When I started at Christie’s on the Front Counter in October 1973 Mr Middlemiss was already a legend. Seeing the care he took with clients, and the high regard and devotion in which they held him, was an inspiration to me and provided a role model that I have aspired to all my working life – but have never achieved remotely his level.
As a trainee from the junior level on the Front Counter on the lowest rung of the ladder you could see exactly what people were like, how they treated you and how they treated clients. Mr Middlemiss, always calm, courteous, kind, never self-important, always with his wonderful smile and twinkle, caring and concerned, treating everyone the same, gentle and serene but sure in his advice he set the standard for how to operate. And of course he was the great expert who knew his subject and his market completely and totally, so he always produced the most brilliant results for those devoted clients. And I had very personal experience of his wise advice for which I shall forever be grateful, as it helped me buy my first home.
Some of our most important clients today started their Christie’s journey with Mr Middlemiss and he set the gold standard for the way to care for our clients that will always inspire us and to which I hope we will always aspire.