Ian Towning

The shortlist for this year’s Antiques Young Gun of the Year has been unveiled. The winner will be revealed at the awards party on July 4, hosted by Bennie Gray at Alfies Antiques in London. Founded last year by Gail McLeod, George Johnson and Mark Hill, the award is open to anyone working in the business aged 39 or under.

A Chelsea antiques dealer has been badly injured after taking on an armed gang who smashed up his premises. Ian Towning, the owner of the Bourbon-Hanby Antique Centre, was subjected to months of intimidation, before he fought back when three men wielding sledgehammers and carrying a gun robbed the centre in Sydney Street, London SW3 on the afternoon of Monday June 9.

PLANS to give a London antiques centre a makeover – turning it into an arcade for interior decorators – has meant six dealers getting their marching orders... or so it seems.