up,
0:26:24 > 0:26:29- and some of these period costume hire companies, they buy this sort of thing.- It is authentic.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31It might sell very well?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- It might sell very well.- £30 for it?
0:26:34 > 0:26:36£20 for it?
0:26:36 > 0:26:39- £10 for it? - Nobody wants a funeral bonnet.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42At 10. I've got 12 now. 14?
0:26:42 > 0:26:4616, 18, 20, 22?
0:26:46 > 0:26:52Bid upstairs at £20. £22? At £20. Are we done for the bonnet?
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Going for £20 then. Sold at £20.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57- That's all right.- I think that's OK,
0:26:57 > 0:27:02I can't think of many people who come to the auction who'd want a funeral bonnet.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Not the sort of thing you'd buy as a gift for someone, is it?
0:27:04 > 0:27:06You wouldn't go to a funeral in it!
0:27:06 > 0:27:09I'm so pleased to hear you wouldn't, Tom.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14With two lots down, we've so far raised £60 towards our £700 target.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19And following the sale of the bonnet, we're all equally intrigued to see how our next lot will fare.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22It's what you might call an unknown entity,
0:27:22 > 0:27:27and I'm sorry I'm laughing, but it's Tom's Top Shirt Wearer award.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30So, John, I'm going to leave it to you to describe this award.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33I don't think there's much to say, it's an engraved brass dish.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37We've got the provenance there and we want £30 for it,
0:27:37 > 0:27:42so hopefully there's someone here that may give this to somebody that perhaps wears bad shirts.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Top Shirt Wearer.
0:27:44 > 0:27:49It is brass, so scrap wise it should be worth at least 1,000.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53You've done me a great favour there, thanks(!)
0:27:53 > 0:27:56We're trying to sell these things, Tom. Right,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59£10 for it. £5 for it.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Thank you, bid at £5. At 5, I'm bid at 5... 6? £5...
0:28:03 > 0:28:07At £5... 6 I'm bid. At 6, thank you. 7? 7. 8?
0:28:07 > 0:28:108, 9, 10, 11? I'll come back to you at 12,
0:28:10 > 0:28:1412. 13, 14?
0:28:14 > 0:28:16At £13. Selling at £13,
0:28:16 > 0:28:22all finished for charity at £13? 14, I'm bid. 15, 16, 17?
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Started getting exciting then.
0:28:24 > 0:28:29At £16, 16... Take 17? £16, all done. At £16.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33Well, it went. £16.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37It may not have reached John's estimate, but when it comes
0:28:37 > 0:28:42to valuing one-off items like this there's really no knowing what the bidders might be willing to pay.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46Hopefully, our next lot will have a much, much wider appeal.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49We're all hoping so because it's the fabulous collection of Diana books,
0:28:49 > 0:28:54including the rare hardback catalogue from her famous dress sale,
0:28:54 > 0:28:56one of the most prestigious auctions of all time,
0:28:56 > 0:28:58this one excluded of course.
0:29:00 > 0:29:06- They're going to waste in our house, somebody should have them on display or where people can read them.- Yes.
0:29:06 > 0:29:11- Some beautiful photographs in there. - The dresses.- And the dresses are superb.
0:29:11 > 0:29:12Shall we start, £50 for it?
0:29:12 > 0:29:16All gone quiet, no-one's hand moved. £50 for it?
0:29:16 > 0:29:19- Oh, no.- Bid at £50, £50, take 5 for it?
0:29:19 > 0:29:21£50?
0:29:21 > 0:29:24Come and see me after, worth a bit more than that.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27I mean, it's only going at £50. Are you happy to sell it for that, Pat?
0:29:27 > 0:29:31No, no, I'd rather keep it than take that.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33- Are you in agreement, Tom? - Yes.- I don't want to.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37I'm truly surprised there was so little interest for the Diana books,
0:29:37 > 0:29:39and the auctioneer agrees
0:29:39 > 0:29:42they're worth more than the bidders were willing to pay.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44So rightly so, they remain unsold,
0:29:44 > 0:29:48but we won't let the disappointment take the wind out of our sails yet
0:29:48 > 0:29:50because we have plenty of items to sell.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Let's hope our next lot proves to be more to the bidders' taste,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56it's a collection of memorabilia
0:29:56 > 0:29:58from the maiden voyage of Queen Mary II.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02I've always loved Cunard ships
0:30:02 > 0:30:05and my friend went on the maiden voyage of Queen Mary II
0:30:05 > 0:30:08and bought all he could as memorabilia from it.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12It's superb and I would love to keep it, but I think it should be shared.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16We've got a speculative estimate on it, 75 to 150.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19- I must say, that's a wide berth.- Oh!
