Milton Keynes Flog It!


Milton Keynes

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I only have to say to you roundabouts and concrete cows

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and most of you will know what I'm on about.

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Today, Flog It is in Milton Keynes.

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Mooo!

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It's hotly debated exactly how many roundabouts there are here in Milton Keynes.

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Some say there's a mere 300.

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Others say it's closer to 1,000.

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But whatever way you look at it, you have to look around and see there are loads of them!

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As for the concrete cows,

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they were a leaving present to Milton Keynes

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in 1978 from the American artist Liz Leyh.

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For works of art, they've had a rough time.

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A couple have been stolen.

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Pranksters have painted pyjamas on them, and some have had to be rebuilt

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after they were beheaded!

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The Mona Lisa didn't have this sort of trouble!

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All of these good people have been queuing patiently outside the venue,

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the Jurys Inn, in the heart of Milton Keynes.

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They're not here to see modern sculpture.

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They're here to chew the cud with our antiques experts Anita Manning and Kate Bateman.

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It's time to get the doors open

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and see what they've got to say.

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Everyone, follow me!

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Inside we go.

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Anita's spotted some plates. But I don't think anybody will be eating off these!

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David, Tina, welcome to Flog It.

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I'm so happy that you've brought us along these wonderful big plates.

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Who do they belong to?

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-Me.

-All right. Where did you get them, David?

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I inherited them from a great aunt.

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She lived in Sweden for 40 to 50 years,

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having taught English to Swedish schoolchildren

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and got the MBE for her services.

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-Ah!

-So these arrived with me about 11 years ago

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in what was a living will.

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I imagine they're Swiss/Italian.

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Could be from the Zizino region of Switzerland

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or northern Italy

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or even a bit further south on the Italian Riviera

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around Portofino, that area.

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-You're very good, David. Are you after my job?

-I like the geography of Europe.

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-Tina, what did you think of them when they arrived?

-I thought they were beautiful.

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I still think that. If we had a high enough ceiling

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and a big enough room to put them in, then we would keep them.

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David, I think you're absolutely right in the geography.

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These are Swiss plates.

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They're from a Swiss factory.

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These would have been the type of items

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that would have been bought by people on their Grand Tour.

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-Oh, gosh.

-They date from the late 1800s to the early 20th century.

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They were made over a reasonable period of time.

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We have these hand-painted scenes in the centre.

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Both different scenes and probably from Switzerland.

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We have these high snow-clad mountains,

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the beautiful lakes

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and we have some little figures in boats.

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They are hand-painted. Not signed.

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They would have been done by artisans rather than artists.

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What I like best about them

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is this wonderful border.

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With these almost asymmetric bands

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of embossed flowers.

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They're big,

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they're bonny,

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they're in good condition.

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They were never fine items. They would be made in large quantities

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as souvenirs.

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-Production-type thing.

-Production-type thing,

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and they still have more quality

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than you would get from production items of today's age.

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So I would like to keep the estimate conservative.

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-OK.

-I would like to put them in

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with an estimate of 150 to 250.

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-That sounds fine.

-I would like to put a firm reserve of 150 on them,

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-with no discretion.

-Right.

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-Now, how do you feel about that?

-OK. They're your plates.

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-That sounds fine.

-Happy?

-Yes.

-Both of you happy?

-Yes!

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-Good. Let's go for 'em. Let's flog it.

-Thank you.

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Next is our new girl, Kate, who's found a glamorous little sparkler.

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So, Sadie and Leah, you've brought in this lovely ring.

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-What can you tell me about it?

-It was my nan's ring.

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I just had it in a jewellery box. My little girl, Leah, used to play in the garden with it.

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In the garden with it? Just to take it out and pretend it's yours?

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Did you ever drop it?

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-Lose it?

-I dropped it and, um...

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-I found it.

-In the garden. We had a tub of flowers.

-Yeah.

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-You are a lucky young lady. So you don't know much about it?

-No.

-You inherited it.

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OK. Well, it's a really nice ring. Art Deco.

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Sort of like a dress ring.

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It's got lots of diamonds!

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Very sparkly, as you can see, and a central oval ruby.

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Date-wise it's about 1920s, 1930s.

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-Have you ever had it valued?

-I took it down to my local jeweller's.

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He just gave me a valuation to insure it

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between two and three.

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But he obviously said

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to take it to a proper auctioneer and let them have a look.

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-So he wasn't interested in buying it.

-No.

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Two to three thousand for an insurance valuation is right.

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You'd normally insure it at twice the price

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-that you'd expect to get at a sale.

-Yeah.

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-And the problem is not a lot of people are going to be able to wear it.

-That's it.

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-It's not something you'd pop down to the shops with.

-No.

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No. Not when I found out it was... I'd assumed it was a dress ring.

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I didn't assume it was real diamonds.

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It didn't look like that when we first had it.

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He cleaned it all up for me.

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-OK. So quite surprising to see it shining.

-Yes.

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That's why you got to play with it! So,

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if we were to put it into a sale,

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you'd probably expect maybe an estimate of 1,200 to £1,500, something like that.

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A reserve somewhere just below that, so £900 as a reserve.

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-Is that the sort of figure you'd sell it for?

-Yeah,

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because it's just sitting in a box.

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What would you do with the money? This is your inheritance, if they sell it.

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-Don't want to inherit it? Rather get the money?

