All the team (Commitee and Volunteers)

Patron - James Lewis (Antique Expert and TV Personality. Below)

James Lewis was born in London to anything but an antiques background.  His mother, a forensic scientist, who until James’ birth spent most of her time in the lab, as did his father, who is most well known for heading the team responsible for developing Ibuprofen formulations e.g. Nurofen

Growing up in the Midlands he soon developed his passion for antiques, learning from a very early age and from the lowest rung, assisting his mother in charity fund raising at Jumble Sales and Car Boots.

Antiques were always going to be a hobby for James with his love of animals leading the way as a choice for a career and his intention was to go to University to train as a vet. He soon realised it wasn’t for him and turned to his second love… antiques.

After work experience at Neales Auctioneers of Nottingham, James started a full time three-year course at Southampton, after which he returned to Neales for 9 years.  During this time he won the RICS Auctioneer of the year award.  He catalogued silver, decorative arts and furniture and took over the running of Neales Derby saleroom.

In September 2002 Neales closed the Derby Saleroom and James was made redundant and then set up what is now one of the most famous auction houses in England, Bamfords of Derby.  Selling approximately 1500 lots every week Bamfords has rocketed into the UK’s top ten.

James’ notoriety on BBC TV has no doubt helped his company to achieve such heights, with regular appearances on antiques shows such as Bargain Hunt, Flog It, Cash in the Attic, The Antique Roadtrip, and news and documentaries such as Inside Out, as well as regular slots on five radio channels.  This year he also appears for the first time on the BBC show Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

James, though, has never lost his love for animals and is proud to be a celebrity patron of Born Free.  In recent years he has rescued lions from Romanian Zoos and flown them to Shamwari in South Africa. He also likes to get hands on, driving a transit van across Europe to help rescue a lion, three cats and two dogs from another Romanian zoo, only just getting home in time for the birth of his daughter.

He is the owner of Bamfords Auctioneers, Noel Wheatcroft Auctioneers, Matlock, Richardson and Linnell Auctioneers and has just taken over the firm that made him redundant eight years ago, Neales of Nottingham.