At JPS Chartered Surveyors, a fifth-generation family business built on heritage, expertise, and integrity, International Women’s Day holds special meaning. Our history includes skilled auctioneers and valuers, and today, we celebrate one of the most important women in our story: Bobbie Isaacs, mother to directors Michael and Mark, and one of the the few female auctioneers to build a career in the industrial and antique world.
Her journey began long before JPS existed in its current form, when the family business was known as M. Isaacs & Sons, founded by her father Joe and grandfather Mick (and Mike and Mark’s grandfather/great-grandfather). What followed was a career defined by hard work, grit, passion and a deep commitment to honouring both people and the items she sold.
A Career Built from the Ground Up
Bobbie entered the auction world at just 15, working in the family business’s office. By 18, she was running that office as secretary, and soon after, unexpectedly running auctions.
One day, when the auctioneer failed to turn up, her father simply said: “You’ll have to do it.”
She stepped up, took the auctioneer’s place, and described the moment as feeling “reborn.” That first experience set the course of her entire career. Bobbie went on to run the weekly sales room, moved into and learned the industry through experience, observation, and relentless dedication.
When the business was eventually sold, she set up on her own. Her very first phone call came from a liquidator, who told her, “I’ve got an auction, and you’re doing it.”
It was a moment of belief. Bobbie had never run an auction sale entirely solo. Yet she took on a major engineering auction in Morecambe, organising the site, cataloguing, and preparing it from the ground up. That sale marked the true beginning of her independent career.
One of the Only Women in the Room, and the Strongest Voice
In a male-dominated profession, Bobbie often stood alone. Clients frequently assumed the auctioneer would be a man. Viewers would ask staff “what time does he start?” or comment on how many lots he could sell per hour.
And every time, Bobbie walked out and proved them wrong.
She often faced heckling, dismissive comments, and constant comparisons to her father, yet she describes feeling empowered when she took the rostrum. She understood that being underestimated could be a strategic advantage, and she used it masterfully.
Her philosophy was simple: work harder and be honourable, and above all see yourself as a person, an equal to every room you walk into.
A Life of Auctions, Atmosphere & Unforgettable Sales
Bobbie’s career is filled with extraordinary memories:
- Africar, the wooden-car innovators, whose warehouse was set up like a jungle.
- A London television theatre, where she exceeded expectations despite letters questioning why she’s been appointed.
- View days where hundreds of people attended.
- Auctions with audiences of 500-600, where the atmosphere was ‘electric.’
She poured tremendous effort into preparation and the auctions: cleaning organising, creating the perfect flow of the sale room. She saw auctioneering as a performance, a show, something alive and exciting.
Bobbie also valued everything from industrial machinery to the rare and beautiful. One standout memory was valuing an 18-carat gold Lonsdale boxing belt, which she described as one of the most stunning items she had ever handled.
Lessons from Her Father, And Lessons Passed Down
Bobbie credits much of her knowledge to learning “at the feet of a master”, her father Joe, a highly respected auctioneer. From him, she learned that honesty and honour are the foundation of the profession.
These values: tradition, integrity, and respect, now live on in JPS, carried forward by Mike and Mark and the whole team. Bobbie describes them as “modern with old-school values,” a blend of innovation and heritage that makes JPS what it is today.
Watching the Next Generation Take the Reins
Seeing her sons continue the family legacy has brought Bobbie immense pride. She calls it “wonderful” that the profession has now also continued into the fifth generation, and she remains involved today, helping with viewings or clearances simply because she still loves the work.
To her, auctioneering isn’t just a job, it’s a calling.
“When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”
A Message for Women Everywhere
Bobbie’s story embodies International Women’s Day. She built a successful career at a time when women were not welcomed into the auction world, especially in the industrial machinery and engineering sector.
Her advice to women would be:
- Work harder and be better
- Be strong-willed
- Focus on your craft
- Treat everyone with respect
- Believe in yourself and your power
Bobbie raised three children while running major industrial auctions. She showed up in cold warehouses with little heating, in eras with limited support and safety measures. She made sacrifices, pushed through barriers, and proved that women are not only capable, they are powerful.
Celebrating Bobbie: A Woman Who Helped Shape JPS
Today we honour Bobbie, not only as the mother of our directors, but as:
- A pioneering woman in auctioneering
- A leader in the industrial and engineering sector
- A dedicated mother and mentor
- A symbol of strength, resilience, and quiet determination
- A keeper of our history and values
JPS would not be what it is today without Bobbie’s legacy, her standards, and her unwavering passion for this world.
On International Women’s Day, we are proud to celebrate Bobbie, and all the women who make their industries stronger simply by stepping forward, working hard, and refusing to be underestimated.