I'm a hoarder. My husband was a hoarder. We bought stuff because we fell in love with it, or we felt sorry for it (it was unloved). Because it pertained to things that excited us: trains (Bill), cars (me), books (I arrived with 2,500: only to find two libraries already overflowing), paintings, textiles (me), carpets, furniture (far too much...), beautiful craftsmanship, silver, jewellery, anything lovingly made by someone skilled. I hang Pucci dresses on the wall (and one of Anna Pavlova’s!). My children think I’m “nuts”… but that’s OK.

Bill was, of course the world’s greatest “trainspotter”. He said his love of trains was evident before he could walk. He built the railway here, rescued Flying Scotsman, cared for her for 23 years and spent the rest of his life regretting letting her go. Our museum is only one example of his need to conserve all that was great about Great Britain and the engineering and technical skills she gave the world.

When we married, people asked how I had moved from cars to railways. “I haven’t” was my response: “It is all beautiful engineering.” That is what we have tried to preserve and some of that I am now, with Bill’s blessing, passing on.

He always said, “Don’t give stuff to museums to hide in their storerooms: sell to people who want to own a bit of history and will care for it.”

While I MAY live for another ten years or more… I’m not sure I really want to! But I don’t want to leave the children with our chaos to sort out. This, then, is a first attempt to rationalise the chaos. It is eclectic. I have allowed Dreweatts to create what they believe will be an interesting sale. Naturally there is an awful lot still to cause the children a headache if I do depart and naturally there is still a great deal with which I am not prepared to part… not yet.

I do hope that those who do acquire a little of the flotsam of our lives will derive as much pleasure from their acquisitions as we have: and should they want to hear more of the “stories” they are welcome to ask.

View page turning catalogue

Auction Details

Wednesday 12 August, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Browse the auction
Sign up to email alerts

VIEWING:

• Viewing at Dreweatts London (highlights): 16-17 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU
  • Monday 27 July: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 28 July: 10am-4pm
  • Wednesday 29 July: 10am-4pm
  • Thursday 30 July: 10am-4pm
  • Friday 31 July: 10am-4pm
• Viewing at Dreweatts Newbury (full sale): Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
  • Saturday 8 August: 10am-3pm
  • Sunday 9 August: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 10 August: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 11 August: 10am-4pm
  • Wednesday 12 August: 10am-4pm

Further Information: 
General enquiries: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553 | housesales@dreweatts.com
Press enquiries: press@dreweatts.com