Going for a song at 80th party

7:00pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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ONE of Worcester’s best loved treasures has been celebrating his 80th birthday this week with 160 visitors to the Three Choirs Festival.

Ceramics expert, world authority on Worcester porcelain and broadcaster Henry Sandon gave two talks at the Worcester Porcelain museum as part of the festival programme yesterday and was treated to a surprise birthday presentation.

Accompanied by his wife Barbara, Mr Sandon, who was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year, was speaking about Dr John Wall – founder of the Worcester porcelain works in the 18th century and treasurer of the Three Choirs Festival.

This year is the 300th anniversary of Dr Wall’s birth.

Mr Sandon also told some humorous anecdotes about his life and took along a number of porcelain pieces from his own collection to show and describe to the audiences during the two sessions called Afternoon Tea with Henry Sandon.

During the afternoon Mr Sandon, who was the curator of the Worcester Porcelain Museum for 17 years and was 80 on Monday, was presented with a limited edition painting of Dr John Wall by museum curator Wendy Cook.

The framed painting is a copy of an oil painting of Dr Wall in the museum and was produced by former Worcester Porcelain painter Francis Clarke.

This was followed by a birthday cake, with candles, and a chorus of Happy Birthday from the audience.

“That was as good as the festival choral society,” said Mr Sandon, who sang at the Three Choirs Festival with two of his sons for a number of years.

Mr Sandon said it had been a busy birthday week giving talks in different parts of the country, including one trip to Scotland.

“I think today is the last celebration,” he said. “I still do the Antiques Roadshow and give lectures. I said I would do a talk here but the tickets sold out before it was advertised. It is a shame if lots of people want to come and it’s sold out so I said I would do another session.”

He followed each talk and tea party by giving guests a personal guided tour of the museum.

Museum manager Amanda Savidge said: “I think it has been a massive success. We sold 160 tickets for the two sessions and people have met one of Worcester’s heroes.”