Salisbury ESU

AT the September meeting Richard Price delighted the Salisbury Branch of the English Speaking Union with his tale “Antique Clocks and how I got where I am today”.

Richard is one of the experts on BBC One's Antiques Roadshow and has been cataloguing, studying, buying and selling antique clocks for more than 35 years.

He was brought up in the Borders, until heading to London, aged 19, where he talked BAOC into giving him a ground services job until his flying course started a few months later and, by the time he was 21, he was flying fast jets. He developed an interest in watches and acquired one for £5 (which he still has today) and bought a book about watches. At that time, he was living near Bonhams, the London auctioneers, in Montpelier Street. He spent a lot of time in the store and eventually Nick Bonham asked if he would like to start a clock department in the company. The 1970s was a good time to have a go and, although he had no qualifications, he did and within a year he was turning over a six-figure sum.

Richard was a horological consultant to Bonhams for 19 years, before leaving to concentrate on his own horological business, and this year will be his 34th year with Antiques Roadshow.

On Wednesday, Rear Admiral Niall S R Kilgour CB will give “A broad-brush introduction on Submarines” at the White Hart Hotel, St John’s Street, Salisbury. Coffee will be available from 1030. Talk £7 – FREE for first-time visitors. Lunch £16.50 bookable in advance at jeffreys.oldcourt@btinternet.com or 01722 336118