GOING NUTS FOR NOSTALGIA

PEOPLE ARE STILL WRITING TO SANTA ASKING FOR THE TOYS OF OUR YOUTH

- CHARLES HANSON

OR each of us there is one thing that heralds the start of Christmas - whether it was the opening of the first window of the advent calendar today, or the carol concert from King’s College Cambridge on December 24

For me, big kid as I am, it’s our Christmas toy sale. And it seems I am not alone.

We all remember the childhood excitement of waking up on Christmas morning to see what Santa had delivered.

And this is exactly what bidders are trying to recreate in the saleroom.

The good news is many of the toys in high demand in our youth are still sought after today.

Take Meccano, which topped many young boys’ wish-list in bygone years.

During the 1920s and 1930s Meccano Ltd was the biggest toy manufacturer in Britain with manufacturing bases in Argentina, France, Germany, the US and Spain.