+44 (0) 1332 250 970

stamps@cavendish-auctions.com

OUR TEAM

Cavendish's team comprises world-class philatelists and administrative staff who all take pride in the exemplary level of customer service and expertise we offer all our clients.

Our describers are professional philatelists (and all collectors) with a wealth of experience and specialist knowledge in a vast array of subjects, both in stamps and postal history. All are members of several local, national and international societies, whose meetings they attend.

Our administrative team are renowned for their friendly efficiency and are by no means 'behind the scenes' staff. Our staff profiles below will introduce you to our team.

PHILATELIC EXPERTS

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND WORLD CLASS EXPERTISE


Bob Unwin

Bob UnwinBob is our Senior Describer based at the Derby office. He specialises in early foreign material and commonwealth stamps. His collecting interests include Middle-East philately, having spent a number of years in Arabia. Bob joined Cavendish as a describer following his career as a Biomedical Scientist and in medical equipment sales. Email: bob@cavendish-auctions.com or phone 01332 250970







James Grimwood-Taylor MA, FSA (Scot.), RDP, FSPH, FRPSL

James Grimwood-TaylorJames' professional career in philately spans over 35 years, having commenced with leading London dealers straight from university. His expertise covers all corners of the globe, from GB and Commonwealth through most foreign countries, having researched and described collections including those of Aden, Australia, Sudan, Natal/Boer War, Nicaragua, Peru, France, Germany, the Far East, Canada and USA (to name a few!). James is an accredited national judge and renowned international exhibitor (with 5 International Gold Medals), and he has authored over 100 research articles, 2 books and a novel. His personal collections encompass a wide range of subjects, notably British Postal Reforms, British Offshore Islands and Derbyshire Postal History, Worldwide First Issue stamps, as well as musical composers, historical contents, antique writing equipment etc. James is a member of numerous British and overseas Societies, including the Collectors' Club of New York and the Postal History Society. He is past President of the Great Britain Philatelic Society and the Society of Postal Historians and is also a fellow of a the Royal Philatelic Society London. Email: james@cavendish-auctions.com or by phone on 01332 250970.

Greg Spring BSc(Hons), PhD, FRPSL

Greg SpringOperations Director and Company Chairman. Greg joined Cavendish in 2014, bringing together his philatelic interests and extensive experience in IT and software development, and became a company Director in 2016. A Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London Greg specialises in Canada, Poland and has interests in the Caucasus as well. Under James Grimwood-Taylor's guidance his knowledge of Postal History has expanded rapidly and this is the direction his personal collections are now taking having recently joined the Society of Postal Historians, the Postal History Society, Scottish Postal History Society, Forces Postal History Society, and the Postal History Society of Canada. He is also a past President of the Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain and a member of the Postal Mechanisation Study Circle. Greg's IT experience is extensive and of particular relevance is his expertise in databases. He has been involved with the development of several on-line philatelic catalogues, the RPSL on-line catalogue, the Crawford Library, and the competition database used by Stamp World Exhibitions. He is also a philatelic judge at Federation level. At Cavendish his time is divided between being the Managing Director and philatelic describing. Email: greg@cavendish-auctions.com or by phone on 01332 250970.

Anna Spring

Anna SpringAnna grew up with stamps (she was literally surrounded by them at home!) and for many years was the Sheffield Philatelic Society’s only Junior member. Her early interest in animal themes and Bulgaria gave way in her teenage years to an interest in ephemera connected with mourning. With James Grimwood-Taylor, she now shares an interest in writing equipment. Anna joined Cavendish in 2018 as Auction Room Co-ordinator but since stepping into the role of trainee describer, her eyes have been opened to many new dimensions of collecting and we are all waiting to see what will fire her imagination next. Email: anna@cavendish-auctions.com or phone 01332 250970






Ken Baker

Ken BakerConsultant expert with over 50 years' experience in professional philately, including over 20 years with Christie's Robson Lowe, and nearly 25 years with Cavendish prior to his ‘retirement' in 2013. Ken's expertise ranges from GB (Line Engraved and KGV) and Commonwealth (notably New Zealand, Canada, West Indies and Hong Kong) to World Airmails; he's even described Iraq! Email: stamps@cavendish-auctions.com or phone 01332 250970









Customer Accounts

Sue Spring BSc(Hons), PhD, FRPSL

Sue SpringSue joined Cavendish in 2016 and is now Finance Director and Company Secretary. Sue comes from an analytical backgound having worked as a researcher at the University of Sheffield for many years. Her schoolgirl collection of world stamps has been discarded in favour of more serious philatelic collecting interests which include: scientific research in Polar regions; the Eastern Arctic Mail Service, Swedish stamp designs and a life-long interest in postcards. Sue is a judge at regional level and a member of the Royal Philatelic Society London, the Polar Postal History Society and the Exhibition Study Group. Email: sue@cavendish-auctions.com or by phone on 01332 250970.






Sam Sheppard

Sam SheppardSam joined our team in April 2014 and is in charge of customer accounts. She brings a wealth of experience in accounting and customer service from her past employment in banking, finance and the plumbing industry. Whilst not a collector, Sam enjoys the 'auction experience' and is already learning about philately. She enjoys sports, supporting her son's football team, and socialising with family and friends. Please contact Sam on 01332 250970.







Accounts & Administration Support

Esta Whitehurst

Esta WhitehurstIt was almost inevitable that Esta would join Cavendish as her Mum, Hilary worked with the company for 21 years before her retirement! Esta’s calm and organised personality has quickly made her indispensible in the front office and she has recently shown an aptitude for social media, keeping the company Facebook and Instagram pages up-to-date. Esta has also quickly adapted to the rigours of the live online auction experience and is a valuable member of the clerking team. She’s also great at packing boxes! Please contact her (Monday - Thursday) to make a viewing appointment, or with any enquiry about despatching material to Cavendish from overseas. Email: esta@cavendish-auctions.com or phone 01332 250970.




Advertising & Website Queries

Please contact Susan Spring with any queries regarding Cavendish Advertising - Email: sue@cavendish-auctions.com or Greg Spring with any queries regarding our Website - Email: greg@cavendish-auctions.com