Page 94 - Alan Blakeman Collection catalogue

Each of them have supported me and enjoyed (or is that endured?) decades of Wath & Elsecar shows, Fairs all round the country & overseas, so many auctions. None of this collection would have been possible without so very much help from them. So,
I cannot say a big enough thank you to Gill and Paul, Bex and Simon, and their respective partners who in turn have been roped in often.
Blast from the past, 8th SummerNational helpers
my Family...
I started collecting in my teens, walking round Betley Mere with my new found girlfriend, later to become my wife.
This catalogue would
not have been possible
had Gill not backed
me hook, line and
sinker from day one as our first home in Manchester became adorned
with signs “and other
paraphernalia... then along
came our three children.
Then along came Lynn with daughter
Jade - who also ended up involved at shows and auctions. Lynn has certainly been
sucked into the deep end of the wonderful
world of collecting,
the craziness of four annual Elsecar
w/e’s, even dragged along to some shows! So, now with a new wife (of 5 years), four children... plus five wonderful grandchildren this auction represents another chapter in my life - so many memories, most happy, trials, tribulations and a catalogue put together with blood, sweat and tears - but mainly always pleasure!
Around 2009 along came Clare who in one fell swoop, along with KT (moreso now my log suffering side kick),
sorted me out and definitely got me
But, there’s been far more behind the making
of this collection. The entire Griffiths family have (in laws), at some point, been involved assisting BBR from the beginning, especially the early Wath Nationals, big style.
Iain Gosling and his Scottish mates too were there from day one at Wath - famously marking out over 100 outside pitches (2 back breaking days) and since have remained valuable supporters at all Elsecar shows, and so much more.
Katie was Bex’s friend as a child and I can still see them both sat on the floor in the front
room of Strafford Avenue opening
sacks of mail after the big Blue Peter
promotion! Katie has become very much part of the family for sure!
Pauls musician friends were stalwarts for years at Wath, manning the
gate, helping pack up afterwards on Sunday night to transport all show paraphernalia back to Elsecar.
Katie
back on track (with the help of Guy Burch) and BBR properly buzzing again.
But, in truth I have thousands in my “family”. Over 42 years running BBR I’ve built so many friendships. I never view our Fair stallholders, visitors or auction buyers and attendees as customers - they are friends, picking out Gordon Litherland, my long time inspirator/ driving force, whom I call my brother!
Without every one of the above I would not have been able to amass this catalogue of items. So a VERY BIG THANK YOU to all, and sundry, and
those whom I’ve missed out, in typical AB style!
Please look after any of my collection you may
secure. They’ve given me enormous pleasure and
delight, and I hope you cherish them as much!
Gordon
the grandchildren
Paul, Bex, & Simon
New daughter, me & Lynn