Philip Serrell

7th July 2023

Brigantes Lecture

When Philip Serrell stepped up to the microphone wearing his signature scarf, the host explained that Philip would be sitting on a stool as a result of a back injury. Watching him, it was clear that Philip does not normally sit. It came as no surprise that Philip was an athlete and very briefly a PE teacher. His self deprecating attitude as he shared his life story brought peels of laughter around the room at this extraordinary lecture hosted by the Brigantes. As his website explains, Philip’s first job saw him cleaning out the cattle pens at a local livestock market, working for the Bromyard based firm, 'Bentley Hobbs and Mytton'. Here he gained a huge amount of experience working with some very interesting characters. After a few years Philip was able to set up business on his own, establishing 'Philip Serrell Auctioneers and Valuers' in 1995.

Philip shared many triumphs in his sales rooms as well as his unexpected career on television. His experiences provided a great deal of material to fill the three books he has written on life as a country auctioneer. During the Q and A session, we discovered why Philip was always seen with his trademark scarf. Apparently the sound man on set told him to keep it on as it was a great place to hide his microphone! One can only wonder what one of those scarfs would sell for on his auction floor!