0:30:19 > 0:30:23Well, hopefully it'll sell otherwise Tom will be giving me a wide berth.
0:30:23 > 0:30:2680a in your catalogue, a photograph of Queen Mary II.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30We took some towels as well, but you can't have them.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Right.
0:30:32 > 0:30:3780a, a photograph of Queen Mary, it's a good lot, £50?
0:30:37 > 0:30:41£40? Must be £40 somewhere. £40, £30, here we go...
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Bid at £30. Take 2.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46A bid at 32, thank you, 35?
0:30:46 > 0:30:4735, 38, 40...
0:30:47 > 0:30:4942, 45...
0:30:49 > 0:30:5248, 50,
0:30:52 > 0:30:5652, 55? At £52, bid at £52. Take five.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59It should make more. Bid at £52. All done?
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Only £52. I'm selling at £52. Are we done?
0:31:02 > 0:31:05£52.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10- £52.- A bit short of our estimate. Went down with that one, didn't I?
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Well, after a promising start with our giant brandy glass,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16the rest of our sales have failed to get the bidders
0:31:16 > 0:31:18digging deep into their pockets.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Not good news if we're going to achieve that £700 target.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27Hopefully, our next lot will make them all sit up and pay attention.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31Calling all petrol heads, it's time for Tom's collection of models
0:31:31 > 0:31:35dedicated to Italy's favourite supercar.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Why the Ferraris, Tom, were you ever a Ferrari driver?
0:31:37 > 0:31:41Not myself, but my son-in-law, who is Italian, loves Ferraris.
0:31:41 > 0:31:47Still has one, he has a Testarossa, so we decided one Christmas to treat him to some Ferraris.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51He came all the way from Italy, he was thrilled to bits, and he went home and forgot them.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53So if he's watching now, too bad.
0:31:53 > 0:31:58- So we've got them in here today, £30 to £40?- I was surprised we still had them in the boxes.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01£20, start me please. £20? £10?
0:32:02 > 0:32:0510 bid. Give me 12. At £10, bidder at 10. I'll take 12. At £10.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07Not getting much.
0:32:07 > 0:32:1015, 18... 18, 20, 22...
0:32:10 > 0:32:1225, 28...
0:32:12 > 0:32:16A bid at £25, 28 here... Do you want 30?
0:32:16 > 0:32:22- 30, 32, 35, 38, 40... - That's all right. That's fine.
0:32:22 > 0:32:2445, 48, 50...
0:32:24 > 0:32:2752, 55...
0:32:27 > 0:32:2958, 60...
0:32:30 > 0:32:32One more, 62...
0:32:32 > 0:32:3565, thank you, 68...
0:32:35 > 0:32:3770...
0:32:37 > 0:32:40- That's good.- Yes.- 75...
0:32:40 > 0:32:4378, £80...
0:32:43 > 0:32:45- 82.- Wow.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48£100. I'm bid £100. At 105?
0:32:48 > 0:32:52- At £100.- Serious bidder. - At £100 then...
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Bid's on my right at £100. £100 and going. Gone.
0:32:55 > 0:33:00- Yes!- Well done, thank you. - Fantastic, well done. Yeah!
0:33:00 > 0:33:04Jubilation. It may have been a slow start to the bidding,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07but the allure of the prancing horse proved too much to resist
0:33:07 > 0:33:10and the models leave their estimates for dust.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12And, you know, not before time.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17We had a pretty tough first start to our sale, so just how are we doing coming up to that half time stage?
0:33:17 > 0:33:20You want £700 for your total,
0:33:20 > 0:33:26but so far we have only got £228, so a bit of a way to go.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28- Anyway, big items still to come. - Fantastic.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32- So do you want to have a look around the auction as well?- Shall we?- OK.
0:33:32 > 0:33:39Yes, not quite where we'd like to be, but the rocking horse and Tom's father's medal collection
0:33:39 > 0:33:44are amongst the lots yet to sell, and there's still plenty to get excited about.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Now, where has Tom disappeared to?
0:33:47 > 0:33:51Very interesting lot here, it's got some wonderful people on show.
0:33:51 > 0:33:58We've got Benny Hill there, my good friend Bob Monkhouse, and the all-time legend Vera Lynn.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00One of the greatest moments of my life,
0:34:00 > 0:34:05I was at a function at Grosvenor House and they said, "Vera Lynn's one of our guests
0:34:05 > 0:34:09"and she hasn't brought anyone with her, she's not accompanied, would you take her in on your arm?"
0:34:09 > 0:34:14Would I do that? If my dad could see me with Vera Lynn on my arm, that would have made his day.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18Vera Lynn was the heroine really to anyone who fought in the war.
