Garth Vincent 1948-2011

It is with sincere regret that we report the death of the international antique arms dealer, Garth Vincent, in a road accident on November 4th.

Born in Ipswich, the son of the Reverend George Vincent and Cecily Vincent, Garth was educated at Felixstowe Academy and then later at Civic College, Ipswich, where he gained his BSc before being awarded a MA in English from the Open University.

He began his teaching career at Manvers Pierrepont School in Nottingham, where he met his wife Paula Slade, a gym teacher. They have four children: Helen, Dominic, Byron and Leo.

In 1984 they moved to Allington and bought the Old Manor House, which is the family home to this day, and also home to Garth’s two businesses: Allington Manor Bed & Breakfast and Garth Vincent Antique Arms and Armour.

By this time, Garth had moved from a successful career in teaching to working full time in the antiques business, specialising in arms and armour, a field he had always been passionate about. Success followed and he became well known internationally in this field. In 2002, Garth was admitted into the Freedom of the City of London, an accolade awarded to him as a result of his work as a highly regarded antiques dealer.

Fellow antique arms dealer Alan Cook paid this tribute: “I knew Garth for more than 25 years both as a good personal friend and a colleague, he worked tirelessly as a dealer as he did in all his other enterprises, he was honest in his dealing, he had integrity and you knew where you were with him.

“I spent many happy years with Garth and his daughter Helen at the various European arms fairs we attended together, and where we had time to socialise after the shows, Garth was very good company and a great host at the Old Manor House. He will be greatly missed by me and the many people whose lives he touched.”

Garth’s son, Dominic will be taking up the reins and continuing the business in his father‘s name.