“The Island's two leading auction rooms, Hose Rhodes Dickson Auction Rooms and Island Auction Rooms, are pleased to announce that they have joined forces in a merger this month. Island Auction Rooms, based in Regent Street in Shanklin, and Hose Rhodes Dickson Auction Rooms, based in Quay Lane, Brading, began trading under the new company name of 'HRD Auction Rooms Ltd.' on 1st June. The Managing Director of the newly formed company, Warren Riches, said “This is a joint venture which will combine the expertise of two very successful firms and enable us to streamline and extend the services which we can offer to solicitors and private clients alike”. Fellow Director, Jamie Busby, Partner at Hose Rhodes Dickson, confirmed that he is equally confident that the new company has a bright and exciting future. Initially the Company will operate from the two current premises, but the long-term plan is to operate from a single, larger site. Rex Gully, who has been running the Brading salerooms since its inception, will continue in his management and valuation roles within the new set-up and has enthusiastically endorsed the exciting prospects provided by the merger. It is intended that the published sales calendars for both salerooms will be adhered to in the short-term, with Antiques and Fine Arts sales on Tuesdays in Shanklin and the Modern and Vintage sales to continue on Saturdays in Brading. Shanklin's Wednesday sales of Modern Furniture and Effects will no longer take place. It is planned to hold more Specialist Sales, which are becoming more and more popular since the advent of live internet bidding, which has brought the salerooms into people’s living rooms around the globe. There will also be an expansion of valuation events throughout the Island.”