David Barby

David John Barby, FRICS (23 April 1943 – 25 July 2012) was an English antiques expert, known for his appearances on Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and similar BBC antiques television programmes.

Career Born in Rugby, Warwickshire, he was interested in antiques from age 12,

Barby started working for a local firm in Rugby, before leaving to work in London in 1974. Barby was an expert on "everything from Victorian porcelain to antique oak pedestal desks".

Barby started his own independent valuation business, Hillmorton-based David J. Barby and Associates, in the 1990s, Similar evenings with Barby were held at Snitterfield Village Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon and other locations.

Barby was well known for the charity work that he carried out, as a fundraiser for the Leamington Spa Hospital and Leamington Art Gallery. He was also president of the Friends of Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum.

Barby gave a series of lectures on antiques with humorous stories of the antiques business. He gave lectures to groups such as NADFAS, Women's Institutes, and historical and arts societies, as well as on cruise ships.

Barby was the subject of the July 2007 newsletter article, "My Life in Antiques", based on a speech he gave to the UK Belleek Collectors' Group Spring Meeting in 2007.

Barby gave much time in sharing stories, memories, nostalgia, and passion for old things with members of the public. Charles Hanson, a friend of Barby said, "more important he is a man of the people".

Television Barby appeared in the first episode of Flog It! in 2002 as the auctioneer, but was soon also employed as an expert. He was already becoming well known in a similar role on Bargain Hunt, and later appeared on Antiques Road Trip, where he became known by the nickname "The Master".

He appeared to fall in Widemarsh Street, Hereford in 2012 while filming an episode of the Antiques Road Trip. In 2011 and 2012, there were other reports of him having minor facial injuries, viewed on television.

Barby was an ambassador of antiques on television. Following his death, Bargain Hunt paid tribute to Barby in an episode broadcast on 1 October 2012, with a montage of his appearances shown at the end of the programme. A similar montage by Antiques Road Trip was shown on 5 October 2012.

Politics Barby stood in the Caldecott district of Rugby in 2002 as a prospective Conservative councillor, but came fourth in a ward which elected only three councillors. He took part in fundraising events such as 'Antiques Evening with David Barby' for the Solihull Conservative Association.

Death and tributes Barby suffered a stroke at his home in Rugby on 13 July 2012, and he died two weeks later on 25 July 2012 in a hospital in Coventry, aged 69. Over 500 people attended a memorial service at St Andrew's Church, Rugby on 2 September 2012. A tribute was given by Philip Serrell. Tributes were also made by the BBC, TV programme Flog It, and Presenter Tim Wonnacott. Wonnacott expressed his shock on behalf of the team at Bargain Hunt and spoke of his high standards and professionalism as an expert, and also his sense of humour and sense of fun. Barby was buried at Watts Lane Cemetery, Hillmorton, in Rugby, Warwickshire.