Obituaries

The Irish trade – both gallerists and auctioneers – owe a debt of gratitude to Alan Hobart, who died suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, September 17.

Well known in the antiques trade and art world, Philip Astley-Jones died after a short illness in mid-August.

Re: the death of Robert Brooks, (News, front page this week).

Richard Came was born on New Years’ Eve 1932 in Kabale, the Uganda Protectorate, on the Belgian Congo border. His father was an engineer who worked for the Colonial Service.

Robin Noel Holman Butler was born on 26 April, 1943, to Marjorie Blanche (née Dunn) and (George) Noel Butler in Bristol. He moved to Honiton, in Devon, at the age of five with his parents and older brother, Roderick.

On the evening of July 29 the antiquarian community lost one of its great champions and luminaries, Jan Ellen Finch, after a characteristically courageous and defiant battle against cancer.

Tony Pratt, chairman of the Canterbury Auction Galleries passed away peacefully at home on June 11 after celebrating his 66th birthday with friends and family.

The directors of The Canterbury Auction Galleries are shocked and deeply saddened to report the sudden death of Tony Pratt, the chairman of the company.

Peter Selley, senior director and senior specialist in English literature and history at Sotheby’s in London, died on April 28.

It comes with great sadness to announce the death of Robyn Robb, who died on May 12 after a short and sudden illness.

At the end of last year the antiques business lost one of its expert dealers, Victoria de Rin, a leading light in the world of collectables, who specialised in Wemyss Ware. Sadly she passed away on December 12, 2020.

Andrew Morley was a lifelong collector, whose passion for enamel advertising signs made him a world authority.

Andrew Cumming was among the first successful antiquarian book dealers to step into the shoes of the post-war greats such as Charles Traylen and Frank Hammond.

I am sad to report the passing of my dear friend Reginald ‘Reg’ Charles Remington (1931-2021) who died peacefully in hospital after a very short illness on Friday, April 2.

‘Izzy’ Chait, founder of the IM Chait Gallery/Auctioneers in Beverly Hills, California, loved a Macallan on the rocks with a twist, Tommy Bahama silk shirts, taking a ride in a classic car, performing in his family band and Asian antiques.

John Alan Gair, who died suddenly on March 5, was a much-respected dealer in antique taxidermy, tribal artefacts and airship and Zeppelin memorabilia.

I knew Richard Peters for nearly 40 years. He was born in Leeds on January 28, 1962, and was one of six children to Flo and Syd Peters, who owned a large shop called The Antique Gallery in North Street, Leeds.

The photography collecting world has lost one of its longest established members, greatest advocates and one of its true individuals.

For those who have studied or have even a passing interest in the field of art crime, Charles (or Charley) Hill was one of the giants in the world of recovering stolen masterpieces – from Munch’s 'The Scream' to Vermeer and Goya and many more.