Clive Emson MBE, property auctioneer and star of Homes under the Hammer has died.
The flamboyant entrepreneur whose Kent-based family auction business found national fame through the popular property TV programme, passed peaceful last Wednesday, aged 79.
Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers, covered Kent to Cornwall and is an award-winning business, built by Clive and his family, notably his son James, who heads up the company.
His behind-the-scenes work with various charities earned him an MBE for services to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in Kent.
He was President of the Young Lives Foundation, which delivers tailored services to children and young people for effective outcomes.
A life in property
Clive Emson began his far-reaching career in the property business, earning just £1.50 a week as a junior estate agent.
His childhood home was in Maidstone – about a mile away from the current head office in London Road – and he went to Maidstone Technical College when he took on more ‘useful’ subjects such as commerce, book-keeping and economics.
Careers in law, accountancy and banking beckoned, but Clive did not want to be stuck in an office, so he opted for estate agency.
He said: “It was more laid back, and I enjoyed talking and meeting people.”
He started at Geering and Colyer in Maidstone in 1968 and moved to various offices across the county, including a Tonbridge branch, where he met his wife Sue, who was the daughter of the boss at the time.
Family man
The couple have two children, James, 52, who is now Managing Director and Rebecca, 55, whose husband Steve is involved in the IT side of the company. Sadly, Sue, whom he was married to for 50 years, died six years ago.
He launched his first estate agency, Clive Emson and Co, in Hythe in 1973 until 1983 when he merged the business with the rapidly expanding Ward and Partners.
He then opened up his own firm in Folkestone during the height of the recession and shortly afterwards took over a small industrial unit on Medway City Estate in Strood, where he quickly learned tough lessons on how to keep afloat.
Gradually, his portfolio started to creep across southern England with James launching in Hastings and then Brighton.
Growing business
They outgrew their auction venue at the Great Danes Hotel in Maidstone, now the Mercure Maidstone, when the fire service said they had to find somewhere bigger for safety reasons.
They relocated to the Kent County Showground at Detling, where the massive Clive Emson Conference Centre is one of several halls where their six-weekly land and property sales have been staged.
It was the first property auctioneering house that was not backed by an estate agency.
He said: “I had to move on, find my own niche. I love selling, and auctioneering is what I’ve done all my life.”
I love selling, and auctioneering is what I’ve done all my life.”
He said the TV programme had served to make the auction house a more respected place to buy property and land, saying, “there was a perception that they were frequented by dealers and crooked people”.
His team view every single one of the potential thousands of lots before they make it into the catalogue.
“If we think the price wanted is wrong, we will say so. We sell 80% of what goes into the catalogue. We are the fifth biggest in the country.”
His charity work began around 30 years ago, when he saw that the YMCA in Maidstone was asking for £100 to buy new pencils and pens for the homework club, which was also appealing for volunteers at the time.
He was the founding chairman of the Board from 2007 to 2014 and President from 2014 to date.
Success and legacy
In 2024 Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers took Gold at The Negotiator Awards – the first time they had entered. Clive was delighted with the success and was present to collect the award in person.
He leaves a great legacy; alongside his professional achievements and the establishment of a thriving auction business, his experience, support and guidance made a positive impact on the lives of young people in Kent, and his vision was that all shall have access to opportunities to achieve their potential.
With thanks to Kent Messenger for additional reporting.