0:34:18 > 0:34:23My dad was a soldier a long, long way from home, Vera Lynn's songs kept him in touch with everybody.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26She was like the girl next door, which was wonderful.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30She still is, 90 plus, still going. Yes, what a lot that is.
0:34:33 > 0:34:39What a poignant story, and a marvellous lady who, even recently, still hit number one in the charts.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41If like Tom and Pat you're thinking of heading to auction,
0:34:41 > 0:34:45then do remember that fees like commission will be added to your bill.
0:34:45 > 0:34:50It's a good idea to check the details with the auction house first to avoid any surprise surprise.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55Having regained our composure, it's time for the next of our lots to try its luck with the bidders,
0:34:55 > 0:34:58who we're hoping will be cue-ing up to get their hands on them.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02- There's a story about it and you should tell it.- Very quick story.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04The reason we have all these items and we don't have the table is,
0:35:04 > 0:35:07I got rid of the table in a fit of pique, and I'll tell you why.
0:35:07 > 0:35:12It used to be placed in our snooker room underneath our bedroom,
0:35:12 > 0:35:17and one morning about 3 o'clock all I could hear was snooker balls, so I came down.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20My son, who was in the music business, had two pals with him
0:35:20 > 0:35:25and I threw all three of them out, and two of them were Wham,
0:35:25 > 0:35:29and they never came back and the table followed them.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Now you've got the cues that they held in their hands, if you're a Wham fan.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36Number 90a, the cues, stand, scoreboard et cetera.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38Number 90a.
0:35:38 > 0:35:39£100 for it.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42£80 for it, bid £80.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44£80, take 5... At £80. 85...
0:35:44 > 0:35:4790, 95, 100, 110...
0:35:47 > 0:35:50120, 130...
0:35:50 > 0:35:53140, 150, 160?
0:35:53 > 0:35:56At 150. 160, 170, 180,
0:35:56 > 0:35:58190...
0:35:58 > 0:36:00- 200, 210?- 210?
0:36:00 > 0:36:02At £200. I want 210, at £200 selling all done.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07£200 the bid's there, at £200 all out and gone.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10- Gone at £200. - George Michael thanks you!
0:36:10 > 0:36:12God bless him, that's what we like,
0:36:12 > 0:36:16just the way we wanted to kick off the second half of our auction.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19Let's see if we can keep the momentum going
0:36:19 > 0:36:21with the sale of Tom's sporran and hip flask.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25As we've come to expect, there's provenance thrown in for nothing.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29I won it playing a game of golf against my best pal Russ Abbott.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32Anyone who remembers Russ at his height, with, "See you, Jimmy,"
0:36:32 > 0:36:35the big Scottish fellow with the red hair, "There's you..."
0:36:35 > 0:36:38This is a minor tribute to a great character.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42What's it worth, charity, want £30 for it, £20 for it...
0:36:42 > 0:36:45Thank you, bid at £20, at £20...give me 22.
0:36:45 > 0:36:50At £20. Give me 22, 25 over there... 28?
0:36:50 > 0:36:53- At 25... 28 down there? - I'm happy with that.- Yes.
0:36:53 > 0:36:5730, 32, 35, 38? At £35...
0:36:57 > 0:37:01At £35 for the sporran, £35 it goes...
0:37:01 > 0:37:03All done. All out. £35.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07That's another very respectable result,
0:37:07 > 0:37:11and I'm please to say our charity fund is looking healthier by minute.
0:37:11 > 0:37:16Now it's the turn of the acrylic painting, which is called Morning Sun, to be offered to the room.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19This was kindly donated to Tom by the artist Sue Jelley
0:37:19 > 0:37:23to help him do all he can for his chosen good cause.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26It's nice and colourful, I've put £100 to £200 on it.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28I certainly think it's worth houseroom at that price.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30£50 for it?
0:37:30 > 0:37:33I'm bid £50, 55 there...65,
0:37:33 > 0:37:37- 70...5, 80...5. - That's OK.- 90...5...
0:37:37 > 0:37:41100...110, 120...
0:37:41 > 0:37:45130, 140? Coming down. The bid's at 130, at 130.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49130, are we done? Last chance at 130. All out at 130, and going. 130.
0:37:49 > 0:37:54- You're a happy boy with that, aren't you?- I'm delighted, yes.- Yes.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56Well done, that's a really impressive result,
0:37:56 > 0:37:59but will our next lot be able to reach the top estimate?
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Tom's determined it will,
0:38:01 > 0:38:05so much so he's volunteered to try and auction the medals himself.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09On behalf of my dad and a lot of old soldiers, we have these genuine medals.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13They genuinely are German medals, they're not fakes.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16So who'll start me with £50 for these? £50 for these medals.
