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Steptoe author Ray Galton’s memorabilia – together with his typewriter – bought off

A typewriter Ray Galton used to jot down scripts for Steptoe and Son is about to fetch a whole bunch of kilos at public sale.

It’s amongst a bunch of memorabilia from the late author’s house close to Hampton Court docket Palace, London, which are going beneath the hammer on Saturday.

Different gadgets embrace a Bechstein grand piano, a classic pinball desk and a Christmas present of classic Macallan whisky despatched from Leonard Cohen  thanking Ray ‘for all of the laughs’.

Chris Kirkham, from Hansons Auctioneers, stated: ‘The interval splendour of Ray’s former household house is actually a far cry from the tatty rag-and-bone yard the nation got here to know and love in Steptoe and Son.

‘Ray was a former union employee struck down by tuberculosis at 18. Nonetheless, he went on to attain phenomenal success as a radio and tv scriptwriter. Simply how far he got here is illustrated by the place he referred to as house.

‘In addition to being awash with recollections of his life and occasions, it’s merely an impressive place to be, enriched with a way of historical past and happiness

‘It’s been an absolute privilege to go inside To stroll right into a room and see his Bafta awards adorning a Bechstein grand piano, or to select up a bottle of whisky to learn a private message from Leonard Cohen, was particular for me. 

‘And the second I noticed Ray’s typewriter I instantly pictured him hammering away on the keys, bringing a comedy second to life. Whoever is lucky sufficient to purchase that can personal a really particular memento of British tv historical past.’

Galton – who died on the age of 88 in 2018 – and his writing associate Alan Simpson created Hancock’s Half Hour for Tony Hancock earlier than creating Steptoe and Son.

The typewriter has an estimate of £100 to £200 and all of Ray Galton’s gadgets are catalogued here.

Printed: 22 Oct 2022