U turn if you want to, this lady’s not for turning. In the immortal words of Maggie: ‘age increases value’..
In the middle part of 1984 I organised an Antiques Roadshow for the Conservative Association of Finchley, North London in the presence of the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. With my fellow Antique Experts we valued over 300 individual items.
Amongst them were several treasures – much to the enjoyment and interest of Margaret Thatcher.
I was in the process of valuing one particular object which was a Swiss Enamel Singing Bird Box. I informed the elderly lady that this item was worth between £3000 and £4000. Maggie was standing to my left intently listening to my valuation. She looked at me with those Marilyn Monroe eyes and said: ” Mr Worster this would cost more than £3000 to £4000 in Phillips Bond Street Auction”.
I must confess at that moment I had to capitulate and agree with her statement – after all who would of dared to argue? U turn if you want to. This lady was definitely not for turning.
At the close of the proceedings the Prime Minister gave a vote of thanks to myself and my colleagues and off the cuff she made a wonderful remark by stating:
“Isn’t it wonderful and comforting to know that as we grow older we increase in value”
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