After more than 20 years service in a north-east auction house, Kenneth Tait is calling Going Going Gone on his career behind the gavel.
Regular auctions have been running in Strichen for about 30 years but came to an end in December when Mr Tait, known as Kenny to saleroom aficionados, decided to step away.
Last night, the 66-year-old said he bought the hall from its then-owner 21 years ago to continue the tradition in the Buchan community.
But now, due to ill-health, he has been forced to retire and sell the hall to new owners.
Mr Tait added: “The last auction was in December and since then I’ve just been emptying the hall out. My last day in here is tomorrow.
“I have sold thousands of pounds worth of stuff in my time here, but I have just kept doing it because I liked it – not for the money. Quite truthfully, looking back on it – at the expenses side of things – I have not made a lot. It has been a hobby for me.”
None the less, the hall will stay in public use. The new owner, Graham Smith, has already revealed that plans were in place to re-open the High Street hall as an antiques store and café.
It will leave the community with just memories of the traditional auctions – or roups – which were once a popular rural event.
Mr Tait said: “I’ve always enjoyed second-hand things and auctions, even at school, so when the hall went up for sale, I bought it.
“My fondest memory of it, though, will be all the people I have met – a lot of them who are now dead. I have really enjoyed doing it, I am just disappointed in one way that it’s because of ill-health that I have had to stop doing it.”