News from the Club

23 September 2026. Cristian Beadman

 

Our sincere thanks go to Cristian Beadman who opened our 2026 programme with his fascinating and highly entertaining talk, “A Day in the Life of the Antiques Roadshow.”

 

Cristian proved to be everything we had hoped for and more. Warm, engaging and wonderfully down-to-earth, he quickly won over the audience with his dry wit and natural storytelling ability. From the moment he began sharing memories of his training with Christie’s, members were captivated.

 

Drawing on his years as an expert on the Antiques Roadshow, Cristian treated us to a delightful collection of stories that were by turns surprising, touching and often laugh out-loud funny. From memorable characters he has encountered in the queues to the excitement of discovering hidden treasures, his anecdotes brought the programme vividly to life and offered a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes.

 

Members particularly enjoyed hearing what really happens during a filming day, which, as Cristian revealed, is rarely ever “typical”. He also reflected on some of the encounters and discoveries that have stayed with him long after the cameras stopped rolling. His remarkable ability to combine deep expertise with humour and charm made for an evening that was both informative and thoroughly enjoyable.

 

It was a pleasure to welcome Cristian to Ringwood, and we are extremely grateful for the time, warmth and humour he shared with us. A truly wonderful start to our 2026 programme.

28 October 2026. Dr Francis Burroughes

 

Members enjoyed a fascinating and highly informative evening last month when Dr Francis Burroughs presented his talk, Glass Through the Ages.

 

Delivered with delightfully dry wit, Dr Burroughs took us on a journey through the history of glassmaking, sharing a wealth of historical facts, surprising discoveries and the stories behind some remarkable objects.

 

What became clear throughout the evening was how important glass has been to everyday life for thousands of years. Glassmaking dates back at least 3,600 years, with some of the earliest known examples originating in Mesopotamia, Egypt and Syria. The first glass objects were believed to be beads and decorative items, long before glass vessels became commonplace.

 

We learned that most modern glass is still made using a recipe that would be familiar to historic glassmakers: silica sand, soda ash and lime are heated to extremely high temperatures to create the transparent material we know today.

 

Among the many fascinating topics covered was Bristol Blue Glass, renowned for its rich cobalt-blue colour and long association with the city of Bristol, where it became one of Britain's most distinctive and collectible glasswares.

 

A particular highlight of the evening was the opportunity to handle and closely examine a variety of glass objects brought along by Dr Burroughs. Being able to inspect the pieces at close quarters and appreciate their colour, craftsmanship and form added a whole new dimension to the talk. As every collector knows, there is no substitute for seeing and holding an object in person.