The assets of Hampshire timber merchant JF Goodwillie have been put up for auction after the business was voluntarily wound up in May this year.

The sale, which is handled by a liquidator, includes wholesale timber stocks of softwoods and hardwoods, as well as assorted Boss/Lancer side loading forklift trucks (4-5T capacity), a van, a flatbed lorry, a lorry with HiAb, a welfare cabin, woodworking machinery, office furniture and computer equipment. 

According to a report in Portsmouth publication The News, staff were informed on 16 April that they were being made redundant with only a small number kept on to help fulfil existing orders.

A post from that same day on the Goowillie's Facebook page had announced that "our site in Waterlooville will be CLOSED on Wednesday 17th April 2024 and for the rest of the week."

However, a resolution was passed by the Directors on 22 May, and lodged with Company's House, for the business to be wound up voluntarily. The total assets were estimated by the liquidator, James Stares of Antony Batty & Company, at £167,000. 

The closure apparently follows the decision by the owner, Alan Goodger, to retire. JF Goodwillie had been trading since 1882, although it had only been in Goodger's family for about 80 years, and Goodger himself had been one of the company's Directors since 1986.

Bidding opened online on 19 August and will continue until 4 September.