Dodds Auctions has been part of life in Mold for decades but that's set to come to an end today.

Beth Hughes meets one of the founding partners to find out more...

The hammer will strike for the final time as a celebrated auctioneer and former mayor puts up his final lot today.

Dodd’s Auctioneers and Valuers has regally sat overlooking Chester Road, in Mold, since 1965. But Anthony Parry, founder of the prestigious auction, remembers setting up the business in 1963 and working from the office of an estate agency practice in Chester.

After five decades of auctioning off fine arts, antiques, collectables and even some quirky coffins, today marks the day Cllr Parry, of Mold Town Council, will chant "the rhythmatic poetry with numbers" to bidders from all sorts of backgrounds.

So why after 55 years in business, a weekly general household auctions and monthly antiques and collectables auction, has Cllr Parry decided to have his last bid at standing on the lectern and leading hungry buyers in a sterling war?

"A change in the prices" is why. Cllr Parry said: "Prices are significantly lower than they were 10 years ago. It's to do with fashion, and trends, and the American market is not as it was. There is virtually no exporting.

"15 years ago we had 38 antique dealers. Times change, and now we have very few. In Chester, we are only used by four antique dealers."

Among the vintage items Dodds boast in their archive is a 10oz fine gold Krugerrand from 1981 which sold for £725, a 2001 Volvo FM12 wagon which sold for £9,000, and a Victor Talking Machine (Phonograph) from a company which was founded in 1901, which the lucky bidder tuned in for at a price of £425.

It's not just the mismatched odd item that Dodds Auctions can flog. The company has a long history of total house clearances, resulting in thousands of pounds in profit for the seller.

With a network of specialist collectors, and weekly viewings of items, it's fair to say Dodds will hold a lasting legacy of being able to find the right deal for anyone wishing to buy or sell.

The reputation of the North Wales and Cheshire auctioneers did not come without toil. Cllr Parry, alongside his longstanding business partner John Hughes, of Ruthin, built up a repertoire of collectors and clients using their skills as well-known people.

Cllr Parry said: "We used to be doing around 500 lots a week - when we first started, it was around 200-250."

Today's auction will be a nostalgic one for both business partners. Advertised as 'Retirement Auction - everything must go!' the vendors are hoping to flog over 500 items in just one day, which will be no match for their well-experienced skillsets.

Steel bicycles, wooden lecterns, grandfather clocks, sewing machines, boxes of vintage ornaments, artist's easels, 80s record players, artwork and Peter Rabbit tea-sets are among the items to be auctioned today.

Cllr Parry reminisces about one item in today's lot: "We have a Victorian chest of drawers in now to be auctioned. 10 years ago it would have sold for between £600-£800, but this week it will sell for £60-80."

The expert puts it down to multinational furniture retailers, online shopping - but more so an ignorance on behalf of Millennials for failing to appreciate the value of vintage and quality.

He said: "People would rather go to Ikea, and one year later it would fall apart. It's the modern trend. Today if you look at the service in Ikea it is totally different.

"Like in the case of a family a week ago. They were bringing a chest of drawers in, and as they were carrying it down the stairs and it fell apart.

"Victorian wood was made to last," and Cllr Parry agreed that the ominous phrase 'buy cheap, buy twice' is a sign of today's buying generation.

Many people travelling through Mold use Dodds Auctions as a pinpoint as one of the first landmarks in the town from the A55 and Mold Bypass.

But Dodds has been under the eye of national as well as local audiences during its long years in service. The Auction has been featured on well-known television shows including BBC's Bargain Hunt, Flog It!, Antiques Roadtrip, and the Discovery Channel's Restoration Man.

Items from across the pond have also been sold at the Mold-based vendors, and Cllr Parry harkens back to an American casket which was "unusual." This particular item had been used as a vessel for various burials after carrying ashes which were then discarded before the casket was used time and time again.

Memories of bygone days will forever bind Cllr Parry and Mr Hughes in friendship as well as former business partnership. Cllr Parry said: "My partner is a bit older than I, and he wants to retire too. We have been business partners for decades. We will keep in touch - we have to."