Customers of a 150-year-old St Andrews auction house who handed items in for sale shortly before the owners were declared bankrupt are demanding to know whether they can claim their possessions back or access their earnings.
The Courier has been contacted by people from across Tayside and Fife who handed items into Macgregor Auctions on Largo Road, St Andrews, but have been left wondering if their items were sold.
The auction house closed more than a month ago, and it was confirmed almost a fortnight ago that Graeme Smith, insolvency partner at Henderson Loggie, had been appointed to manage the affairs of owners Sandra and Ian Urie.
Mr Smith confirmed he had been nominated as trustee in the individual applications of Mr and Mrs Urie to the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) for sequestration.
Subject to approval of the AiB, he said he would only be involved in dealing with the individuals’ sequestrated estates.
He would have to accept claims from any of the firm’s creditors under the joint and several rules, but would not otherwise be involved in the affairs of the firm.
One Kirkcaldy couple, who handed a number of items in to the auction house on September 3, told The Courier they were at a loss as to what they should do next.
Mrs Ann McKeen said she and her husband handed in a number of family heirlooms for sale, including Edinburgh crystal, tea pots, stamp albums, football programmes and a jewellery box.
She said: “We moved house on September 26. I phoned Mrs Urie to give her our new address and she said the items had all been sold. We went on holiday, came back, and have discovered the auction is closed.
“Now we can’t get in touch with anyone.”
A St Andrews resident who handed a chair in for sale said: “I’ve no idea if my chair was sold or not. It’s such a shame though that this St Andrews institution has closed.”
Perthshire antique dealer Brian Blair of Aberfeldy described Macgregors as a “good honest sale room”.
Contacted by The Courier, a spokesman for Henderson Loggie advised customers what they should do if they are trying to find out about items they handed in prior to closure.
He said: “Graeme Smith of Henderson Loggie has now been appointed as trustee in the sequestrations of Ian Urie and of Sandra Urie, partners of the firm of Macgregor Auctions of St Andrews.
“He does not, nor will have, any locus to deal with the affairs of the now dissolved partnership of Macgregor Auctions.
“Anyone who may have a claim in respect of any goods handed over, which have either been sold but not accounted for, or which remain unsold, may intimate such claim to him for inclusion in the individuals’ sequestrations. “Graeme has no access to the business premises which had previously been relinquished back to the landlord to whom all inquiries regarding property should be addressed.”
Macgregors had been in operation for more than 150 years and had been a favourite gathering place for experts and interested locals.
Sales were held every fortnight.