1 week Ago By [email protected] (Jess Molyneux)
Paul was back in the city for an exclusive event TV antiques expert Paul Martin, best known for presenting popular BBC show Flog It!, has shared a Liverpool admission and what it is about the city that left him feeling "jealous." Paul, 66, is no stranger to Liverpool and was back in the city this weekend for an exclusive valuation event. Alongside world-renowned Titanic artefact valuer Andrew Aldridge of Henry Aldridge & Son, the experts hosted an open to the public evaluation session as part of the British Titanic Society annual convention in The Adelphi Hotel's Derby Suite.
Here, they offered locals and visitors alike the chance to uncover the stories behind their maritime heirlooms. Next week, April 15, marks the 113th anniversary of t he Titanic's tragic sinking, the White Star Line-owned ship that has strong links to her home port of Liverpool. In The Adelphi Hotel, Paul shared with the ECHO his love for Liverpool and tips for anyone in the city who might have a rare or valuable item, especially those linked to our maritime history.
Paul told the ECHO: "It's very much like a Flog It! evaluation day without the TV cameras. It’s nice to be back in Liverpool - I was here actually two years ago with the Antiques Roadshow, the Antiques Roadtrip and also did Paul Martin's Auction Showdown as well. "But for me it's all about the people of Liverpool and just how friendly they are and how nice they are.
We’re hoping that because obviously there as maritime connection with this great city, that something may connect with the Titanic and other ocean memorabilia - especially White Starline. That's why were here. "The more knowledge you have, the more you’re going to look after your item.
It can be beautifully crafted, but it can be in terrible condition - but that's a nice thing because that means its had a useful loved life and it's still surviving. "These things have a value as well - it doesn't have to be the Antiques Roadshow stately home kind of valuations - these are more down to Earth, these are treasures we all have at home. People say Aunt Edna's left us something, none of us like it, we shove it under the kitchen sink and we forget about it for 20 years.
"Actually it does have a value. Don't give it to a charity shop, bring it along to an auction room and sell it. "That’s what we’re trying to inspire people to do - look after their inheritance, look after their heritage, especially if it's their family heritage and it's been passed through the lines.
If they want to sell it, we're here to hold their hand and guide them through the process." Next week, April 15, marks the 113th anniversary of t he Titanic's tragic sinking, which at the time was the largest ship in the world. The Titanic left Southampton for New York on April 10, 1912, but tragically, the ship sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean after striking an iceberg late on April 14, 1912.
The ship sank less than three hours later, on April 15, 1912. The disaster that befell Titanic was one of the most shocking events of the 20th century and saw over 1,500 people die. Although it never visited, Liverpool can lay claim to be the ship's spiritual home and the human tragedy was one felt very deeply in the region.
Over the years, descendants of those whose lives were lost have continued to pay tribute - and their stories and memorabilia are still as important today. Paul is also Head of Valuations and Auctioneer for Henry Aldridge and Son Ltd, one of the South West's premier auctioneers. In the last year, two pocket watches with links to the Titanic have been sold for eye-watering prices.
Paul said: "One belonged to Lord Astor, the American billionaire who lost his life on the Titanic. His pocket watch sold for £1.2 million at the beginning of the year.
"Then we had the Tiffany & Co pocket watch, a solid gold watch, and that fetched £1.6 million. There are a lot of people that buy big into the Titanic, they're all Americans and these things go on display in America.
"We've got another Titanic sale coming up in Wiltshire in our auction room and fingers crossed we get another world record. Every day is so different. "It’s so lovely.
We’re dealing with these artefacts that we cant afford but we get to hold, we get to own and play with for six weeks of the year before we get to sell them." Often back in Liverpool, Paul told the ECHO there's something about the city that he's long been jealous of. He added: "I'm often back in the city and a good mate of mine, Sir Peter Blake - he redesigned the colour schemes on the ferries on the Mersey recently ,so I got to check those out and have a photograph with Peter there.
"You've got a great music scene, you've got a great art scene, you've got a great sports scene. The culture is amazing - people are lovely. "I've not lived here so I don't know what it’s like every single day of the week, but I'm jealous of Liverpool's football teams because they're very good and then there’s the new stadium.
I love the Mersey, I love the Wirral. "I love the early Liverpool pottery - not just the porcelain but the art pottery - I love that. You've got a good scene going up here and I'm dead jealous of it.
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