With kind permission of Lord and Lady Archer, three local antique experts will gather in the grounds of the historic property to dispense advice on the restoration and preservation of precious items with either monetary or sentimental value.
The event, organised by the Friends of Addenbrooke’s in partnership with ACT (the charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie Hospitals) will raise money from ticket sales to benefit day-to-day patient care at the hospital. Projects in the pipeline include the creation of a quiet room that patients and their relatives can use as and when they need time alone.
Sponsored by Cheffins, the event gets underway at 10am with talks commencing at 10:30am. A light lunch with wine will be served from 12pm to 1pm, followed by an opportunity to explore the vicarage gardens. After lunch, further talks will take place and attendees will be able to mingle with the experts, discussing any questions or items up until 3pm.
Local antiques experts supporting the event include:
· Martin Beazor, director of John Beazor Antiques of Regent Street, Cambridge, one of the longest established firms of antique dealers in the country: Dealing principally in fine 18th and 19th century furniture, John is known for holding some of the best stock in the UK. He is a member of the furniture vetting committee at the British Antique Dealers Association Fair and has talked to a wide range of groups on the history of English furniture in this country and in America.
· Sara Barber of the Persian Carpet Studio: Sara’s passion for oriental carpets began in the late 1980s after meeting Majid Amini, a renowned carpet expert. Sara served an apprenticeship in his West Sussex gallery, learning to restore and clean Persian and handmade carpets. Returning to Suffolk, she set up her own business, repairing rugs and carpets in her parents’ home – and eventually expanding into retail. Within two years Sara was travelling to the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East to buy rugs direct. Sara’s business now employs ten people and is one of the largest stockists of oriental carpets in England. When Sara is not travelling or meeting customers, she writes articles for specialist publications, speaks at charitable events, holds educational study days and provides a consultancy service to auction houses.
· Ludovic Potts, a furniture restorer and conservator who offers specialist advice on recovering smoke or water damaged items: Equally comfortable working on small items such as jewelry boxes or complete homes of furniture, Ludovic is a member of the British Antique Furniture Restorers Association and the owner of Ludovic Potts Restorations – the largest furniture restoration workshops in the East of England. His customers include insurance companies, private institutions, Cambridge colleges, Church Commissioners, churches, historical buildings and private properties throughout the UK.
Tickets for this exclusive event are priced at just £18 per individual – including lunch and refreshments. Please note that attendees are welcome to bring small items along to the event for discussion but these must be of a handheld size. It will not be possible to bring larger items or pieces of furniture. To buy a ticket or request more information, please contact: friends@addenbrookes.nhs.uk or call 01223 217757.
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