BBC Homes Under the Hammer legend dies as tributes flood in
The star appeared on Homes Under The Hammer for two decades.
Homes Under the Hammer auctioneer Clive Emson died peacefully on Wednesday May 13 at the age of 79 with his family by his side. No cause of death has been revealed. The popular star appeared on the long running BBC property show for over 20 years. Away from the small screen he ran the company Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers which spanned Kent to Cornwall. He became known for his mantra "have gavel, will travel". He built up his business after leaving school at the age of 16 with a couple of O-levels and starting to work as a junior estate agent in 1968, earning just £1.50 a week - around £33.77 in today's money.
Away from auctioneering he was heavily involved in charity work helping vulnerable and disadvantaged youngsters in Kent. He began his charity work in the late 1990s when he saw the YMCA in Maidstone was asking for £100 to buy new pencils and pens for its homework club and was also appealing for volunteers.
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This led to him being awarded an MBE in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours list. The award recognised his services to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in Kent, specifically through his work with The Young Lives Foundation (YLF).
He admitted he wasn't expecting the honour saying: "The thing that's amazing is that I'm not sure who put me up for it. It was a complete and utter surprise. I've kept the charity work under the radar."
Speaking about his work with the YLF, of which he was president he said: "When you talk to children they say what they think, which is lovely. I’m completely non-judgemental. I’m not a social worker, a parent or a teacher. For a lot of the children, I’m the only person in their lives who is not paid to be there.
"These children in care have no meaningful contact with their family. Their schools change and social workers change so these independent visitors are the only stable person in their life."
Tributes flooded in for the star as news of his death became public. One person penned on Facebook: "He was a brilliant auctioneer… I remember he used to say to competing bidders… YOU are not going to let him beat you with a thousand pound bid are you?
"That increases the bidding war until one eventually thought, 'hold on, I’m being sucked in here'. He was brilliant at getting the best price for sellers."
Another added: "Very sad he was a nice man, when we got married in Hythe in 1971 we rented our bungalow from Butlers and Clive was the person who helped us secure it and we went on to eventually buy the bungalow and he acted for us. R.I.P."
A third chimed in: "So sad to read this. I've known Clive since my very first days of training to be a surveyor, an absolute gentleman, and a huge character in life and work. Condolences to all at Clive Emson, and to his family and friends."
