John Pye, who co-founded John Pye Auctions with his wife Ann in 1968, has died aged 95.
The business began as Furniture & General Auctions on Nottingham's old Cattle Market site, starting with just a horse and cart, and grew into a national auction house with hubs across the UK and a site in Spain.
The company's statement described him as immensely proud of what the firm became and credited his determination and vision, alongside decades of colleagues, for its growth.
The full dispatch is available from the source below.