Anniversaries at Fellows

Fellows Auctioneers are proud to have a lot of long-term staff still working at the company. As many staff members have passed their ten-year anniversary milestone in 2020, we caught up with various members of the team to reflect on their period at Fellows.

Claire Cleaver

Photo Studio Manager at Fellows Auctioneers

Date joined: May 2010

I was the only photographer at Fellows when I started and I think it was new for them to have an in-house photographer, but the department quickly took on another and then as the workload grew we invested in a department of three full-time photographers. 

I’ve photographed too many things to have one favourite, the most challenging to photograph have been the large diamonds. But some of my favourites are the items with some history or a story behind them like the medals. I do have a soft spot for pocket watch movements, the detail and the way they reflect the light, plus the tiny mechanisms make them beautiful to me. 

I’ve worked with a lot of really nice supportive people over the years. I’m really lucky to get to photograph such a wide range of interesting items every day. The photography still challenges me, as does the development of my team and the organisation of the busy workload. It’s been great to work for a company who take the photography seriously and are unafraid to invest so heavily in high end equipment and excellent staff. 

If I could go back in time I would maybe tell myself to be slightly less strict! I have very high standards and expect a great deal from people. I’ve learnt to be a little gentler these days and that people often respond better to that.

Steven Yambo

Senior Watch Specalist

Date joined: September 2010

I joined Fellows on Monday 27^th September 2010. I joined as a junior cataloguer, at that time the entry level. From there I have progressed to cataloguer, specialist and was made a senior specialist in 2017.

It’s difficult to say, but I think my favourite item to have sold would be the 1958 Rolex Milguass we sold in back in 2017. It was enjoyable meeting the family who sold it and they were aware that the watch may have some value, but it was great to break the good news of just how valuable and sought-after the watch was. Also, the watch itself it was amazing see, and sell, especially as it was in such original condition. The watch sold for a hammer price of £110,000, a house record for a watch at that time, which has been beaten this year. It was so good to get such a great result for the family. 

One of my favourite things about work is that you never know what is going to come in for a valuation. I have experienced some amazing, rare watches over the years to very bad fake watches. There’s just no way of knowing what the next watch will be next for a valuation, via e-mail, PureChat or what someone brings to our offices.

The company has changed vastly in the last 10 years. When I first started an auction would be 80 to 100 lots whereas today our Online Watches & Watch Accessories auction can be up to 700 lots. There is much more of a selection of watches offered to the public today then there was 10 years ago. Also Fellows has always been on the vanguard of new technology in the auction world and this has had a great impact with the watch department. Since I have been here we have introduced online auctions, valuations and viewings via Zoom and live streaming, all of which we unheard of 10 years ago. 

Kevin Jackson

Auctioneer and Senior Specialist in Antiques

Date joined: 2002

I initially joined fellows in 2002 and then left to work for myself – I returned to Fellows in 2005 and have remained here since. 

My job role has not changed, I was, and still am an auctioneer and valuer. One of the strangest things we have sold is a woolly mammoth’s tooth – one of my favourite items was a boxing trophy awarded to Scottish Boxing champion Benny Lynch.

I enjoy working at fellows, as the staff and management are more like family and friends. Fellows as a company are at the forefront of technology and the business is constantly evolving. Be prepared to see anything – nothing is a surprise.

Wendy Butler

Accounts Executive

Date joined: April 2003

I joined Fellows in April 2003 after working for HMRC.

I began as a receptionist and I soon found out it was a little too quiet at times for me so I would be forever asking if anyone needed help with anything. I used to do the marketing which consisted of sending weekly adverts to the Express & Star and a few other newspapers, as well as sending bulk advertising emails which I used to create.

I also created the Antique & Later Furniture auction catalogue as it was known then. As if that wasn’t enough I used to type up letters for the Managing Director and help with the accounts, which lead me to my current role.

During my time at Fellows there has been quite a few, but the items we have sold over the years that spring to mind are a large wooden elephant, a pair of terracotta warriors statues, two lion statues, and a Celestron CII telescope which we purchased in order to do a little star gazing! I love the variation of the items that come through our doors, things still amaze me after all this time.