-Yes.

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-We'll get another car.

-Another car. Fair enough.

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-If you're happy, we'll try and get you a new car. We'll flog it.

-Lovely.

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Cliff, it's great to see a drum on Flog It,

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being an ex-drummer. I have a drum kit at home and still love to play,

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but wasn't fortunate enough to have a Ringo Starr drum!

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-How old were you when you got this?

-About nine.

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-Mid-'60s.

-Mid-'60s. This is definitely '64, '66, somewhere around there.

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Did it inspire you to take up drumming?

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Afraid not. I was never a Beatles fan.

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-Rolling Stones.

-Yes.

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Either one or the other. The Beatles were the good guys

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and the Rolling Stones were the rock'n'roll bad guys, got into trouble.

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The only use it really had was me trying to wear out Ringo's face!

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I'm pleased you didn't cos this is the original skin.

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It's got the Ringo Starr signature with his little face on it,

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as you can see.

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-These skins are very good, almost like professional skins.

-Really?

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This is a standard 14-inch snare drum. Although this is made

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completely out of plastic,

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it is actually modelled on a metal snare drum

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which Ringo would have used. This is made by Selco in this country.

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Ringo would have used a metal-shelled version, in chrome,

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with ten tuning lugs. His drum kit was a Ludwig, an American drum.

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Now, what's missing on this

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-is a set of snares.

-I noticed that.

-Wires soldered together on a strap.

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There's about 24 of them that run the length of the drum.

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They're held on with string which goes into those two holes.

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If you do that, it tightens them up

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and pulls the snare wires onto the bottom skin

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and makes it sound as if it's a marching drum.

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Military side drums. It goes...

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I wish we had some drum sticks!

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Tell you what, we've got some spoons.

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I don't know what I can do with spoons, but...

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-See?

-Very impressive.

-You can actually get something out of this

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-and I think this is a good starting-off instrument.

-It's a bit more than a toy.

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It's more than a toy. Now, we've sold Beatles guitars on the show.

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I think one achieved around three or four hundred pounds.

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-Have you any idea what this is worth?

-I was hoping 150 to 200, along those lines.

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I could say I think you're bang on!

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Pardon the pun!

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If this was in mint condition,

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if it had the stand and original sticks and those snare wires,

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museum condition, you'd be looking for 600 to £700,

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-Cos not many have survived.

-I can imagine.

-They really haven't.

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If we put this into auction, we'd put it in with a value of 200 to £400.

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A fixed reserve at 200.

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-Happy?

-Yes, very. Very happy.

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I think it's fantastic and a Beatles fan will love this,

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especially with Ringo there!

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Irene, you've brought in this truncheon. What can you tell me about it?

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Just that my mother owned it.

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It used to be her uncle's, many years ago.

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She just kept it and one day said, "It's something you can have."

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-And I thought, "Ooh! Nice!"

-You were thrilled to have it

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-as a gift.

-It was nice.

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When you were younger, you never asked questions what it was about.

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-Now she's long gone, it would be nice to...

-Wish you'd asked.

-Yes.

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-Was someone in the family a policeman?

-Yeah, my mother's uncle.

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-OK. And was that fairly locally?

-Oh, yes.

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-Round Wolverton, which is in Milton Keynes.

-OK.

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It's a late 19th-century policeman's truncheon.

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Have a look here. It's quite nicely decorated.

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All these hand-painted things on the front.

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You've got a crown

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and a VR for Victoria Regis cipher.

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And you've got constable, for a police constable,

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with a turned fruitwood handle and you have a bit of string here,

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but it would have had a leather strap for the wrist strap.

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So quite a highly decorative thing,

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as well as a highly effective thing if you're gonna hit someone!

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-Do you like it?

-I think it's nice, but it's in a cupboard in a box.

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OK, so it's quite hard to display.

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Sometimes they have wording on them like where it comes from.

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So you'd have the county or something. This just says constable.

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But you've got the VR cipher, so it's Victorian, pre-1910.

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-Price-wise for auction, do you have any idea what it would go for?

-No.

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-No idea?

-Not at all.

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I would think probably for an auction estimate, you'd put 80 to £120 on it.

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-They are quite collectible.

-Good.

-So you want it to sell.

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What would you say to a reserve of £50?

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-Why not?

-And an estimate of 80 to 120.

-Brilliant.

-Great.

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-We'll see you at the sale.

-Will do.

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Let's refresh our memories, with a look at the first batch of items

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on their way to the auction.

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David's hand-painted plates originally came from Switzerland.

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They've got to sell today - they're too heavy to carry home!

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Even Leah agrees that Kate's exquisite Art Deco diamond ring

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is much better off in a sale room than in the garden!

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Beatles memorabilia sells well

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so no reason for me to bang on any more

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about the value of the Ringo Starr drum.

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And the decorative Victorian policeman's truncheon

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is so beautiful, the bidders are bound to find it arresting!

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Today's sale comes from the heart of Woburn

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and today's venue is the Old Town Hall.

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For years, this has been owned by Flog It favourite Charlie Ross.

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It's been taken over recently by Jasper Marsh, also an auctioneer,

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but he's using Charlie's talents today on the rostrum. Let's go inside.

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While Charlie gets ready on the rostrum,

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I'll have a quick chat with Jasper

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about the Ringo Starr drum.

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I fell in love with this at the valuation.

