EVERYBODY would like to think that one or other of those bits
and pieces left by earlier generations of the family might turn out
to be worth a small fortune. So there was "a church full of
hopefuls" when Eric Knowles, the entertaining and popular valuer
from the BBC TV programme Antiques Roadshow, visited St
Helen's, Wheathampstead, in St Albans diocese.
The valuation day was held by the Friends of St Helen's to raise
money towards their support of the church, and experts in various
fields gave some 170 valuations in the course of the day. There was
nothing, however, on the scale of the small Lalique vase that sold
for £40,000, and which featured in one of Mr Knowles's
anecdotes.
A highlight of the day was the talk he gave, describing his
early life in the shadow of Pendle Hill, in Lancashire; his growing
fascination with antiques - "Arthur Negus was my hero"; and his
career at Bonhams, where he found that "working in an auction house
was just magical." And, of course, his more recent career in
broadcasting.
The day had been organised by Jane Anderson, an independent
valuer, who said that they had seen "some lovely things". The event
raised £1760 for the work of the Friends.
