A gold wristwatch given by Peter Sellers to his uncle, together with a gold fountain pen that later played a role in the purchase of the hotel that inspired Fawlty Towers, are the stars of an auction this week <June 4>.
Kept in the same family for more than 70 years, both are a rare opportunity to acquire items connected to the legendary funny man and his remarkable show business history.
The items have descended through the family of Richard “Dick” Ray, the maternal uncle of Sellers, and provide a rare glimpse into the theatrical dynasty into which he was born in 1925.
According to family provenance, the gold Zelus wristwatch, expected to fetch £700 at auction in Derby, was given by Peter Sellers to Dick Ray Snr during a visit to the family home, Radar Lodge in Reading, Berkshire, in June 1954.
After Dick admired the watch, Sellers spontaneously handed it to him as a gift.
The watch has remained in the family ever since.
The accompanying gold Waterman fountain pen carries an equally fascinating history. The pen passed from Dick Ray Snr to his son, Raymond Marks, and in April 1999 was used to sign the £1 million purchase contract for the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay – the establishment that famously inspired the classic television comedy Fawlty Towers.
Yet the story stretches back even further.
Dick Ray was part of the celebrated Ray theatrical family, whose roots lay deep within Britain’s music hall and variety traditions.
At the centre of the family stood Sellers’ grandmother, the formidable theatre entrepreneur known as Ma Ray, whose touring companies entertained Edwardian audiences across Britain in the heyday of music hall.
Family troupes including the Ray Brothers and Ray Sisters travelled the country bringing songs, comedy and variety entertainment to audiences long before the arrival of television.
Peter Sellers was born into this world of touring performers in 1925. Surrounded by entertainers from childhood, he inherited talents later shaping performances in The Goon Show, Dr Strangelove and the Pink Panther films.
Hansons Auctioneers’ associate director and head of jewellery, Helen Smith, said: “These pieces tell an extraordinary story. The watch was a personal gift from Peter Sellers to his uncle, while the pen remained with the family and was later used in the purchase of the hotel associated with Fawlty Towers. Together they chart a journey through some of the most colourful chapters of British entertainment history.”
She continued: “What makes them especially appealing is the family connection. Peter Sellers emerged from a remarkable theatrical dynasty that spent generations on the stage. Both are tangible reminders of that world and the family relationships behind one of Britain’s most celebrated comedians.”
Auction Details
Auction: The Derbyshire Summer Fine Art Auction
Auction date: 4th June 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons’ Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