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It belongs to Cliff. It's a Newbeat snare drum.

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It's a cracking bit of Beatles memorabilia.

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You're thinking I've gone mad!

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I think this will sell for around £200, possibly more.

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We've sold the Beatles equivalent guitars,

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little aubergine and orange guitars, 1960s guitars, on the show before.

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If I recall, one went in Cardiff.

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I think we put something like £90 on this little guitar. 60 to £90.

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And it fetched 200 to 300, around there.

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So I'm basing my knowledge on what's gone before on the show.

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I haven't seen another one, Paul. It's more your area than mine.

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Um, but it's kitschy, it's got a look,

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it's been on the internet,

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so fingers crossed.

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But I'm, um...

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PAUL LAUGHS ..dubious!

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I don't blame you! All I could do is go by what we've sold before.

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We've seen plenty of these on the show, a Victorian police truncheon.

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They make cracking money if dated and in great condition.

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This one's condition is superb. We've got 80 to £120 on it.

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It belongs to Irene here, possibly for not much longer.

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-Who have you brought along?

-My husband, Ed.

-Hi.

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Cracking, cracking item.

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How did you come across this?

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It was my mother's uncle's.

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I wonder if someone was in the police force in the family?

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-I wish I knew.

-Let's hope you're right, Kate.

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The condition, as you say, is great.

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So it should sell pretty well.

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You're right, if it had been dated, or a warrant number on it.

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-Or name of a place.

-Name of a place.

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You could attribute it to a local police station.

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-Wow, you're looking at 400 to £500.

-And upwards.

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Lot 577 is a Victorian constable's truncheon.

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Impressed maker's mark, Parker.

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In fantastic condition. £50, I'm bid. Five.

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60. Five. 70.

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Five. 80.

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Five. Your bid. 85 on my left. 90. Five.

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100. And ten.

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120?

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120. 130?

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120. Your bid in the back, standing.

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£120. Selling.

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At one hundred... 30.

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40. 150? 140 in the back, then.

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At £140!

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-That was like a game of table tennis!

-That's really good.

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-Really nice.

-What are you going to put the money towards?

-A holiday.

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-Well, we're going to Norfolk.

-We like Norfolk.

-Right.

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-We take the pets with us!

-What have you got?

-A border collie and a dog.

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-A cat, sorry!

-A collie and a cat. "Border collie and a dog"!

-Sorry!

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Can't take me anywhere!

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-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-Well done.

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You know those moments when I say credit to our experts, they were spot on?

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Well, it could go horribly wrong now for us.

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We've got Cliff and the Ringo Starr snare drum.

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A lovely bit of retro 1960s plastic.

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But unfortunately, the auctioneer didn't agree with my valuation.

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He didn't know what planet I was on

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and he's too young to understand The Beatles.

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I'm just hoping the room's full of Beatles fans. Spot any?

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There's a lot of bald heads!

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The circle Newbeat snare drum.

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Circa 1964.

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A Beatles promotional drum. There it is.

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Ringo Starr.

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And I'm bid £110. 120, anywhere? At 110.

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And 20.

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130. And 40.

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150 and 60. No.

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£150 now.

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160. It's not your bid.

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At 150. All done?

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At 150.

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Any more bids? All done?

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At £150. One more?

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Come on, one more.

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Can't be done, I'm afraid, ladies and gentlemen. We move on.

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We got it to 150 in the room. Put it in a specialist music sale.

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There were no other instruments here.

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-Just a few old violins.

-I'll take your advice.

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-Smashing.

-Thank you. I'm really sorry it didn't sell.

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Next up, two beautiful hand-painted plates.

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They're quite large, from the 1800s, and belong to Tina and David.

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Great to see you. You look absolutely fabulous!

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-They've been in the family. They were your aunt's...

-Great aunt's.

-Lots of memories?

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-Yes.

-Originally, Anita, we had a valuation of 150 to £200.

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Fixed reserve at 150.

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We decided that at the valuation day.

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Since then, David's done some research.

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He's put the reserve up. It's not 150 any more, it's now 250.

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These plates may well do 250 or more.

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A low estimate doesn't jeopardise the price.

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-It's more of a "come and buy me".

-It encourages the bidding.

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Where did you do your research? How did you come by the price?

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Some of these plates, a lot smaller, are selling for 1,500 US dollars.

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-They're for sale at 1,500 dollars.

-Whether they get that.

-Not selling at.

0:19:080:19:14

You have to be really very careful.

0:19:140:19:16

You think you can do the research on the internet, but it is limited for the private person.

0:19:160:19:23

It's going under the hammer. Good luck!

0:19:230:19:25

A pair of Swiss earthenware chargers,

0:19:250:19:27

each centrally decorated with figures in boats

0:19:270:19:30

on a lake with mountains beyond.

0:19:300:19:32

Within a broad band of floral panels.

0:19:320:19:36

The reverse each signed "Toon".

0:19:360:19:40

And I'm bid

0:19:400:19:42

220 to clear commissions.

0:19:420:19:47

220.

0:19:470:19:48

240, now? 220.

0:19:480:19:50

240.

0:19:500:19:52

240 here. 250.

0:19:520:19:54

260. 260.

0:19:540:19:56

-Well done.

-It's on my right, now. Selling at 260.

0:19:560:19:59

270 elsewhere?