When I started my Fellows journey, we only had about 12 members of staff. Auction days were very different to today, we had people queuing out of the door to register for bidding on sale days for the Antique & Modern Jewellery and Antique Furniture auctions.

Online bidding was through eBay in those days however it was a far cry to the live bidding we all know and love today! I have always been intrigued with the auction world so I was very excited to be joining Fellows.

Michael Jagiela

Senior Watch Specialist

Date joined: September 2010

I joined Fellows in September 2010.

I started my job as a Junior Watch Cataloguer, mainly helping out with photography and condition reports. My current title is Senior Watch Specialist in the Watch Department.

It would be hard to pick just one favourite lot out of all the fantastic watches I had a privilege of handling over the years. I remember one special auction in 2012 which had a section dedicated to the life of a famous diver Carl Spencer who sadly died making a film about the sister ship of the Titanic. Mr Spencer received the wrong mix of gas as he surfaced from the Britannic in Greek waters. It was a very emotional auction for everyone at Fellows as the proceeds went to the widow of Mr Spencer. On top of that we had the opportunity to handle Mr Spencer’s findings, such as tableware and silverware from the Titanic.

I like the fact that we are all doing our best job to put together some fantastic auctions and my colleagues have no problem with helping each other whenever help is needed.

We are definitely a much bigger company now with a lot more staff in comparison to when I started. Our main office has also expanded and we are now operating in London too!

Alison Jakeway

Silver Senior Specialist

Date joined: April 1999

I originally joined Fellows in 1999 (April I think)! When I first started, Fellows was a much smaller company with only 10-15 members of staff. We mainly held Antique & Modern Jewellery sales (which included silver), Pawnbroker sales and Furniture & Antiques auctions. To gain experience I initially helped out in every department, before going on to manage the Antiques sales.

I left in 2003 to raise a family and returned in October 2010 to work primarily as a Specialist in the Silver Department. In 2018 the Silver Department merged with Antiques and we now hold joint sales of Antiques, Silver & Collectables, however my main specialist area is still all things silver!

The most memorable sale I was involved in was the Tommy Tranter Collection, which we were very lucky to sell in a 2-day auction that took place in February 2001. His collection was extremely varied and included colourful Victorian oil lamps and glass, beautiful musical boxes, clocks, bronzes and a fantastic selection of paintings. I felt very lucky to have the opportunity to catalogue some of these very interesting objects, but it also felt quite daunting to organise, especially as we did not have enough staff for the amount of phone bids! The auction generated a huge amount of excitement and I particularly remember on Day 2 for the Picture sale, that the upstairs saleroom was rammed with potential bidders queuing out of the door and down the stairs!  

I love the opportunity to handle, catalogue and research some lovely objects. The excitement when items surpass pre-sale expectations and sell for huge amounts of money! Days can be very varied as you never know what might come through the door! And lovely work colleagues obviously!

The company has evolved massively since I first started in 1999! there has been an increase in the number of staff and departments and of course the quantity and variety of sales have all increased and developed. There had already been many changes when I came back in 2010, but I think what has evolved the most in recent years is the development of Fellows own website and online activity and all the activity on our social media accounts.

If I could go back I would tell myself to be prepared to get your hands dirty as working with silver is not glamorous!   

Mick Turvey & Jason Mucklow

Saleroom Technicians

Date joined: 1996 and 2001

Our roles have certainly developed as we’ve gained more knowledge and experience. We can now do basic valuations as well as the photography for our auctions.

We have sold some amazing items over the years, uncluding a Red & Yellow sewing box/house kit and items for diver Carl Spencer in 2012. Our favourite thing about Fellows is the close knit family environment and camaraderie from other staff members and management.

When we started there were only 6-8 members of staff when we started now there’s around 60! We also have an office in London and several departments. it has been interesting to see the advancement of technology as the salerooms used to be full but now a lot more people bid online.