Tim Wonnacott
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Tim Wonnacott is an antiques expert, whose career includes auctioning and television presenting.
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[edit] Biography
Both his father and grandfather were Auctioneers in the South West, so his ambition was to be an auctioneer. After leaving school at 18, he completed a post graduate course at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Fine and Decorative Arts. He is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and an associate of the Society of Valuers and Auctioneers.
Wonnacott joined Sotheby's in 1978, becoming a full Director in 1985. He was appointed sole chairman of Sotheby's South, based at Billingshurst in Sussex, and Sotheby's new saleroom in Olympia, West London.
Wonnacott left Sotheby’s in January 2003 after 25 years, in order to concentrate on Media Activities and, at the same time, started a Fine Art Agency & Brokerage business Tim Wonnacott & Associates. The rationale of the business is for Wonnacott and his colleagues to provide independent advice to both buyers and sellers of antiques.
[edit] Television Work
Wonnacott regularly appears on the Antiques Roadshow.
In July 2003, Wonnacott replaced David Dickinson as the daytime host of the popular BBC1 television programme, Bargain Hunt. The original contract was for 30 shows, but this has been extended to over 200 shows in light of both his appeal to viewers, as well as Dickinson's concentration on other media activities.
Other appearances include on BBC1's Restoration, The Divine Michelangelo and Test the Nation.
[edit] Personal life
Married with three children who all attended Eton College, Wonnacott used to live in the Northern town of Macclesfield, running Sotheby’s operations in the North West.
Wonnacott has helped many Charities over the years to raise money at auction, the most successful of which was the London ‘Cow Parade’ auction held in Autumn 2002, which raised over £400,000 for Childline. Wonnacott conducted another auction for Cow Parade in the Isle of Man in the presence of Prince Andrew which made over £110,000
