John Pye, co-founder of Nottingham auction empire, dies at 95

John Pye, aged 95, died, ending a life that began with the 1968 launch of Furniture & General Auctions alongside Ann Pye at Nottingham’s old Cattle Market. The company, later incorporated as John Pye & Sons Limited in 1990, expanded from probate clearances to a national auction network, moving to Banton House in Meadow Lane and acquiring the former Shipstone’s Star Brewery site in New Basford. In 2007 it shifted from live auctions to 24-hour timed sales and now operates hubs in Derby, Birmingham, Bo’ness, Margam and Zaragoza, Spain.

The firm’s statement highlighted his determination, vision and the playful impact he had on colleagues, calling him a “local legend.” The Pye family thanked supporters for their condolences during this “incredibly sad time.”