Expert advice from Windsor Auctions to help your team find hidden gems, avoid costly mistakes, and raise as much as possible for Thames Hospice! The Trunks of Treasure Challenge is all about adventure, teamwork, and a little bit of auction magic. Armed with a £200 budget, teams will go treasure hunting before seeing their finds go under the hammer at a live charity auction in May – with profits boosting their fundraising total for Thames Hospice. To help everyone get the most from the challenge, we sat down with Harry Ballin from Windsor Auctions – the auctioneer behind the idea – to share expert advice and insider tips. What Types of Items Consistently Perform Well at Auction? According to Harry, the key is to think small, collectable, and interesting – especially when working with a manageable budget. Some categories that regularly do well: Jewellery & Precious Materials Small pieces of jewellery Anything made from silver Enamel items Coins and small collectables These are easy to display, easy to sell, and often attract strong bidding. Vintage Toys & Modern Collectables This is a big one. Harry’s advice? Think about what people loved as kids – because chances are it’s collectable now. Look out for: Barbie dolls Action Man figures Die-cast cars & train sets Pokémon cards Jellycat toys Vintage toys (especially boxed items) And yes… LEGO. Harry admits LEGO is a personal favourite, and while his “addiction” may be well-known, he’s not wrong. Complete or retired sets can perform incredibly well at auction. Other Good Performers Military medals and related items Mid-century glassware (look for names like Whitefriars) Interesting standalone ceramics The overall rule? Small, collectable, and visually appealing often wins. What Mistakes Should Teams Avoid When Buying Items? If there’s one thing Harry was very clear about, it’s this: Avoid anything broken, chipped, or damaged. Even if something looks interesting, damage dramatically reduces buyer interest. Other things to avoid: Broken toys or incomplete items Chipped ceramics or cracked glass Certain novelty items that create more hassle than value Items that aren’t practical for auction buyers The simplest test: If you wouldn’t be excited to buy it yourself… someone else probably won’t be either. Where Are the...
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Windsor Auctions is delighted to once again be hosting the live charity auction at the annual Eton Information Centre Fundraising Ball, an evening dedicated to celebration, community spirit, and raising vital funds for one of Eton’s most valued local organisations. This year’s event will take place at The Castle Hotel, Windsor, on Saturday 21 March 2026, beginning at 7:00pm. With a glamorous “Night at the Opera” theme. Guests can look forward to an unforgettable evening featuring a live opera performance, a casino experience, fine dining, and of course, the much-anticipated charity auction. With Windsor Auctions’ head auctioneer Harry Ballin taking to the rostrum, the auction promises to be one of the highlights of the night, so don’t miss out! About the Eton Information Centre Established in 2019, the Eton Information Centre has become far more than a tourist information point. Located on Eton High Street, it offers a warm welcome to visitors while acting as an important hub for the local community. Friendly, knowledgeable staff help visitors discover top attractions, hidden gems, walking tours, and local favourites. The Centre also promotes local businesses, supports schools and residents, and provides retail space for locally produced goods, Eton College gifts, and artwork by local artists. Importantly, the Centre plays a meaningful role in supporting the local economy. Visitors who stay overnight in the area spend significantly more than day visitors, benefiting local hotels, restaurants, and shops. By encouraging people to explore and extend their stay, the Centre helps strengthen the town year-round. Beyond tourism, it offers something equally valuable, a welcoming space for local residents. Whether someone needs advice, companionship, or simply a warm place to visit, the Centre is there for everyone. Award-Winning Excellence In December 2025, the Centre achieved a significant milestone by winning Gold at the 2025 Beautiful South Tourism Awards for Excellence in the Tourist Information Service category, run by Tourism South East. The Beautiful South Awards celebrate excellence across hospitality and tourism in the South East of England, and this recognition highlights the dedicated service provided by the Centre’s dedicated team and volunteers. As Director Ros Rivaz said following the award: “We couldn’t be more proud of the exceptional service the Eton Information Centre provides to...
