The Travelling Auctioneers | Interview with Christina Trevanion

Hi Christina. Did you enjoy the Travelling Auctioneers experience?

The whole experience was wonderful – travelling up and down the country, meeting lovely people, and trying, in our own small way, to make a difference.

You and Will make quite the dynamic duo! Could you be the new Richard and Judy or Holly and Phil?

Wow… that is esteemed company to be mentioned alongside! I have no idea, all I know is that Will is a joy to work with and our natural friendship and camaraderie makes it very easy to spend time with him.

We see you having lots of laughs in the little blue van. What was the funniest moment during filming?

My face would ache after a day’s filming with Will because he made me laugh so much! There are two things you need to know about him: he is one of the kindest and most chivalrous people you will ever meet, and he only knows roughly one in every three words to any song, which makes a sing-along in the van quite entertaining!

Some of the stories featured in the series are very touching. Did you ever find yourself getting emotional during filming?

Yes, all the time! As an auctioneer, you tend to come into people’s lives when they are going through an awful lot, and it is very difficult not to get emotionally involved. You feel responsible for helping them to achieve their goal, and that’s quite a weight to carry on your shoulders. I am a blubber at the best of times – it doesn’t take a lot to set me off!

Have any of the stories from the series stuck with you?

All of the stories stuck with me in one way or another, but one of the most charismatic people that we met during the series was Pattie in episode six. 

Pattie was 88. She’d been through so much and just wanted to raise enough money to visit her friends in Spain. Her spirit was incredible – she didn’t let her advancing years put her off her trip, and she was absolutely hilarious. She didn’t really know who I was – that’s fine by me, I don’t know who I am half the time either! But she is a big fan of Will. When I walked into the room she gave me a hello, but when Will walked in, she jumped out of her chair, pushed her walker aside, and leapt over to him! It was a joy and honour to be in Pattie’s company.

There has been a rise in shopping for antiques in recent years, with many attributing it to consumers becoming more eco-conscious. Sustainability is a key focus of the series – why do you think it’s important?

Sustainability is so important. As we know our world does not have endless resources, and all of us need to try to protect natural resources in any way we can. Antique furniture has a carbon footprint 16 times lower than its modern equivalent, and buying and re-using antiques reduces landfill and reduces the consumption of new goods sourced from outside of the UK. Less freight means less carbon emissions, which can only be a good thing.

What are your top tips for anyone looking in their lofts for old items to sell during the challenging economic times we’re living through?

Take them to an expert before disposing of them! You never know how much value might be tucked away in the back of a cupboard, garage or loft. It’s always worth checking, just in case! It always seems to be the most innocuous pieces that are the most valuable.

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