Dudley

A ‘Moonraker’ laser rifle and letter from Roger Moore are among sales highlights at a James Bond auction in the Midlands as Surrey auction house Ewbank’s prepares for its Bond and Beyond memorabilia sale.

Suave and sophisticated are the terms that come to mind when referring to the late, great and saintly James Bond actor Roger Moore. A raised eyebrow perhaps. But certainly not the word ‘bollocks’.

A prop that featured in the BBC comedy ‘Only Fools and Horses’ has sold for a hammer price of £28,000 (plus 24% buyer's premium including VAT) at Dudley auction house Aston's. The winning bidders arrived at the saleroom suitably attired – in a Batman and Robin costume.

The cost of smoking is going crazy – someone has just paid £29,000 for a packet of cigarettes in the West Midlands.

Ah, nostalgia. Hear the words ‘Russian’ and ‘spying’ these days and ‘Novichok’ and ‘Polonium’ will come to mind. Try looking back instead to the 1970s-80s with the help of a large collection of Soviet cameras coming up at auction.

A Rolex of the model made famous after being worn by King of Cool Steve McQueen has set a house record at West Midlands saleroom Aston’s Auctioneers.

The original Doctor Who script for the first-ever Doctor Who episode is something always likely to attract high demand at auction. Chuck in the fact that it was used and owned by the very first Doctor Who actor, William Hartnell, and it just gets better and better.

Star Wars, Action Man and plastic soldiers are just three of the toy collectable fields growing in demand as buyers get all nostalgic about their childhoods. Another biggie in this market is Lego.

The War of the Worlds 1953 British quad film poster is regarded as a scarce must-have in that collecting market.

A gold watch given by The Who drummer Keith Moon and John Entwistle’s Anello & Davide tan suede heeled boots are among the lots up for sale in the Film & Music Memorabilia Auction at Aston’s Auctioneers on September 15.

THE small factory at Limehouse, operating on the banks of the Thames just to the east of the Tower of London from 1745-1748, was one of the pioneers of English porcelain manufacture.

A recent sale conducted by Astons of Dudley included a collection of merchandise belonging to a former Palitoy UK sales representative.

THE home of West Midlands toy specialists Astons is the grade II listed Baylies's Charity School, on Tower Street, Dudley.

DUDLEY Council are to scrap plans to close the Broadfield House Glass Museum and relocate the renowned glass collections to the nearby Cone site.

AN outcry from interest groups has bought more time to save the Broadfield House Glass Museum at Stourbridge, which was earmarked for closure by Dudley council.