Rhyl historian's photographs of charabancs under the hammer in Colwyn Bay

[Michael Wong]

A unique collection of more than 600 photographic negatives of charabancs and other memorabilia garnered by the late Rhyl collector and historian, John Nickels, was auctioned off by Colwyn Bay auctioneers, Rogers Jones Co, yesterday (Tuesday, May 25).

Mr Nickels, who died aged 80 in 2000, spent a lifetime amassing hundreds of glass negatives, photographs and postcards that were almost thrown out. The entire collection was bought for £2,800 by the Omnibus Society to secure it as an archive, rather than it 'lost' by going in to a private collection. The collection would be available for research and to illustrate articles and books. Private collectors from the UK and Europe were among those who missed out at the auction.

Photos: The collection of photographic negatives was nearly thrown out after Mr Nickels' death.