Antiques Roadshow to visit Conwy Valley gardens

Sep 9 2008 By Samantha Castle

THE Antiques Roadshow rolls into the Conwy Valley this Thursday and takes over the beautiful Bodnant Garden to value the region’s relics.

One find which should get some television coverage when the cameras start rolling is an unusual medal collection dating back to the 1900s. Ann Bowyer from Colwyn Bay is hoping to find out the value and history of her grandfather’s mysterious medal collection.

“When I heard the TV programme was coming to the region I sent off pictures of this chest that used to belong to my grandfather,” said Ann. “When they visited to view the chest last week they were more interested in its contents, my grandfather’s medal collection.

“I never knew my grandfather Richard Jeremy, but I am slowly building up a picture of his interesting life and it all stems from his tea blending medals. I knew he was a tea taster and worked within the grocery business and eventually became the director of a grocery company in Bangor, but that’s it. Some of his medals date back to the 1900s and he was awarded about 80 in total, the most in the country. I have eight to 10 of them in my possession dating from 1921-35. I believe he was awarded his last medal a year before he died,” added Ann.

Tea blending dates back hundreds of years and a blend can include many different teas from different countries. The art of blending is to analyse teas in minute detail so that each element of the blend is of consistently high quality.

Doors open 9.30am-4.30pm. Along with new presenter Fiona Bruce, there will be leading antiques and fine arts specialists on hand to offer free advice and valuations, so bring along your family heirlooms, household treasures and car boot bargains for inspection. Organisers advise people attending to bring warm, waterproof clothing for queuing. Everyone who is in the queue before 4.30pm will be seen by an expert.