Liliana Myers, the widow of Hairy Biker Dave Myers, is auctioning a collection of her late husband's personal belongings as a way to process her grief and celebrate his life. The sale, featuring around 300 items, is scheduled for September 8, which would have been the celebrity chef's 69th birthday.
The auction, hosted by Special Auction Services in Newbury, will include a diverse range of items, from Dave Myers' signature motorbike leathers and waistcoats to his outfit from his time on Strictly Come Dancing. Also up for bid are antiques, paintings, and works of art collected by Myers, as well as a handwritten letter from Sir Roger Moore.
Myers, best known as one half of the Hairy Bikers cooking duo alongside Si King, died from cancer in 2024 at the age of 66. His widow, Lili, shared in an interview that the sale is a form of healing and a special way to honor his memory.
"I wanted to celebrate his birthday in a special way, and I know that he loved the public and his fans a lot," Lili told This Morning. "He was larger than life, and what better way to celebrate his life than giving some of his precious belongings to the public. It was healing very much so. Grieving is a very personal thing. Grief comes in lots of different shapes."
Among the items being auctioned are Myers' Strictly Come Dancing shoes. Lili recalled his participation in the show, noting that he was not a natural dancer. "He brought home two pairs, I kept one and one is here. He absolutely loved that experience," she said, adding that his dance partner, Karen Hauer, had to teach him basic movement.
This is not the first time items belonging to Dave Myers have been sold for charity. Last March, the final motorbike he rode for the BBC program Hairy Bikers Go West sold for a five-figure sum. The BSA Goldstar fetched £15,800, with proceeds benefiting NSPCC Childline and CancerCare North Lancashire & South Cumbria. The bike was purchased by Si Harrison, a friend of Myers, who plans to ride it on "Dave Day," an event that brings the biking community together in memory of the late chef.
The first Dave Day took place in June 2024, drawing thousands of motorcyclists from London to Myers' hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. The event raised £127,000 for charity.
Proceeds from the current auction will also partly benefit NSPCC Childline. "I am really, really happy to see this bike being loved, and I'm sure the person who got it will love it as much as Dave did," Lili remarked about the previous motorbike sale.