9:21am Saturday 14th June 2008
BROADCASTER, ceramics expert and world authority on Worcester porcelain Henry Sandon has been award an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Mr Sandon said it was a marvellous surprise and he felt very honoured. He said he owed much to his wife Barbara, who got him interested in antiques, and to the city of Worcester.
Mr Sandon, aged 79, was born in London and came to Worcester in 1953 after training at the Guildhall School of Music. He was appointed as music teacher at the Royal Grammar School and joined Worcester Cathedral Choir.
He developed a fascination with porcelain and china and in 1966 was appointed curator of the Dyson Perrins Museum and Porcelain in Severn Street, Worcester.
He also became involved in helping ceramics factories in Stoke-on-Trent and was also a director of the Bronte Porcelain Company in Malvern.
But Mr Sandon is probably best known across the UK for his 40 years of television appearances - firstly on the antiques programme Going for a Song and then on the Antiques Roadshow, on which he still appears.
Mr Sandon's award comes as a result of his services to broadcasting the ceramics industry and to charity. He said: "This is something really special. The British Empire is very dear to my heart. To be a member of it is really rather marvellous."
Other local people awarded the MBE are: Jonathan Gamble, from Worcester, director for Adults and Lifelong Learning at the Learning and Skills Council, for services to Further Education. Margery Bennett, from Ledbury, for services to the voluntary sector in the two counties. Godfrey Davis, from Herefordshire, former chairman of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority, for services to local government. Elizabeth Knowles, from Worcestershire, for services to art and charity. Catherine Peers, from Hereford, for services to the Hereford Garrison Play School and Creche. Brian Summers, from Worcestershire, chairman of Tourism West Midlands, for services to the tourist industry and the voluntary sector.
Those awarded the CBE are: Richard Darling, from Malvern, co-founder of Codemasters, for services to the computer industry. Stewart Towe, from Stourport-on-Severn, managing director of Hadley Industries and chairman of the Black Country Consortium, for services to business in the West Midlands.
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