0:19:590:20:01

£260 to my right. All finished

0:20:010:20:05

at £260. Done and selling

0:20:050:20:09

at 260.

0:20:090:20:11

260.

0:20:110:20:12

260. Just over reserve. Well done.

0:20:120:20:16

Sadie and Leah, we've been waiting for this for a long time.

0:20:200:20:23

Is it exciting? Not only a day off school, but a day in an auction room.

0:20:230:20:27

-Have you been in one before?

-No.

0:20:270:20:29

You can't see a lot at your height, but it's all going on at that end.

0:20:290:20:34

Charlie Ross is on the rostrum, selling all our lots.

0:20:340:20:37

Hopefully, this little ruby ring - we've got a value of 1,200.

0:20:370:20:41

-Yes, just over 1,000.

-Just over £1,000 is coming hopefully your way.

0:20:410:20:47

Ruby and diamond ring

0:20:470:20:50

in an Art Deco mount.

0:20:500:20:51

Beautiful lot.

0:20:510:20:53

Bid 650, 700. 50.

0:20:530:20:56

At 750. 800 now.

0:20:560:20:59

At 800. I'll take 20 if it helps you.

0:20:590:21:02

Bid's at 800. And 20 now? Say now.

0:21:020:21:05

At £800.

0:21:050:21:06

You're all out seated at 800. And 20 is it, now?

0:21:060:21:10

At £800. Any more bid?

0:21:100:21:13

All done at £800.

0:21:130:21:15

No more? At 800 it is.

0:21:150:21:18

Can't be sold, ladies and gentlemen, at £800.

0:21:200:21:22

We had a fixed reserve of 900 and I'm pleased you protected it with that.

0:21:220:21:27

-You don't want to give it away.

-No. I don't think the jewellery dealers were here.

0:21:270:21:32

It's a stand-alone piece in the room. There's no other diamonds or gems here.

0:21:320:21:37

-OK, we'll take it home, Leah.

-It's got to go home!

0:21:370:21:40

-I'm so sorry!

-That's OK. Thank you, anyway.

0:21:400:21:43

The good news is that, after the auction,

0:21:430:21:46

Sadie accepted a private offer of £750.

0:21:460:21:50

So she'll be able to buy that much-needed car after all.

0:21:500:21:54

Roald Dahl, what a legend! Is there anybody

0:22:000:22:04

who has grown up over the last 50 years

0:22:040:22:06

who can imagine their childhood without the BFG...

0:22:060:22:10

James and the Giant Peach...

0:22:100:22:13

..or Matilda?

0:22:150:22:17

These are just some of his classic and much-loved children's stories.

0:22:190:22:24

And this big blue building here couldn't be anything else but the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.

0:22:280:22:34

Amanda Concay runs the Roald Dahl foundation

0:22:340:22:36

which is also based here. That's her office by the sign on the first floor.

0:22:360:22:41

She can remember him reading her bedtime stories.

0:22:410:22:44

Sounds absolutely fascinating, so let's have a chat with her.

0:22:440:22:49

Let's hear Amanda tell us her story about Roald Dahl.

0:22:500:22:53

I grew up in the village we are now, in Great Missenden,

0:22:550:22:58

and this is where Roald Dahl lived and spent most of his adult years

0:22:580:23:04

and where he wrote all his children's books.

0:23:040:23:07

As a child, our families were friends.

0:23:070:23:10

I was in the same class as his second child, Tessa.

0:23:100:23:12

Roald did the morning lift to school, my mother did the evening.

0:23:120:23:16

We certainly stayed in each other's houses, had sleep-overs,

0:23:160:23:20

so our lives were pretty interlinked.

0:23:200:23:22

Was he good fun to be with?

0:23:220:23:24

Yes, he was very imposing.

0:23:240:23:26

He was very tall, six foot five,

0:23:260:23:29

so he seemed a giant when you were a child and I think he hoped he was the Big Friendly Giant.

0:23:290:23:34

Do you have any fond memories of him?

0:23:340:23:36

He always wanted to take that bit of childhood fun a bit further.

0:23:360:23:41

So midnight walks are something that children talk about, and fantasise about,

0:23:410:23:47

but generally they don't happen.

0:23:470:23:49

But he would get us up in our pyjamas and say, "We're going for a walk."

0:23:490:23:53

And he would take us down the road to this tunnel

0:23:530:23:57

and he would tell a story under there.

0:23:570:23:59

It could be about anything,

0:23:590:24:01

the stars, witches, foxes, anything.

0:24:010:24:05

So that was just completely magical and different.

0:24:050:24:09

When Amanda started working at the foundation,

0:24:090:24:12

she had no idea what a huge and lasting success

0:24:120:24:15

Dahl's children's books would turn out to be.

0:24:150:24:18

Roald was the first one where there were signing sessions,

0:24:180:24:23

where there were author visits,

0:24:230:24:25

and boy, did the kids like to meet him!

0:24:250:24:28

You're not frightened of me, are you?

0:24:280:24:31

They're all sort of funny and nice.

0:24:320:24:34

Better than the other people's books.

0:24:340:24:37

The amazing thing is, for example,

0:24:370:24:39

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is Penguin Books' best-selling book of all time.

0:24:390:24:45

You're in publishing yourself,

0:24:450:24:48

so can you sum up why he was such a successful writer?

