J'AIME JUNE 2018

lots.
“We had a garden sale recently where you could by
tools, chainsaws, garden ornaments and furniture.
“Watches, wines and whiskeys are all quite hot at
the moment, but I really just love anything which is
going to come in and sell well.”
While the run-up to a sale involves a steady stream
of activity behind the scenes before the public is
invited in to view the items for sale - with up to 1,500
lots on offer in a three-day sale - it is in the saleroom
itself on auction day when things reach fever pitch.
Punters pack in, some having taken advantage of
the last-minute early morning viewing opportunity,
some already prepared with items on their wishlist,
and there’s a distinct buzz of anticipation as Richard
prepares to take the rostrum.
With one eye on the room and one on the screen
which shows bidding activity online - as well as the
occasional glance across to the bank of telephone
bidders - you may think it’s difficult to keep track of
the fast-moving activity. And, for the inexperienced,
you’d be right. But for Richard, it comes as second
nature.
“When I first started there were people in front of
you and a few bids on the book; now it’s the internet,
it’s telephones, my screen has bids coming all over
and I can see where they’re all coming from,” he
says. “At our last auction we had about 730 people
bidding online. And we get online bidders from
around the world, not just the UK; we’ve got bidders
registered in 15 countries.”
And with Richard eagle-eyed at the helm, you
don’t have to worry about inadvertently bidding
on an unwanted item with a scratch of the nose or
a wipe of the brow. Years of experience mean he
instinctively knows who’s interested - often even
before the bidding starts.
“People bid in all sorts of ways,” laughs Richard.
“We’ve still got the old farmers who wink and nudge,
and it’s just instinctive. I know instantly who’s looking
for certain items; if we have a watch come up, or
jewellery, I know where in the room to look for
bidders.
“And everything happens at pace, it’s really quick.
A lot of auctioneers are different, but lots of people
come to us because we don’t mess around, we just get
on with selling and get through
RICHARD WINTERTON
GIVES J’AIME EDITOR
AMY NORBURY A
LESSON IN THE ART OF
AUCTIONEERING
THESE VINTAGE
SUITCASES WERE A LOT
AT THE RECENT THREE-
DAY AUCTION
the lots quickly. Time is precious
to people so we don’t waste it.”
The Winterton family name
has been synonymous with
auctioneering in Staffordshire
since 1864, from its early
beginnings in the Smithfield
livestock market in Lichfield. As
the sixth generation born into a
family of auctioneers - son Tom,
who now works alongside Richard
is the seventh - auctioneering is
the only career choice he ever
imagined.
“Since I was a little boy, there was
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