At Potteries Auctions, we are honoured to present a very special upcoming series: The Guy Heath Collection: a lifetime of passion, knowledge, and dedication to Beswick.
Guy Heath was not just a collector; he was deeply immersed in the world of Beswick for nearly 35 years. But his journey began long before that, when he would buy pieces as gifts for his mother, before developing a passion that would grow into an extraordinary collection.
Guy Heath’s passion, knowledge, and generosity left a lasting mark on the Beswick community, and through this collection, his story lives on. Guy recently passed away, but would have wanted his collection to be appreciated and enjoyed by new collectors. So, join us as we begin to share and celebrate The Guy Heath Collection.
The Man Behind the Collection
There are countless stories that bring this collection to life.
His daughter Jacqui has very fond memories of going to fairs for years, picking up small bits that she could afford — which in those days was mostly a £20 dog. From then, Guy took an interest as well, and they would go on days out to many fairs together, searching for new finds. She fondly remembers being “his eyes and his teeth,” helping assess if a piece had been restored.
Those moments, filled with humour and dedication, became the foundation of a collection built not just on rarity, but on family.
His commitment went far beyond collecting. Guy built a dedicated room to showcase his pieces, complete with bespoke cabinets etched with the Beswick mark. As time went on, and rarer items became harder to source, he even took steps to protect fellow collectors — reporting counterfeit pieces and, on occasion, buying them himself to prevent others from being misled.
Guy’s Personal Favourite Pieces
Guy was known for his particular love of the iconic Shire Horse (model 818), often purchasing two of each variation — partly to study the subtle differences in colourways, and perhaps (as his daughters like to think) one for each of them.
His passion also extended to rare figures, many of which are notoriously difficult to find, and standout pieces such as the beloved Beswick hippo, of which he proudly owned several.
Jacqui has a particularly fond memory of trying to track down the Beswick hippo. For a long time she didn’t come across one, until a visit to Stafford County Show, where suddenly there it was. Guy literally threw himself across to buy it, and from that day on he said he would buy every one he saw — and he did. So, when he passed away, the family discovered at least seven of them!
He would often arrange to meet people at service stations or in lay-bys to collect rare pieces. One example is the Red Bull — a piece Jacqui admits she was never keen on, but Guy always spoke so proudly of it. He met someone in a lay-by to collect it and returned home incredibly excited. It even arrived in a shoebox. When he showed it off, all Jacqui could say was, “Is that it?” — to which he confidently replied that it was rare and something to be very proud of.
A Special Story – Gemma and the Rare Cat
Among the many stories that surround The Guy Heath Collection, one in particular perfectly reflects Guy’s generosity, fairness, and sense of family within collecting — and it is also one of the favourite stories remembered by his daughter Deb and his late wife Irene.
When Gemma was very young and collecting alongside her parents, she became very taken with a rare Beswick cat. At auction, Guy ended up successfully bidding for the piece himself. Seeing how disappointed she was, he made a decision that spoke volumes about his character — he gave the cat to Gemma to look after as its custodian until she was old enough to truly own it.
True to his word and their shared understanding, when Gemma turned 18, she returned the piece back to Guy so it could remain within his wider collection until his passing.
That very same cat is now included in The Guy Heath Collection and will be offered for sale through Potteries Auctions. It carries with it a remarkable story of trust, patience, and family connection.
We sincerely hope that Gemma may choose to bid for it once again, bringing the piece full circle and returning it to where its story began.
Bill Buckley’s Personal Testimonial
I had the pleasure of knowing Guy Heath since the late 1980s, when we would often share our enthusiasm for Beswick pottery. In those early days, there was very little information available on Beswick, and as the market began to grow, Guy was already collecting prolifically, building what would become an exceptional collection.
He was a familiar face at our auctions and in our shop in Cobridge, long before the internet made it easier to identify and source rare pieces. I recall many buying trips where I would travel miles from Stoke-on-Trent, hoping to secure a rare find that had gone unnoticed — only to walk into the saleroom and find Guy already there. It seemed that whenever an important Beswick piece appeared for sale anywhere in the country, he was present, always with a determined look and a smile on his face. Among dealers and collectors alike, it was widely understood that there would likely be only one winner at that particular auction!
Guy was not only a remarkable collector but also a great friend, with an extraordinary passion and depth of knowledge that earned him the respect of the Beswick community worldwide. We have no doubt he will be greatly missed by collectors across the globe.
Myself and the team at Potteries Auctions are honoured to have been entrusted with the sale of this outstanding collection. We have no doubt that these pieces will find their way to appreciative collectors around the world, continuing Guy’s legacy for years to come.
Guy made many great friends and colleagues within the Beswick world, and he will not be forgotten for his passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm.
Potteries Auctions are proud to be entrusted with the sale of The Guy Heath Collection over the coming years, ensuring his remarkable legacy is shared with collectors and enthusiasts around the world. While a number of deeply sentimental pieces have been retained by his family, they remain treasured for their personal memories and significance.
Potteries Auctions are excited to begin offering selections from this incredible collection, with the first auctions commencing in July, September and November this year, and continuing periodically over the next few years.
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