Now enjoying its 41st series, the Antiques Roadshow has analysed everything from Admiral Nelson’s sword to Lawrence of Arabia’s teapot since first appearing on television screens in 1979.
But this week a north-east charity champion will have his time in the spotlight when he finds out the worth of a treasured walking stick once used by Scottish music hall legend Sir Harry Lauder.
Aberdonian Graham Guyan, who serves as a patron for the Ghurkhas in the north-east and Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust, among others, attended the valuations event at Crathes Castle on Deeside when the roadshow visited last July.
Now, eight months, on Mr Guyan is preparing for the screening of the programme this Sunday and has told friends and family to keep a close eye out.
Once the highest-paid performer in the world, Lauder was also the first British artist to sell over a million records.
His recording and stage career peaked between 1900 and 1920 and his crooked walking cane was famously used as his signature prop.
Born in Edinburgh in 1870, he was described by Sir Winston Churchill as “Scotland’s greatest ever ambassador” widely promoting his image with his familiar kilt and stick.
He starred in three films and wrote music hall clasics including A Wee Deoch-and-Doris, I Love a Lassie and The End of the Road, which he composed in memory of his son who was killed during the First World War.
The stick eventually found its way to Mr Guyan’s late wife Jan and he decided to have it valued “out of curiosity”- although he has vowed never to sell it.
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He said: “I can’t remember when we first got it. It was my late wife who had it as I believe her family had some sort of connection with Harry Lauder.
“She passed away three years ago and the stick came to me.
“I saw the roadshow was nearby so I just went up out of curiosity really to find out what it was worth. I don’t plan on selling it.”
“The programme is on Sunday so I can’t really say how much it is worth until then.”
The Antiques Roadshow will be broadcast on BBC One on Sunday at 7pm.