0:24:480:24:51

It is hard to say what makes somebody take off in this way,

0:24:510:24:55

to become part of the popular culture.

0:24:550:24:57

There's nothing old-fashioned about Roald Dahl. He's contemporary.

0:24:570:25:01

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was written over 40 years ago,

0:25:010:25:06

but it still feels very contemporary.

0:25:060:25:10

They're nearly all moral tales, in one way or another.

0:25:100:25:13

Um, and the child is generally the hero.

0:25:130:25:18

At least the good children win and the bad children get their come-uppance.

0:25:180:25:24

Talking of Charlie again, what happens to the horrible children?

0:25:240:25:28

They all end up going down the chute.

0:25:280:25:30

The Oompa-Loompas get rid of them.

0:25:300:25:33

But we know Charlie is a good boy.

0:25:330:25:36

Nasty things happen but out of those, people either get punished

0:25:360:25:39

-or good people get rewarded.

-Yes.

0:25:390:25:43

So out of the dark comes good.

0:25:430:25:45

It's hard to think of Roald Dahl without thinking of his long-term working partnership

0:25:460:25:51

with illustrator Quentin Blake.

0:25:510:25:53

I think The Enormous Crocodile just shows how well

0:25:530:25:56

the combination of the two talents worked.

0:25:560:26:01

-Children can identify with that.

-Here is a crocodile that eats children.

0:26:010:26:05

But he has huge teeth.

0:26:050:26:07

But somehow, they're funny. There's something amazing about the combination.

0:26:070:26:13

In this book, Revolting Rhymes, for example,

0:26:130:26:16

here's a great thing when the prince chops off Cinderella's sister's head.

0:26:160:26:21

"What's all the racket?", Cindy cried. "Mind your own biz", the prince replied.

0:26:210:26:27

Poor Cindy's heart was torn to shreds.

0:26:270:26:29

"My prince", she thought.

0:26:290:26:32

"He chops off heads."

0:26:320:26:34

-That is so funny.

-This is a great example, isn't it?

0:26:340:26:38

-Look at her face.

-Yes, her face. It's not ghoulish, it's just funny.

0:26:380:26:43

I can have lots of people killed

0:26:430:26:46

but they won't be killed in a conventional way.

0:26:460:26:49

You can't have them shot

0:26:490:26:51

or chopped up or anything like that. It's just straight.

0:26:510:26:55

I'm quite prepared to have them killed in the most grizzly possible way,

0:26:550:27:01

like having little boys from Eton pulled out of the windows

0:27:010:27:05

and eaten by giants.

0:27:050:27:07

Bones crunched up and everything.

0:27:070:27:10

Or a child falling into a chocolate-making machine

0:27:100:27:15

and coming out as fudge.

0:27:150:27:17

That's fine, as long as there is a whopping great laugh at the same time.

0:27:170:27:22

He always said it's got to be fun. The books have to be funny.

0:27:220:27:26

And that came to him naturally.

0:27:260:27:29

He had the whizz-popping giant

0:27:290:27:32

in George's Marvellous Medicine

0:27:320:27:35

where he describes the granny as having a mouth like a dog's bottom.

0:27:350:27:41

-That's very creative!

-You only have to say that,

0:27:410:27:44

you only have to say it and you laugh, but no-one else would write it. But he did.

0:27:440:27:49

I understand he said, or he disliked anyway,

0:27:490:27:52

beards, museums and speeches.

0:27:520:27:57

What would he have made of the museum downstairs?

0:27:570:27:59

One has to remember he would have been 92 had he been alive now.

0:27:590:28:04

He said those things when museums were quite stuffy places.

0:28:040:28:08

The great thing is, we've been able to create the museum and story centre

0:28:080:28:14

at a time when museums can be really good fun.

0:28:140:28:17

They can be very interactive. I think you'll find when you see the museum

0:28:170:28:21

that it really lives up to him and his books

0:28:210:28:25

and it's a great fun place.

0:28:250:28:26

So that's exactly what I did

0:28:260:28:29

and Amanda was right. The children were having a scrumdiddlyumptious time.

0:28:290:28:34

But the final word should be left to the great man himself

0:28:340:28:37

who'd have been very at home in the museum.

0:28:370:28:40

'Most adults have forgotten how children are thinking.

0:28:420:28:46

'And I certainly see myself totally on the side of children.'

0:28:460:28:52

Back at the valuations, Anita has found some playful Clarice Cliff.

0:29:010:29:06

Clare, Clarice Cliff was one of the leading ceramicists of the 20th century.

0:29:070:29:15

People either love or hate her work.

0:29:150:29:20

-What do you think of it?

-These, I think, are hideous, really.

0:29:200:29:25

That's a word that my father described them as, "hideous".

0:29:250:29:28

Indeed. Tell me, where did you get them from?

0:29:280:29:32

They were given to my grandparents as a wedding gift.

0:29:320:29:35

I think that was in 1936.

0:29:350:29:37

Then my mum's always had them on the shelf in the kitchen.

0:29:370:29:41

That's where I remember seeing them.

0:29:410:29:44

Then Mum and Dad brought them over this time last year

0:29:440:29:47

and said, "Get rid of them. See what you can do with them."

0:29:470:29:50

Well, if we turn them up and look at the back stamp,

0:29:500:29:54

we see the magic name, Clarice Cliff.

