Famous son of Heswall, pioneering DJ, broadcaster, producer, and journalist, John Ravenscroft (1939 - 2004), better known as John Peel, arguably did more for modern music than any single broadcaster. 

He was born in Heswall Nursing Home, the eldest of three sons of Robert Leslie Ravenscroft, a successful cotton merchant, and his wife Joan Mary. He grew up in Burton.

John Peel helped launch the careers of countless musicians, including: The Sex Pistols, Joy Division, Nirvana, The Undertones, The Fall, Pink Floyd, T-Rex, David Bowie, The Cure, The Clash, The Damned, and Queen. 

Creator of the famous Peel Sessions on Radio 1, his legacy was marked with a stage named in his honour at Glastonbury Festival – 'The John Peel Stage' – a tribute to the late and great DJ, commemorating his influence on new music culture. 

John Peel's record collection at his home in Suffolk

Now highlights from his personal archive, featuring radio-played test pressings from landmark musicians, rare records, personal correspondence, and memorabilia, will be offered at auction for the first time ever, at Bonhams Knightsbridge. 

The sale, Live In Session: Property From The John Peel Archive, will be held on the 14th of June, the week before the long-awaited 50th anniversary of Glastonbury.

Leading the sale will be highlights from John Peel's personal collection, which have been carefully selected by the family, whilst retaining the integrity of the John Peel Record Collection. 

Items on offer will include a Mono Pressing LP 'Two Virgins', 1968, annotated by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which has an estimate of £15,000-20,000.

Katherine Schofield, Director of Bonhams Popular Culture department, said: "This collection, offered directly by the family, comprises some of Peel's most collectible and rare records, spanning decades in music – many of which are accompanied by letters from the artists or their management."

The Ravenscroft family added: "By virtue of the role he played in it, John/Dad was in a position to have access to many of the most celebrated people and events in the history of popular music. This is reflected in a wealth of souvenirs he collected throughout his life. 

"He had not only a voracious appetite for vinyl, but a keen sense of what memorabilia, ephemera and correspondence might find an interested audience in decades to come (though it could be argued that this was achieved by a strategy of keeping almost everything that crossed his path).

"In going through the accumulation of 40 years of pop music moments, we decided that some of the most interesting items might find a home, with fans of his programme or of the artists whose music he played." 

If you're interested in adding to your vinyl collection, here are just a few of of the many records up for grabs:

Albums

John Lennon/Yoko Ono: A Mono Pressing LP 'Two Virgins' Annotated by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 1968. Estimate: £15,000-20,000.

The Rolling Stones: A Promotional Album LP Signed by the Band, 1969. Estimate: £6,000-8,000.

Marc Bolan: An Unreleased LP 'Hard On Love', 1972. Estimate: £5,000-6,000.

Queen: A 'Queen II' LP with hand-written letter from Freddie Mercury, 1974. Estimate: £1,000-1,500.

The Damned: An LP 'Damned Damned Damned' Signed by the Band, 1977. Estimate: £1,500-2,000.

Singles

Joy Division: A 7" 'An Ideal For Living', 1978, with Letter from Stephen Morris. Estimate: £4,000-6,000.

Sex Pistols: An Acetate 'Nevermind Buzzcocks'. Estimate: £5,000-7,000.

Nirvana: A 7" Single 'Love Buzz/Big Cheese', 1988. Estimate: £3,000-4,000.

The Clash: An 8" Single 'London Calling', 1979. Estimate: £2,500-3,000.

U2: A 7" Single 'Joshua Tree Collection', 1987. Estimate: £1,500-2,000.