His grandmother referred to as him a ‘shitehawk’ — a scavenger hen — as a result of his bed room was rammed with fossils, badges and previous automotive elements he’d discovered on the streets.
By no means did he think about that his childhood ardour for locating ‘stuff’ would make him a family title, however after 11 years on the field — collection 16 kicked off on Quest final week — his TV present Salvage Hunters has gained cult standing.
‘It goes out in 60 international locations and we've 22 million viewers worldwide tuning in each day,’ says the flat cap-wearing vintage supplier. ‘Not unhealthy for 2 fats lads in a van.’
Drew didn’t interact in classes at his bog-standard comp in north Wales, the place he grew up within the Eighties.
‘There have been 50-odd youngsters in my kind so I’d skive on the again and be a ache within the a***,’ he says. ‘I wasn’t eager about studying about oxbow lakes and amoebas.’
All of this makes it much more exceptional that he’s now turn out to be an unlikely poster boy for the inexperienced revolution — and on the forefront of the conflict on waste to assist curb local weather change. ‘COP26 and politicians received’t do something, they by no means will.
The change should come from us,’ he says. ‘And that begins at house.’ Because of exhibits equivalent to Salvage Hunters, antiques — as soon as the pastime of the moneyed middle-classes — now enchantment to a savvy youthful technology of inside lovers who're eager to assist the planet and, because the recession bites, want to save cash.
‘Reclamation and salvage is the last word inexperienced factor to do to cut back landfill,’ says Drew.
‘When renovating your private home or constructing an extension, do you want to fill six skips? There actually is nothing that may’t be reused or recycled by a very good reclamation yard; bricks, tiled flooring, cladding, doorways, floorboards, slates, stone lintels, hinges. I by no means throw something away that’s reusable. And earlier than we purchase something new, we should always ask ourselves, do we actually want it?
‘There’s no level in recycling all of your bottle caps then going out and spending £60,000 on a brand new automotive.’
Whenever you see his own residence — an exquisite 1820s regency cottage within the shadow of Conwy Fortress — it’s clear Drew practices what he preaches.
When he purchased it seven years in the past, it was in a little bit of a state. ‘It’s the oldest home exterior the partitions of the citadel nevertheless it had been refurbed within the Eighties with low cost, nasty plastic alternative home windows, the chimneys had collapsed and the extension had fallen down as a result of it had no footings. Nobody would contact it.
‘It wanted numerous work so I took my very own recommendation and refurbished all the place with reclaimed supplies — timber flooring, doorways, skirting boards, architraving, radiators with the unique paint, panelling, handles, lights — even the backyard gates.
‘I didn’t purchase something new — other than the bathe,’ says Drew. The refurb took seven months. Then got here the enjoyable bit — discovering the furnishings.
‘All the pieces has a narrative — it’s an enormous assemblage of items that I've discovered and love.’
The wood signal declaring ‘the wages of sin is demise’ hangs over the desk in his workplace. ‘I picked it up in a chapel in Yorkshire — it’s so depressing I needed to maintain it,’ he laughs.
On the wall within the lounge hangs an vintage drawing of a tapestry. ‘It has two holes within the prime and a rip on the backside and I like it all of the extra.’
Drew likes a house that immediately places individuals comfortable. ‘I hate sterile, boring environments the place individuals can’t chill out. In my eating room is a mid-Nineteenth century Irish mahogany desk that I purchased low cost. One finish is light from the solar, which provides to its allure — nobody has to fret about spilling something on it or placing down a sizzling cup.’
The eating chairs are a collection of copies and unique Chippendales that value between £10 and £60 every.
‘Something could make for excellent decoration- previous books, an vintage map or photograph, a mirror with good patina. I've a set of architectural plaster fragments, which look nice on cabinets or held on the partitions.’
And Drew completely loves his lighting. ‘Good lighting will kind out any room,’ he continues. ‘The fibreglass coat of arms above the fireside was made for the Queen’s coronation in 1953. ’The 4 artworks both facet are the hand-painted doorways from an 18th century Chinese language cabinet that had disintegrated with rot.’
He purchased the Nineteen Seventies classic mirror-top espresso desk to promote — however ended up maintaining it after realising it had a chip when he obtained it house.
However his favorite discover is the plaster frieze that’s hanging on the wall within the lounge.
‘It’s an unique copy of a piece of the Elgin Marbles commissioned by Lord Elgin in 1802. It’s my most prized possession however I’d by no means promote it — nicely, except I used to be provided a shed-load of cash,’ he laughs.
Drew’s prime suggestions for salvage searching
So how simple is it to furnish your private home with different individuals’s dusty cast-offs? ‘Go searching your private home as it would let you know precisely what it wants,’ says Drew.
‘The important thing to purchasing the best items is to search for stuff you completely love — belief your intuition.
‘Most individuals will blow £200 on a pair of trainers however are reluctant to spend £50 on an incredible mirror or a terrific door deal with. Purchase what you want. It's going to retain its worth, not like a model new piece of c**p.’
A very good start line is to search for a very good rug or a bit for over the chimney. ‘The 2 issues each room wants — the room will evolve from there. Purchase the very best you'll be able to afford — that approach you purchase nicely, you purchase as soon as! And take a tape measure as a bit will solely look good if it's the proper measurement for the room.’
Right here is Drew’s information to beginning off in your treasure hunt.
One of many rarest issues I personal is a Henry Moore maquette (a scale mannequin or unfinished sculpture). I picked it up in a charity store for £80. You would purchase a pleasant automotive for what it’s price now — although I might by no means let that go.
are good, however get there early! Set your alarm for 5am and be there because the sellers are establishing. Flip up late in your foolish wellies and the vintage commerce could have been and gone with all the very best stuff. Be decisive, don’t mess about — discover what you like, pay the person and depart.
are nice for architectural antiques if you're searching for particular gadgets for a refurbishment, like doorways and architraving. I obtained the floorboards for my home from a reclamation yard and they're stunning.
You too can get some severe bargains at . When you've got an area public sale home, pop in and get to know the place to see what goes below the hammer.
like Ebay and Instagram are good if you're searching for one thing particular. I obtained all my reclaimed curtains on-line for a few hundred quid — they're all hand-made and would have value hundreds once they have been new.’
Salvage Hunters continues tomorrow on Quest at 8pm. See extra of Drew on his web site.
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