0:29:540:29:57

Now, Clarice made a wide range of goods

0:29:570:30:02

and some of them are more collectible than others.

0:30:020:30:06

We have some very rare patterns that go into the four figures

0:30:060:30:11

and are highly sought-after.

0:30:110:30:13

Now, these are not the top-of-the-range Clarice Cliff.

0:30:130:30:18

They're from the series "My Garden" series.

0:30:180:30:22

So-called because you have this wonderful handle

0:30:220:30:27

which is a band of flowers.

0:30:270:30:30

A fairly common, a fairly ordinary pattern,

0:30:300:30:34

it was very popular in its day.

0:30:340:30:37

They were made in the 1930s.

0:30:370:30:40

Because they were popular, they made a large amount of them.

0:30:400:30:45

So they weren't rare, and in today's market, that brings the price down.

0:30:450:30:49

-I would estimate them between 100 and £150.

-OK.

0:30:490:30:56

About £50 each. Now, they might go a little higher

0:30:560:31:02

than the bottom estimate,

0:31:020:31:03

but you're not going to go to 200, £250.

0:31:030:31:07

I would love it to happen!

0:31:070:31:09

I think my dad would, also!

0:31:090:31:11

-So would you be happy to sell them?

-That would be good.

0:31:110:31:14

We'll put a reserve of £100 to protect them

0:31:140:31:17

and we'll hope they'll be very well fancied on the day.

0:31:170:31:22

-I hope so.

-Clare, shall we flog them?

-Go for it!

-Let's go for it!

0:31:220:31:27

So, Steve, you've brought in this bizarre, rather large, animal.

0:31:330:31:38

It's an elephant and a tiger. What do you think about it?

0:31:380:31:41

Um, I like it. It's just gathering dust, really.

0:31:410:31:45

I've had it in the loft. I inherited it from my gran,

0:31:450:31:48

but I've got nowhere to display it.

0:31:480:31:50

And if the little 'un knocks it off, it would be quite upsetting.

0:31:500:31:55

Ah, you've got a young child that might break it into pieces.

0:31:550:31:58

-Does your wife like it?

-Yeah, she likes elephants.

0:31:580:32:02

She'll be sad to see it go, but if it gets broken, she'll be even more gutted.

0:32:020:32:07

Do you know anything about it? The maker, or...?

0:32:070:32:10

It's got on the bottom it's a Beswick. I've nothing else to go on.

0:32:100:32:14

I know it's from my gran's cos I've seen it since I was young.

0:32:140:32:17

Yes, Beswick is the mark, an English maker.

0:32:170:32:20

It's fairly modern, 20th century.

0:32:200:32:22

But they make quite a lot of these animal models - cows, sheep and things.

0:32:220:32:26

They also do a series of wild animals, of which this is one.

0:32:260:32:30

They do this model in various sizes, a small, medium and large, and this is the large.

0:32:300:32:35

You've got a big bull elephant being attacked by a tiger.

0:32:350:32:39

So quite a violent theme to go on your mantelpiece!

0:32:390:32:42

It's really nicely modelled.

0:32:420:32:45

You can see the detail in the hide of the elephant, the face on the tiger.

0:32:450:32:49

Also, Beswick bits always get broken off.

0:32:490:32:52

So whenever I see one, I think, "It'll have a break on the trunk

0:32:520:32:56

"or the tusks always come off.

0:32:560:32:59

"You get chips on the legs or the ears."

0:32:590:33:01

But this is remarkably good condition,

0:33:010:33:04

considering it's been kept in the loft!

0:33:040:33:06

-It didn't cost you anything.

-No.

-Any idea as to value?

0:33:060:33:09

I've got no idea. As far as I'm concerned, it's more sentimental.

0:33:090:33:15

There are lots of Beswick collectors out there.

0:33:150:33:18

But it means nothing to them in terms of sentiment.

0:33:180:33:21

It's, "Is it one of a number that were produced and how rare is it?"

0:33:210:33:24

But the condition's great. For an auction value, you'd put 150 to £250 on it.

0:33:240:33:30

-Better than I thought.

-More than you thought?

0:33:300:33:33

-So for that kind of price, you'd be happy to sell it?

-Yes.

0:33:330:33:36

The estimate for the catalogue is 150 to 250.

0:33:360:33:39

I would suggest a lower reserve of £100.

0:33:390:33:42

But you can make that discretionary so the auctioneer has a chance to sell it.

0:33:420:33:47

-OK with that?

-Yeah.

-OK.

0:33:470:33:49

-So see you at the auction.

-OK.

0:33:490:33:51

Jill, welcome to Flog It.

0:33:540:33:56

And it's lovely to have that gorgeous piece of Victorian jewellery here.

0:33:560:34:02

Tell me, where did you get it?

0:34:020:34:04

My grandmother gave it to me when I got engaged in 1974.

0:34:040:34:08

-Did you wear it?

-I've never worn it.

0:34:080:34:10

-Left in a drawer.

-Did it belong to your grandmother?

0:34:100:34:14

I think so, but I don't know anything about it.

0:34:140:34:17

-No pictures of her wearing it?

-No, unfortunately.

0:34:170:34:20

Why haven't you worn it? Is it not to your taste?

0:34:200:34:24

Because I knew it was a mourning locket

0:34:240:34:26

and it's big and dark-coloured. Although I knew it was beautifully made.

