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VINYL COLLECTION AT AUCTION: records spanning the 1960s to the 2000s could make thousands at auction on Monday 19 August at 1818 Auctioneers on the Cumbria, Lancashire border.

They are just part of a Lancaster man’s collection of over 5,000 CDs and records which filled a terrace house he shared with his mum in the city.

Bob Beckett was passionate about music and an avid collector who would despatch his sister out each week with a list of records to track down, says valuer Simon Norfolk.

Mr Norfolk has the job of cataloguing the collection for 1818 Auctioneers, on behalf of Bob’s family. He estimates the collection is large enough to fill a 75 square feet container and it is being sold through a number of 1818 Auctioneers music sales this year and next.

“Bob was collecting right up until last year, when he sadly passed away,” explained Simon Norfolk.

“His passion for music started early. The family say the radio was always on at home, they had no telly, and Bob would be listening to the Forces Radio and Radio Caroline. Bob was soon into listening to the legendary disc jockey, the late John Peel, and he even had a go at broadcasting his own show, Woodville FM, to his mum.

“Bob has left an incredible archive, I haven’t seen anything like it before. There’s a lot of Punk, New Wave and Indie, much of it influenced by John Peel, so expect to see bands like the Fall, Captain Beefheart, P. J Harvey and Half Man Half Biscuit. There are also other genres including Roots and Dub Reggae.

“The August sale includes sought after 7 inch and 12 inch singles like a 12 inch German Press of the Cure’s ‘A Forest’ which could make £40-60 and a 7 inch single by Rudi and Victim on the Irish ‘ Good Vibrations ‘ label, with an estimate of £100. And there’s plenty of other rare 12inch records from bands like My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Ramones and Saints, New Order and Joy Division. Plus Subway Sect and the Pastels, Fall records and The Peel Sessions – a series of EPs by bands that appeared on the John Peel Show.

“Bob’s collection is an important piece of culture, a snippet of our times and 1818 Auctioneers are proud to be involved with re-homing it,” added Mr Norfolk.

The collection is already attracting interest within the record collecting community says Simon Norfolk, who is mid-way through cataloguing. The CD element of the accumulation was sold earlier this year, making in excess of £1,400, and now a vinyl selection is being sold at 1230pm on Monday 18 August as part of 1818 Auctioneer’s Musical Instruments and Equipment, Vinyl Records, CDs and memorabilia sale. A further batch of vinyl will feature in the October sale.

The vinyl collection at auction with 1818 Auctioneer’s saleroom at J36 Rural Auction Centre (next to junction 36 of the M6). Viewing is on Friday 16 August (1-4pm), Saturday 17 August (10am – 1pm), and on the morning of the auction (from 8.30am).