0:38:16 > 0:38:1850 I have. 75?
0:38:18 > 0:38:21100? I've got 75. I'll take 85,
0:38:21 > 0:38:2485 I've got. 95? 95...
0:38:24 > 0:38:25100, 110...
0:38:25 > 0:38:29120, thank you very much, 130...
0:38:29 > 0:38:31140, 150, 160,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34170, 180, 200...
0:38:34 > 0:38:37200 I have. 210?
0:38:37 > 0:38:39200 I have, any advance on...? 210.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42210, 220. 230?
0:38:42 > 0:38:45230 I have. 240?
0:38:45 > 0:38:47235 then? 235 I've got...
0:38:47 > 0:38:49240, 250...
0:38:49 > 0:38:52260, 270...
0:38:52 > 0:38:54270 we have. 280?
0:38:54 > 0:38:57280. 290?
0:38:57 > 0:38:59285? 290 I have.
0:38:59 > 0:39:04Who'll make it 300? Thank you, sir. 300, 310... 320?
0:39:04 > 0:39:07Is that 315? 315. 320?
0:39:07 > 0:39:10315 then.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14315 once, and twice. Thanks very much indeed, bless you.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17APPLAUSE
0:39:17 > 0:39:20- Wasn't he good?- Yes. - £310, didn't he do well?
0:39:20 > 0:39:23He did, he did, he did, he did.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27After all, he was a schoolteacher before becoming a comedian,
0:39:27 > 0:39:32so I don't see why auctioneer shouldn't be added to his CV after that performance.
0:39:32 > 0:39:37With the charity pot filling up very nicely, we have just one lot left to sell
0:39:37 > 0:39:41and it's the rocking horse, which has languished in the garage for several years.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46Let's hope we can gallop over the finishing line with another fabulous result.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50The story is, the rocking horse belonged to two of our grandkids,
0:39:50 > 0:39:55but it was always in the garage because it was so big you can't put it anywhere,
0:39:55 > 0:39:58and they used to drag it out onto the lawn, and then back again.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00So it really needs to go,
0:40:00 > 0:40:03and they've got their own horse now so they're not bothered.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06So how do you think it will do, John?
0:40:06 > 0:40:11- Not a huge amount of age, but it is nice quality.- If this goes, I can get my bike in the garage.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Who'll give £200 for it? Good provenance as well - Tom O'Connor.
0:40:15 > 0:40:20£200 start me, rocking horse. £100 for it? £50 for it?
0:40:20 > 0:40:23I'm bid at £50. 55 there, 60...5,
0:40:23 > 0:40:2670...5, 80...
0:40:26 > 0:40:285, 90...5,
0:40:28 > 0:40:31100, 110, 120, 130,
0:40:31 > 0:40:36- 140, 150, 160, 170... - Good, good, good.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Thanks for bidding, £170. We want 180, somebody else...
0:40:39 > 0:40:42170 I am bid, 170... At 170 are we done? Going to sell for 170...
0:40:42 > 0:40:48- Going for 170.- That's good, thank you.- Thank you. - That's all right, isn't it?
0:40:48 > 0:40:54You know, for something that's been in the garage for years and years, that is brilliant.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58The rocking horse may have fallen a little short of the estimate,
0:40:58 > 0:41:00but at least not before the final fence.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04So with the horse off to a new home and hopefully not a new garage,
0:41:04 > 0:41:09just how have we done at the end of a somewhat turbulent day at auction?
0:41:09 > 0:41:15Just to refresh everybody's memory, you wanted £700 towards helping children with very special needs,
0:41:15 > 0:41:18and you were hoping for the £700 all out.
0:41:18 > 0:41:24I am thrilled out of my brains to tell you that you got £1,078.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28- Wow, I can't believe that, that's really good.- Brilliant.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Wait till our children hear that, that's great.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35- £1,078, I think it's brilliant. - Great.
0:41:38 > 0:41:44The money that Tom raised at auction is going to the Children With Special Needs Foundation,
0:41:44 > 0:41:50which helps provide schools in and around Surrey with essentials from computers to sporting equipment.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54It's been a great day for me, the first real auction I've ever been to,
0:41:54 > 0:41:5850% more than we thought we were going to get in our wildest dreams for our charity.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00So all in all a great day.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08Well, with Tom and Pat O'Connor you can always say happiness all round,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11so that was a really good result for Tom's favourite charity.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14Now if you would like to raise money for something special in your life,
0:42:14 > 0:42:19and you've got some collectibles or antiques around your home, then I hope you'll call in our team.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23It's very easy to get in touch - bbc.co.uk.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26I hope one day I'll be welcoming you to Cash In The Attic.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30Meantime, thanks for your company and from all our team, bye-bye.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd