The Willowbank Story
Every object carries a quiet whisper of the past- a secret life lived long before it reached your hands. At Willowbank Antiques, preserving those stories isn't just a business; it’s a lifelong passion.
From South London to Speyside
My uncle was an antiques dealer in South London in the 1970s, and I grew up in the dusty sunlight of old shops, surrounded by the rhythm of early-morning auctions and bustling weekend boot fairs. Though life first took me down a path of service, from time in the British Army to decades in the NHS as a nurse and senior leader, that early apprenticeship never left me. It laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for collecting and obsessing over antiques, objets d'art, and curios.
Today, that passion has rooted itself in Elgin, Moray. Nestled in the heart of Speyside, Willowbank Antiques is where a lifetime of discipline, care, and decades of collecting converge to help you find pieces that bring history, character, and warmth into your home.
Keepsakes and Connections
The true heart of Willowbank comes from a deeply personal place. Supporting both of my parents through Alzheimer’s and dementia completely reshaped how I view the world, showing me that the most precious things we own aren't about monetary value- they are about love and connection.
I’ve seen firsthand how an everyday object can hold the spirit of a home. Take an innocuous 1970s piece of off-white chocolate brown Hornsea tableware; to anyone else, it's just vintage ceramics. But to me, it's the exact set my mum brought to the table for family dinners every evening when I was growing up. The object itself didn't create those memories; the love, laughter, and care my parents poured into our home did.
Today, holding a piece like that isn't just about nostalgia. It's an instant bridge back to their warmth, offering a quiet sense of grounding, comfort, and belonging.
Willowbank Antiques was created in honour of my parents. It taught me that the items we keep in our lives are living links to the people and events in time that shaped us. I curate every piece here with that exact reverence: to celebrate craftsmanship, honour personal history, and help you find pieces that don't just fill a room, but anchor your home with genuine heart and story.
Celebrating Mum’s birthday at the Shard in London... with the two people who inspired it all.
Off the Clock
When I'm not busy sourcing items for Willowbank Antiques, you can usually find me...
Out roaming the Highlands with my four-legged sidekick, Kasha.
Rod in hand, fishing local rivers and coastal waters.
Discovering (and collecting) fine Speyside single malts.
Hunting, shooting and stalking.
A Shared Responsibility
Whether you are looking for support, advice, or wish to contribute directly to research and family care, here are four outstanding dementia and Alzheimer’s charities making a difference every day:
