Show fans first in the queue

People from across the district attended the filming of the Antiques Roadshow at Southwell Minster.

The early birds at the front of the queue were greeted by a familiar character, Mr Henry Sandon, the programme’s ceramics expert.

Mrs Mary West (75) of Westhorpe, Southwell, shook hands with Mr Sandon.

Her items included a cup and saucer given by a parishioner as a present to her father, who was a vicar in Preston.

“I am very much a fan of the programme. I have watched it for years,” Mrs West said.

“It was lovely to meet Henry Sandon. He was so nice.

“I don’t think I have anything valuable, but it is wonderful to be part of it.”

She saw expert Mr Lars Tharp who told her the cup and saucer had probably been bought in a gift shop in Preston and were of little value.

However, a dish she had was worth more and dated to the 1950s.

Mrs Anne Latham (58) of Templeman’s Way, Southwell, took two silk bookmarks, as well as silver and jewellery.

Her bookmarks were valued by expert Mr Paul Atterbury, who valued items in the miscellaneous category, which had by far the longest queue.

The first bookmark featured the words, We Pray To Thee O God, and a picture of people praying. The other bookmark included the words of a prayer.

She was told there was not a huge market for them and they were valued at about £40 each.

They were made in Coventry and dated from the 1860s and were still mounted on the original presentation paper, which included the maker’s mark.

“They have been in my family for a long time. They belonged to my grandmother but where she got them from I have no idea,” Mrs Latham said.

Other miscellaneous items included a rocking horse called Napoleon.

Mrs Marguerite Turner (55) of Westgate, Southwell, bought the horse for 40 euros while on holiday in France in 2002.

Mr Atterbury valued the horse at about £50 and said it was made between 1880 and 1910.

He said the nylon mane and tail were more recent additions and should be replaced with horse’s hair.

Mr and Mrs Mike Allan, of Willow Holt, Lowdham, brought with them a painting, entitled The Meadows, by Nottingham artist T.W. Hammond.

It shows crocus fields where the Meadows estate in Nottingham now stands and is dated 1890.

Mrs Kathy Allan (70) said the art expert Mr Rupert Maas was very impressed. The couple were among the first in the queue and also met Mr Sandon.

Items owned by the minster were seen by the experts.

They included a ring discovered on the site about 12 years ago when work was carried out on the Minster Centre.

The single gold ring was thought to have originated from a disturbed burial site.

It is either early 14th or 15th Century and includes an inscription in Lombardic script that roughly translates as: “Tomorrow: I won’t be given today.”

Mr Atterbury stayed in the area to appear in a show called Have You Had It Long, Madam? at the Palace Theatre, Newark, on Friday with fellow Roadshow expert Hilary Kay.