Laurie Bamford

Laurence John Bamford (October 27, 1947 - December, 2005) was a popular British Numismatist and keen music fan also known as the 'smartly dressed tramp'. Laurie has notability in that he was a pioneer in popularising the hobby of coin collecting in the UK and, as such, was well known to many dealers and collectors alike.

He was educated at Trinity School of John Whitgift in Croydon, London. His interest in coins started at a very early age (around 12 or 13). His fascination for old bronze and copper pennies started when he went on a family holiday to Herne Bay and was captivated by the coins in the amusement arcade machines situated on the sea front. As far back as 1961, Laurie attended the Sunday morning coin market in East London in Cutler Street along with colleague, Hiram Brown

By 1966 Laurie had established himself as one of the Cutler Street collectors alongside Ted Swift, Ted Barhard, Eva Hardy, Jim Hardiman Sr, Ken Lovell, James Leonard and the poet David Nash.

He worked as a Computer Programmer for Prudential Assurance (now Prudential plc) where he was one of the very early users of the programming language COBOL. He worked for the 'Pru' as it was more commonly known for just over eight years. He left to become a full-time coin dealer, at the same time adding to his collection of Victorian Pennies from such dealers as James Leonard, an Australian-born dealer who lived near him in Streatham, London. He also augmented his collection from the coin dealers Stewart Ward based in Bond Street, London.

In 1982, Laurie teamed up with Graeme and Linda Monk to establish Croydon Coin Auctions with the business making its first sale on March 4, 1983. Between them, they ran 196 auctions in total over a 22 year period.

Bamford was also a member of MENSA and was keen on the art of magic. His other passions in life, apart from pennies, were music and beer. He held responsibility for promoting music concerts at the Gun Tavern in Croydon, Surrey featuring such artists as 'Tatty Ollity' and 'Bill Posters will be Band' formed in 1983 which was a jazz vaudeville offspring of the famous Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band for whom he was publicity manager.

He was the unofficial booker for the band called Ivor Biggun headed by Doc Cox and the Vulgar Band, often appearing as vocalist (although he preferred the term heckler). He was also a regular at The Cartoon which was Croydon's main venue for new bands yet to sign for a new record label. His musical tastes also extended to classical, in particular Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado. He was a diabetic.

Bamford was considered the bulwark of the main collectors, despite working in a narrow field of numismatics but he must be considered important just for that. Therefore his place in the hall of fame derives from this originality. He has been accredited with suggesting that the reason the English sixpence, a small silver coin, was nicknamed a 'simon' was because of the famous 17th century engraver at the London Mint, Thomas Simon.

Bamford died suddenly from a heart attack in December 2005. He was founder member of the Croydon Real Ale Preservation Society which held a 'session' in his honour after his death in December 2005. He leaves behind his brother Richard and his nephews and nieces.

His coin collection was sold on 20 June 2006 at Dix, Noonan and Webb auctions in London. It contained an extensive collection of rare Victorian pennies dated 1860 to 1894 (his specialist collecting arena).

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