In a highly contested field, he was perhaps Norfolk's most flamboyant auctioneer.
But the loved ones of Barry Lancelot Hawkins - who has died aged 86 - also remember him for his tenacity and heartfelt guidance in life.
From appearing multiple times on the BBC, including on Top Gear, to becoming a well-known face among those working in agriculture, he would go on to leave a legacy that remains today.
He was born in west Norfolk on May 31, 1938.
His father, Paul Hawkins, was a livestock auctioneer who would go on to become the Tory MP for the South West Norfolk for 20 years.
In 1939 he sent the family and nanny to stay on a sheep station north of Melbourne, Australia, while he joined the army.
He was captured during the Battle of France and spent five years as a prisoner of war, only seeing his family again after his release and when they returned to Norfolk.
When he reached school age, Barry became one of the first pupils to attend Beeston Hall Preparatory School on the north Norfolk coast.
His education took him to Cheltenham College before he went on to study at the College of Estate Management in London and Reading to become a chartered surveyor.
He also completed an apprenticeship in Barnsley to qualify as a land agent and surveyor.
When he returned to Norfolk again in the 1950s, he joined the family firm Charles Hawkins & Sons.
As his father's political career progressed, Mr Hawkins became senior partner.
In the days of running and operating King’s Lynn cattle market, he thoroughly enjoyed his time as a livestock auctioneer and valuer travelling around rural Norfolk and the surrounding counties.
He was influential in designing and developing the town's new cattle market, which was moved from the town centre to Hardwick in 1971.
In 1985, Charles Hawkins & Sons was acquired by Black Horse Agencies – a division of Lloyds Banking Group.
But Barry was fiercely independent and established his own auctioneers and land agents Barry L Hawkins the following year.
He retained the cattle market but eventually had to close it in July 1996 in the wake of the mad cow disease crisis, which had devastated the industry.
He went on to sell the site and concentrated instead on serving his close friends and farming clients in the region by haggling deals on their behalf right up until his death.
A huge moment for him came during the sale of Norfolk’s Didlington Estate, near Thetford.
He was noted to have been physically shaking prior to its sale for £1m at auction, but is said to have “been back in his element” before long as his confidence came flooding back.
In 2006, his youngest son, Marcus, joined the business to continue the Hawkins legacy.
Paying tribute, Marcus said: “Barry was passionate about caring for his clients within the farming community up to his dying days and relished the challenges dealing with all walks of life with the same respect.
“He certainly regarded himself as a country auctioneer and although not an expert, his depth of knowledge was extensive on many aspects through his years of experience.”
He was a member of several organisations throughout his career including the Central Association for Agricultural Valuers Wisbech District and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
He was also chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers Association and a steward of the Court Leet on Common Right owners, Denver.
He appeared on the BBC numerous times, from selling classic cars to the Top Gear team in 2009 to showing off his lightning-speed selling on Antiques Road Trip.
Arguably, it may be his involvement in Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum that he may be most remembered for.
He was instrumental in establishing the museum near Dereham, being one of the founding trustees curating the agricultural bygones.
In fact, he would go on to advise many charitable organisations and trusts throughout East Anglia, including the Brancaster Charity Trust, Pentney Charity Trust and managing the estate of the Sir Edmund de Moundeford Trust in Feltwell.
Influenced by and supportive of his father, he would go on to chair many parish council meetings and Conservative party events in the area.
THE MAN BEHIND THE HAMMER
Mr Hawkins would face many personal challenges throughout his life, including the deaths of his eldest son Thomas (d.1986) and daughter Louise (d.1989) to cancer.
Both had been aged 24 at the time of their death.
Marcus said: “Despite facing personal challenges throughout his life, he maintained an infectious enjoyable outlook to life. His maxim to life was to face everything and recover.
"My father left an indelible mark on all our lives.
“With affection, mum and I often called him a stubborn old bugger but to the rest of the world, he was tenacious and determined, in many ways.
“We are both very proud of him, for who he was and how he lived.
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"His advice was straight from the heart, even when the truth was tough to hear. He didn’t sugar-coat life, he equipped us to deal with it. Dad was the embodiment of resilience and tenacity.
“He worked tirelessly to the very end, juggling work and life, enduring long hours, all to ensure that our family never knew the hardships he faced.
"But never once did he let the strains of life dull his humour or dampen his spirit.
“His laughter and bad jokes were our daily soundtrack, a reminder that joy could be found even amidst chaos.
“He was a humble man, but he took pride in the smallest achievements.
“The pain of losing him is profound, and the void his absence leaves feels impossible to fill.
"But in the silence, I hear his laughter, his words of encouragement, and I feel his love surrounding us.
“Dad was truly a man of substance in many forms, and his legacy will live on through all of us.”
Mr Hawkins died peacefully at his home in Downham Market on December 2 at the age of 86 after a short illness.
He leaves behind his wife of 64 years Valerie and youngest son Marcus, as well as extended family and his staff in Downham Market.
A memorial thanksgiving service will take place at St Peter & St Paul Church in Swaffham on February 28 at 11am.
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Book of condolences: Tributes to Barry L Hawkins
"Following the passing of auctioneer Barry L Hawkins, please use this as a space to share your tributes."
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Share your tributes hereMost wondeful human being
Share your tributes hereYou will be sadly missed,remembering the 80s at your auctions you were one of the best,and also the chats we had when I used to cut your hair in the 80s, happy memories from those days, R I P lovely happy man.
Book of condolences: Tributes to Barry L Hawkins
Following the passing of auctioneer Barry L Hawkins, please use this as a space to share your tributes.
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