Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
Monday February 26 2024
Author Name: Peter Davison

TV antiques expert Paul Martin holds charity valuation day for Wiltshire Air Ambulance

Celebrity antiques expert Paul Martin hopes a charity valuation day will take off – because the event is all about raising funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Paul – star of TV shows including Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip – is teaming up with premier auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son, for whom he is head of valuations, to stage the free event in Devizes Corn Exchange on Saturday, March 16.

People are being invited to look out their heirlooms, dust off their antiques and scour their lofts for potentially valuable items to bring to the community valuation day, which runs from 10am to 4pm.

Paul and other experts will then use their extensive expertise to value the items for free. Any items that go on to be sold through Devizes-based Henry Aldridge & Son will benefit Wiltshire Air Ambulance, as the auction house is generously donating all of its vendors’ commission to the charity.

Paul, who is an ambassador for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “I’ve been an ambassador for this amazing charity for some time – it’s a service we hope we’ll never need yet we want it to be there for anyone in our community at moments of crisis. The team need every penny possible to keep the air ambulance flying and I’m proud to be able to support them at this event with my colleagues at Henry Aldridge & Son.

“Last month I supported the charity at a fund-raising concert at Salisbury Cathedral attended by Queen Camilla which was a great honour.”

Andrew Aldridge, the fourth generation auctioneer to head up Henry Aldridge & Son, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Wiltshire Air Ambulance at this community valuation event.

“Visitors will have the opportunity to pick the brains of one of our experts and, if they wish, sell their item or items through Henry Aldridge & Son in a specific event afterwards. Then 100 per cent of the sellers’ commission will be going to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, a local charity that is close to our hearts.”

Fraser Normington, who is fundraising manager at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We’re very thankful to Paul and Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd for organising this event with us. It was a huge success the last time we did it and I’m sure it will be just as popular in March.

“We look forward to seeing everyone there and hopefully it raises lots of money for those getting their items valued and also our lifesaving service.”

Paul has been a TV presenter and expert for more than 20 years on programmes including the Antiques Road Trip, Flog It!, Countryfile and many more. He has a new series, Paul Martin’s Auction Showdown, going live on Channel 5 this year.

For more information about the valuation day visit https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/get-involved/events/valuation-day