Auctioneer Dominic Winter died at the age of 61 last Monday, with his family around him at home in Old Town, Swindon after losing his battle with cancer.

The antiques expert dedicated his life to the industry, and opened his own auctioneering business in Swindon in 1988, before moving it to South Cerney in 2006.

He is survived by his wife Marion, children Esme, Romilly and Gus, as well as his parents, three sisters and one brother.

Chris Albury, senior valuer and auctioneer at Dominic Winter Auctioneers and Mr Winter’s first full-time employee in Swindon, paid tribute to him.

“The last progression to his death was very quick. We weren’t expecting this a month ago. We were still hopeful of recovery, for him to bound back in through the door,” he said.

“It just became clear in the last few weeks that things were very serious indeed and then he had gone.

“He was such an energetic, cheerful and vibrant figure.

“He was well-liked and all the staff were incredibly loyal. Most people have been here 10 years, with some of us at 20 years or more.

“It’s been very odd not having him here as regularly for these last few months. It’s a complete shock to realise he’s not going to bounce through the door, full of beans, and try to chase some job or new idea.”

Mr Winter started out as shop floor apprentice with a firm in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, before moving to Bristol, where he wielded the auctioneer’s hammer for Taviner’s Auctions.

Fifteen years later he moved to Swindon and rented premises in Victoria Road and The Planks, before establishing the business in Maxwell Street.

“His drive was phenomenal. His interest and liking for what he did, his enjoyment of handling books and everything paper-related,” said Mr Albury.

“He never tired of it and if things weren’t going well he just worked harder and it seemed to rub off on his employees.

“We all put our shoulders to the wheel and worked alongside him to make it work.

“One of his great virtues was he got people to like him straight away. He had a great charisma. People felt like they were his friend and they trusted him.”

Since 2002 Mr Winter was also a regular fixture with the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow television programme.

“He took it very seriously, but it interfered with work quite heavily. It always seemed to be a deadline week when these turned up,” said Mr Albury.

“I would always take phone calls from around the country with him trying to get background, whilst I quickly Googled or looked something up. He would reel it off straight to camera.

“He was very proud of it. It was all part of what he hoped would help the company legacy.”