BBC Antiques Roadshow pays tribute to Henry Sandon

Mr Sandon died at a care home in Malvern, Worcestershire on Christmas Day last year at the age of 95.

The much-beloved expert regularly featured on Antiques Roadshow from his first appearance on the show back in 1979 to his most recent in 2018.

Viewers of the BBC programme were left in tears as it paid tribute to Mr Sandon in a two-minute montage of his best moments, narrated by the show's presenter Fiona Bruce.

“We recently received the sad news that Henry Sandon, a member of our expert team since the earliest days of the Roadshow, had died aged 95," she said.

In one clip, Fiona discussed how Mr Sandon moved to Worcester after being evacuated during the Second World War, which would lead to him discovering a lifelong admiration for ceramics.

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“Born in London in 1928, Henry was evacuated during the Second World War and eventually settled in Worcester where his discovery of Roman and Medieval pottery in the garden would lead to a lifelong passion for ceramics.

“Henry joined the Antiques Roadshow in 1979. His knowledge of porcelain, and in particular Royal Worcester was unparalleled.”

The Museum of Royal Worcester issued their own tribute in a statement that said: “It is with great sadness we share the news that Henry Sandon passed away on Christmas morning.

"Our curator and then patron of the Museum for many years, a much-loved expert who shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for pots and Worcester in person, in books & on TV. Sorely missed.”

Mr Sandon was married to Barbara for 56 years before her death in 2013, and together they had three sons, David, Peter, and John.

The couple were introduced when Mr Sandon was conducting St John's Choral Society and Mrs Sandon was singing in it.

Three years later, they were walking down the aisle of Worcester Cathedral.

On their golden wedding anniversary in 2006, they revealed that the secret to their long marriage was that they loved the same things.

Before becoming known nationally for his stint on the show, Mr Sandon was appointed curator of the Dyson Perrins Museum at the Royal Worcester Factory in 1967, a job he says "changed my life".