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In these tales from his life, he recalls his earliest days working for an ex-Army boss with a tin leg (look out for his next book, Sold to the Man with the Tin Leg), and how he has helped to uncover some gems and some valueless pieces among thepossessions of his - mainly Worcestershire...
AUCTIONEER Philip Serrell's smiling face is familiar to watchers of TV programmes about antiques: it's the one which looks as if it had been carved from ancient oak with a blunt chisel.
In these tales from his life, he recalls his earliest days working for an ex-Army boss with a tin leg (look out for his next book, Sold to the Man with the Tin Leg), and how he has helped to uncover some gems and some valueless pieces among thepossessions of his - mainly Worcestershire and Herefordshire - customers.
His feelings on their triumphs and failures are generous and warm, while he introduces the vendors with a gentle eye for the comic - he pokes fun only at himself.
To compare his story-telling to that of James Herriot is to say that, judged on this book alone, he merits the same soaring success. ****
Ted Jury
(Copyright 2006 Coventry Newspapers Ltd.)