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At Windsor Auctions, we’re always looking for new ways to make specialist sales more exciting and accessible – and this year, we’re bringing something totally different to the rostrum: Lego auctions. We actually have one live right now (ending August 3rd from 6.30pm)! To help us promote this new theme of auction, we’re thrilled to welcome Sophie – a TikTok content creator, collector, and all-round Lego enthusiast – as our first-ever brand ambassador for Lego. Sophie will be joining us throughout the year to create content, connect with collectors, and help build excitement in the Lego community – from house clearances and stockroom unboxings to auction-day walkthroughs. How It Started: TikTok, Wine & A Harry Potter Minifigures Sophie’s Lego journey began in the most unexpected way: with a glass of wine, a curious mind, and a husband who couldn’t stop buying sets. “I’d be coming home from work and finding out that he’d bought a brand new Lego set for £180. And I’d be like, I’m sorry, what?!” What started as a mild case of ‘Lego rage’ turned into shared curiosity. “Rather than me getting mad about it, I was like, right, help me understand it. And he basically managed to reel me in with the concept of Harry Potter minifigures.” A few drinks later, the pair had created Sophie’s TikTok account, designed a logo, and set the wheels in motion. Since then, she’s built a growing community of Lego fans, sharing unboxings, collection tips, and dream set hunts. Why Buy Lego at Auction? For many, Lego collecting has always meant eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or retail shops. So, what makes auctions a better alternative? “Ordinarily, I would have said there isn’t really any reason why it’d be better,” Sophie admitted. “But I’ve learned through Harry (Head-auctioneer at Windsor Auctions) that the auction system is quite different to things like eBay.” Sophie shared a real-life example that changed her mind – bidding for a Kwik-E-Mart set on eBay: “My husband and I literally sat there together, and we watched as eBay did the little countdown… and when it hit four seconds, he was outbid by a fiver, and that was it.” With Windsor Auctions, there’s a...
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This July, Windsor Auctions is proud to present a remarkable collection of original watercolours by the late Michael Noakes (1933–2018), one of Britain’s most distinguished portrait and landscape painters. Best known for his portraits of royalty, political leaders, and cultural icons, Noakes captured the likenesses – and more importantly, the character – of some of the most recognisable figures of the 20th and early 21st century. From intimate sittings with Queen Elizabeth II to sketching in the Oval Office with President Clinton, Noakes had a rare gift: his subjects not only sat still for him – they opened up. His brush revealed a quieter truth, one found in the crease of a smile or the weight of a pause. A Life in Portrait Educated at Downside and the Royal Academy Schools, Noakes built a career that brought him into the company of kings, popes, and prime ministers. He was commissioned to paint Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, King Charles III, Princess Anne, Margaret Thatcher, and Pope Benedict XVI – among many others. He painted Sir Alec Guinness and Sir Roger Bannister, Dame Judi Dench and Frank Sinatra (who proudly kept Noakes’ album artwork for Portrait of Sinatra in his personal collection). His portraits hang in the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Collection, the Vatican, and private homes across the globe. Yet for all this prestige, Noakes remained deeply human – a man as intrigued by the rhythms of daily life as by the grandeur of state. A Year with the Queen One of his most extraordinary projects was a year spent following Queen Elizabeth II throughout 1999, capturing her life not through grand oil paintings but through a vivid diary of drawings and watercolours. The project became The Daily Life of the Queen: An Artist’s Diary, a book authored by his wife, Dr. Vivien Noakes, and published with the Queen’s full support. Noakes’ access was unprecedented – and unrestricted. The resulting watercolours are a quiet triumph: private, observational, and personal. They reveal not only the public figure, but the woman behind the crown. The Collection at Auction The upcoming timed auction (16–27 July) presents over 200 of these original watercolours. This is a...
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By Harry Ballin, Head Auctioneer at Windsor Auctions. As an auctioneer at Windsor Auctions, my day-to-day role is as varied as the unique items we bring to auction. Auction day is only one part of the picture – my job involves valuations and appraisals, relationship-building, and engaging with our community to create a rewarding experience for buyers and sellers. Here’s a look into the world of auctioneering, from preparing for sale day to adapting to an ever-evolving industry. A Day in the Life: No Two Days Are Alike People often ask what a “typical day” looks like for an auctioneer. The truth is, there isn’t one! Some days, I’m on the road appraising items from house clearances, and other days I’m running valuation mornings all over the local area. Many days, I’m managing our team, setting up auctions, or visiting clients. Community work is also a big part of what we do at Windsor Auctions. For instance, we frequently visit care homes, like Avery Care Home, to offer valuations for residents and their families – creating opportunities to connect with local collectors and share knowledge. Of course, some days are dedicated entirely to auctioneering. I get on the rostrum, calling out bids and managing the dynamic pace of the sale. These days bring a rush of excitement, as each bid pushes us closer to new ownership for each item, whether it’s a unique antique or a modern collectable. Skills and Qualities That Make an Auctioneer Auctioneering isn’t just about calling out bids; it’s about making every part of the experience lively and engaging. You’ve got to be quick on your feet, confident, and have a good sense of humour. Every auction day is a blend of showmanship and strategy – keeping the energy high while making sure that bids are fairly represented and prices are maximized. Empathy is another important quality. Many clients are going through big life changes, such as managing a loved one’s estate. It’s important to approach these situations with respect, understanding that the items we handle often hold deep sentimental value. Preparing for Auction Day Auction day preparation is about setting the stage for what’s ahead, which...
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