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Sport commentator's career keepsakes to be sold

Bea Swallow
BBC News, Wiltshire
Ben Prater
BBC Radio Wiltshire
BBC A black and white archived picture of David Coleman as a middle aged man. He is wearing a buttoned-up shirt and has his dark hair parted to the side. He is holding an old microphone in his right hand and standing in front of a football pitch, smiling at the camera.BBC
The sale includes a number of David Coleman's research notes, newspaper clippings, presenting scripts and career keepsakes

A vintage typewriter and career keepsakes belonging to the late BBC sports presenter David Coleman are among his personal items to be sold at auction.

Coleman worked for the BBC for 46 years, providing commentary for Fifa world cups, the Olympics, and playing host for the BBC's primetime sporting quiz show A Question of Sport for 18 years.

Coleman passed away in 2013 at the age of 87, leaving behind a rich collection of typewritten scripts, interview transcripts, photographs and personal mementos.

The "rare and unique" items will go under the hammer at RWB Auctions in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, on Wednesday.

RWB Auctions A wooden desk displaying items from the private collection, including a silver golfing trophy, a vintage typewriter, a scribbling diary, and typewritten notes.RWB Auctions
Among the items is an Olivetti Lettera 25 typewriter, used to compose many of his scripts for sporting coverage

Coleman was the veteran broadcaster of 11 Olympic Games, six Fifa world cups and eight Commonwealth Games, as part of a career spanning more than 40 years in the industry.

He also presented BBC Sports Personality of the Year from 1961 to 1983, as well as Match of the Day and Sportsnight from 1968 to 1973.

In 1992, his contributions to sports journalism earned him an OBE in the New Year's Honours from Queen Elizabeth II.

Highlights from the collection to be auctioned include his production notes for the Grandstand coverage of the Grand Nationals from 1978 to 1983, containing interviews with now King Charles and the Princess Royal.

Two A4 pieces of paper laying side by side. On each there is a typewritten script for a football game commentary, with words crossed out and added in-between the lines.
David Coleman's family said he was a "stickler for writing his own scripts", which contain his personal notes and amendments

In addition, his OBE certificate signed by HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and a Royal Television Society Hall of Fame certificate awarded in 1996 are also up for sale.

His family say they have entered the items for auction to provide a unique opportunity to own a piece of his works from notable events in his career.

Also on offer is a treasure trove of items related to his public and personal life - including photographs, sports patches, a golfing trophy, and a caricature sketch.

A black and white archived image of David Coleman sitting behind a desk in a filming studio set. The desk says BBC TV Grandstand on the front, and above him are studio lights suspended from metal bars. In the foreground there are two men operating massive cameras on stands.
As presenter of Grandstand for a decade from 1958, he provided the nation with news on major sporting events every Saturday afternoon

Auctioneer Gordon Brockman, of RWB Auctions, says: "We are delighted to be offering such personal items for sale belonging to such a stalwart character from the world of British sport.

"Items like this are rare, and this presents a truly unique opportunity to own a piece of sporting history."

Mr Brockman said he was "immediately enthusiastic" when he saw the "fascinating" collection, because he knew how significant it was.

A black and white archived image of David Coleman wearing a checked patterned suit. He is speaking into an old microphone in a booth overlooking a football pitch. He has medium length hair which is pushed back behind his ears and thick sideburns. He is commentating on the match below.
David Coleman first appeared on air for the BBC in 1954

"David Coleman was in everybody's lives, we all grew up with him commentating," Mr Brockman continued.

"He was just a lovely guy, and I don't think people realise how much he did for broadcasting. He deserves this, he earned it."

Mr Brockman predicted a set of Mr Coleman's vintage cigarette trading cards would fetch the highest bid at auction.

He added: "They'll be going to a good home, which is what the family wanted."

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