0:34:260:34:30

-So it's a bit sort of sombre.

-Mmm.

0:34:300:34:33

OK, let's just have a closer look at it.

0:34:330:34:36

The case is not marked for gold.

0:34:380:34:41

Very often when a piece was made specially for someone,

0:34:410:34:47

by a jeweller, if it had been commissioned,

0:34:470:34:51

then they would not have hallmarked it.

0:34:510:34:54

But the touch of it, the colour of it, the weight of it,

0:34:540:34:58

all these things indicate to me that it is gold.

0:34:580:35:02

The front of it

0:35:030:35:05

has this beautiful banded agate oval on it.

0:35:050:35:12

And we have a gold and enamelled starburst here

0:35:120:35:16

and a beautiful pearl.

0:35:160:35:19

So it's a lovely thing.

0:35:190:35:21

It's a quality item.

0:35:210:35:23

I like it very, very much.

0:35:230:35:25

Let's open it

0:35:250:35:27

and have a little look inside.

0:35:270:35:31

-Now, do you know who this...

-Afraid I don't, no!

0:35:330:35:37

-He's quite a sombre looking chap.

-He is.

0:35:370:35:40

-Could he have been a boyfriend or a fiance?

-I just don't know.

0:35:400:35:44

-You don't know?

-No.

0:35:440:35:46

And we have the hair whorl here,

0:35:460:35:51

which is typical of mourning jewellery.

0:35:510:35:55

When Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria went into mourning.

0:35:550:36:02

And mourning became a fashion.

0:36:020:36:04

-Right.

-I would date it

0:36:040:36:06

from about the 1860s, 1870s.

0:36:060:36:11

Although these aren't popular as things to wear,

0:36:110:36:15

they are collectible. Price-wise,

0:36:150:36:18

I would put an estimate of 120 to 180 on this locket.

0:36:180:36:24

-Would you be happy with that estimate?

-Yes.

0:36:240:36:27

Let's put it to sale, Jill, but we'll put a fixed reserve

0:36:270:36:30

-of £120.

-Yes, that sounds good.

0:36:300:36:34

-Shall we sell it at that?

-Yes, please.

-I'm hoping it will go much higher.

-Thank you.

0:36:340:36:39

Time to have a final look at what is on the way to the sale room.

0:36:410:36:44

Luckily, not everyone shares Clare's low opinion of Clarice Cliff!

0:36:440:36:48

I'm sure these jugs will soothe a new owner.

0:36:480:36:51

The Beswick collectors will love the condition of Steve's elephant and tiger.

0:36:540:36:59

It's going to be a jungle out there!

0:36:590:37:01

And the Victorian mourning locket may not be the height of fashion,

0:37:010:37:04

but it's quality - and you know what I always say about quality.

0:37:040:37:09

First up, those Clarice Cliff jugs.

0:37:130:37:15

Clare, good to see you again.

0:37:150:37:17

You've brought the kids here?

0:37:170:37:19

I've got Joshua. He's four.

0:37:190:37:21

And Rachel, who's 16 months.

0:37:210:37:23

Wow! First time on TV. Lovely. The jugs, do you...

0:37:230:37:26

-No. Hideous.

-Do you like them?

0:37:260:37:29

I like Clarice Cliff. I think it's very cheering.

0:37:290:37:33

-Yes.

-It's lovely in a kitchen.

0:37:330:37:35

Hopefully, we'll get around 100 to £150.

0:37:350:37:37

-You're flogging their inheritance!

-Not really!

0:37:370:37:41

No? What does Rachel think, I wonder? Hey, Rachel?

0:37:410:37:44

Oh, she's bidding. You just bought something!

0:37:460:37:49

A pair of 1930s Clarice Cliff jugs

0:37:490:37:53

of cylindrical tapering form,

0:37:530:37:55

each decorated with streaked orange and grey glaze

0:37:550:37:58

with moulded floral loop handle.

0:37:580:38:02

Bid 65 to clear commission. 70 I'll take.

0:38:020:38:06

At 65 for the pair. 75. 80.

0:38:060:38:09

Five. 90.

0:38:090:38:10

90 bid. Five now?

0:38:100:38:12

At 90. And five. 100.

0:38:120:38:14

100 elsewhere? Bid's at 95. May I say 100, sir?

0:38:160:38:20

95 is the bid, then. At 95.

0:38:210:38:24

All finished at 95? 100 now?

0:38:240:38:27

At 95, then.

0:38:270:38:29

I'm afraid, ladies and gentlemen, we are one bid away. Not sold.

0:38:290:38:33

I just don't believe that. One bid.

0:38:330:38:36

We just needed a little prayer there. Rachel,

0:38:360:38:39

one bid away. So close!

0:38:390:38:42

-So close.

-But Mum and Dad set the reserve.

-They did, yes.

0:38:420:38:45

We've seen plenty of Beswick on the show before, but nothing like this.

0:38:510:38:55

A tiger on the back of an elephant. It belongs to Steve, not for much longer.

0:38:550:39:00

It's in good company. Have you seen the amount of Beswick in the room?

0:39:000:39:04

-There's a lot.

-I'd say there's about 300 lots there.

-Yeah.

0:39:040:39:08

So the collectors are gonna be here. I think they'll snap yours up.

0:39:080:39:12

-Do you think it'll get top end?

-It'd be nice if it did.

