26th April 2016
There was an extra large turnout for an evening with raconteur Henry Sandon MBE in St. Andrews Hall as he is well known to many of us considering Pershore his second home having held some workshops in this very building in 1976.
What is not always known is that he studied at the Guildhall of Music becoming a music teacher at the Royal Grammar School Worcester and a lay clerk in the Worcester Cathedral choir. This apparently, all changed after he found mediaeval and Roman pottery in his garden and became a ‘potaholic’ in love with pottery and porcelain and being appointed curator of the Worcester Porcelain Company and the Dyson Perrins Museum at the Royal Worcester Factory in 1966 until 1982. His main claim to fame though is obviously presenting the Antiques Road Show, being voted in 2000 Antiques Personality of the Year (not because of his age!) and appointed MBE in 2008 for his services to broadcasting, the ceramics industry and charity.
He brought a collection of china and demonstrated how to use a teapot designed for Queen Victoria which is self pouring together with another one which is filled through a hole in the base as it has no lid – has to be seen to be believed!
Nonetheless, a very modest and entertaining man with a vast fund of knowledge and tales of his life ranging from being a strict schoolmaster to an expert ceramics valuer.
There are not many people who can stand for an hour and a half talking nonstop without a script and keeping their audience mesmerised.
Various items of china were passed around some featuring plum designs (of course, what else in Pershore) and of course, a replica of Ozzie the Owl.
I am sure that everyone would welcome a return visit by Henry some time in the future.
