23/12/2025
Been a tad quiet of late, so I’d just like to explain...
Cold, flu, then ambulanced to hospital last Sunday = pneumonia. Sent home ("safest place to be!") & told to REST! Six & A half days in bed.
However, as we come to the close of 2025, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has continued to support BBR, in whatever way.
This includes BBR Magazine - continuing to spearhead research through Guy Burch and other contributors; the ever-expanding auction catalogues; the Elsecar Shows, which have run successfully throughout another year of site redevelopment (with light finally visible at the end of the tunnel!); the BBR Auctions themselves, which continue to break records, and attract new customers and collectors; and, of course, all the bottle fairs around the UK, which we still, uniquely, continue to promote, support, and attend in full.
Taking everything into account, this has proven to be BBR’s best year eve,-no small achievement after steadfastly serving this hobby for 46 years - our 47th year ahead.
So I’ll be taking the Christmas break with no Winter AL-venture, to fully rest and recover, ready to bounce back for what already looks set to be an exceptional 2026 BBR & Elsecar year ahead.
BBR 185 out early February.... A BUMPER ISSUE....
With all best wishes,
Alan Blakeman
& all the BBR ‘crew’