0:39:120:39:14

It's unusual, not the normal thing people go for.

0:39:140:39:17

But I think so, yeah.

0:39:170:39:19

I had a chat with the new owner of the sale room, Jasper.

0:39:190:39:22

He kinda liked it. He said he wouldn't give it house room

0:39:220:39:26

but it will do mid-estimate. So we're pretty safe.

0:39:260:39:28

Lot 65 is a Beswick elephant and tiger.

0:39:280:39:33

Large group. 50 bid. Five. 60. Five.

0:39:330:39:36

70. Five.

0:39:360:39:38

No? At 70. Five now. 75 in two places. 80.

0:39:380:39:41

80. 90, may I say? 90.

0:39:410:39:44

Your bid at 90.

0:39:440:39:46

Make no mistake, I'm selling at 90 in the front row.

0:39:460:39:50

Anybody make it 100? And 100 I'm bid.

0:39:500:39:52

And ten, sir? Pipped at the post. 110.

0:39:520:39:55

120? No? 110 your bid.

0:39:550:39:57

Front row. All done at £110.

0:39:570:40:00

Yes. Nice work, Charlie Ross.

0:40:000:40:03

-£110, Steven.

-Not bad.

0:40:030:40:04

-Good, isn't it?

-Yep.

-Better than something collecting dust

0:40:040:40:08

and breaking in a few weeks' time.

0:40:080:40:11

Who's getting the money?

0:40:110:40:12

Um, I dunno, really.

0:40:120:40:14

Take the girlfriend out for a meal, I suppose.

0:40:140:40:17

-Treat her. Something special.

-She'll hold you to that! It's on camera!

0:40:170:40:21

Let's hope this isn't a sad moment. It's a Victorian mourning locket.

0:40:230:40:27

It's Jill's and has been in the family a while.

0:40:270:40:30

But you've decided to sell this now

0:40:300:40:33

because you want to put the money towards a new addition.

0:40:330:40:36

We've just had our first grandchild, called Isobel.

0:40:360:40:40

It's easier to sell it, because this was a special present to you.

0:40:400:40:45

When we got engaged, my grandmother gave me this, 33 years ago.

0:40:450:40:48

A long time. It's hard to sell things people give you as presents.

0:40:480:40:53

But in this case, selling it because of a new addition to the family, I think is wonderful.

0:40:530:40:59

It's such a lovely thing and it's in perfect condition.

0:40:590:41:02

You haven't worn it. It's been in a drawer.

0:41:020:41:06

I think if you don't like it, it's the time to sell it.

0:41:060:41:09

I think it might be to today's tastes. It's a big chunky piece.

0:41:090:41:15

It's of beautiful quality.

0:41:150:41:17

Does that mean we'll get the top end of the estimate?

0:41:170:41:20

I don't know, Paul. We'll have to wait and see.

0:41:200:41:22

What are you looking for secretly?

0:41:220:41:25

120? 50?

0:41:250:41:27

150 would be very nice.

0:41:270:41:29

But the market will determine.

0:41:290:41:32

Fingers crossed.

0:41:320:41:34

A gold, pearl and enamel pendant,

0:41:340:41:37

circa 1880. Late Victorian pendant.

0:41:370:41:40

I can start that at 85. 90. Five.

0:41:410:41:44

110. 120. 130.

0:41:440:41:47

140. 150.

0:41:470:41:49

-160. 170.

-This is good.

-180.

0:41:490:41:52

190.

0:41:520:41:53

200. And 20.

0:41:530:41:55

240. 260.

0:41:550:41:57

280. 300.

0:41:590:42:02

320. 340.

0:42:030:42:06

-360.

-A lot of money!

-380.

0:42:060:42:08

Are you taking instructions? 380.

0:42:110:42:13

400? No.

0:42:130:42:15

380. You're out on the stairs. 380 in the middle of the room.

0:42:150:42:18

At £380. All done?

0:42:180:42:21

Selling at £380.

0:42:210:42:24

-Yes!

-Excellent!

-Now, quality...

0:42:240:42:27

-..always sells.

-Quality. Condition.

0:42:270:42:30

And I was right. I thought that it might be to today's tastes.

0:42:300:42:36

-And also...

-A big chunky piece.

0:42:360:42:38

-And also a "Come and buy me..."

-Well.

0:42:380:42:41

-"Come and buy me" valuation!

-I can be a bit like that.

0:42:410:42:44

-Excellent!

-Canny lass!

0:42:440:42:46

-I'm really pleased.

-You've got to be pleased with that! Wow!

0:42:460:42:50

I'm feeling hot over that one!

0:42:500:42:52

-Lovely.

-That's gonna be put towards the christening funds.

0:42:520:42:57

-Definitely.

-A bank account.

-Lovely nest egg, yes.

0:42:570:43:00

Fantastic. Thanks for coming in.

0:43:000:43:02

-Well done. That was marvellous!

-Thank you!

0:43:020:43:05

Well done, Anita. What a "come and buy me" that was!

0:43:050:43:08

That's it. What a great day we've had here.

0:43:130:43:16

The auction's still going on behind me

0:43:160:43:18

and all credit to Charlie Ross.

0:43:180:43:21

He's been magnificent as have our two experts today.

0:43:210:43:24

We've had a great time at Woburn. Until next time, cheerio!

0:43:240:43:28

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0:43:520:43:55

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