Concorde collection flies in sale
Concorde, celebrity and royal memorabilia amassed by an air hostess has taken off at auction – flying high above expectations.
Star autographs and instructions on how to care for Queen Elizabeth II were collected by the late Elizabeth Evans (nee Yarwood), from Moseley, Birmingham. She served as cabin crew for British Airways for 28 years from 1970.
Her proudest achievements including serving royalty and crewing Concorde during the 1980s and ’90s when everyone who was anyone wanted to experience flying at twice the speed of sound. Concorde, the world’s first commercial supersonic airliner, could travel from London to New York in three hours.
The find sparked worldwide interest and a battle at Hansons Auctioneers’ Derbyshire saleroom recently. The hammer finally fell at £2,800 – around five times the lot’s £400-£600 estimate. The collection went to a private USA buyer.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “As well as interest from America, we had enquiries from Australia, Sri Lanka and London. The find made news all over the world and throttled past what was already a punchy guide price.
“I think this archive appealed on many levels. It captured Concorde’s golden era and celebrity appeal with autographs from singers Rod Stewart and Cliff Richard, actors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrick Swayze and Warren Beatty and tennis champions Virginia Wade and Billie Jean King. Plus people were fascinated by typed cabin crew instructions on how to look after Queen Elizabeth during a 1989 BA royal tour flight.
“Apparently, the Queen liked mints at hand for take off and a Martini before guests arrived. Royal comfort included having her own pillows and her dresser made up her bed. Also, if Her Majesty was asleep prior to landing cabin crew could not disturb her.”
The result delighted Elizabeth’s niece Jo Smallwood, 53, a retired police officer, from Solihull, West Midlands, who inherited the items. She said: “I was aware of some of the things Elizabeth had kept from her career with BA but nothing on this scale. She married late in life, moving to Devon and finally Hermanus, South Africa. I found the items in her study following her death at the age of 70 in 2017. I travelled to South Africa to arrange her funeral.
“Having discovered this treasure trove relating to my aunt’s career and experiences with BA, especially the fantastic trips on Concorde and serving the Queen, I found it sad that none of it had seen the light of day. This collection is a little piece of history that should be shared and enjoyed.”
Mr Hanson said: “Elizabeth’s archive swept us back to the 1970s, 80s and 90s when flying on Concorde was a luxurious privilege enjoyed by the wealthy jet-set. Celebrities flocked to use its services and carrying royalty was the norm. Service had to be first class.
“Queen Elizabeth II closely followed Concorde’s development. She enjoyed her first supersonic flight in 1977 and used the aircraft for state visits. The Queen of the Skies was seen as fitting transport for the Queen of the Realm. In 1991, Charles and Diana, then the Prince and Princess of Wales, flew supersonic during a trip to Omar and Pakistan.
“We’re thrilled Elizabeth’s memorabilia reached for the clouds and hope the new owner will enjoy the aviation memories.”