Mark Little Modern Slavery


Mark Little struck a sombre note in his address on Modern Slavery. He visited his first centre 16 years ago where he met a boy who was severely punished for drinking dregs of milk left by his “owner’s” sons. This story did have a happy ending as the boy in question became a successful artist.


The challenges for those seeking to help are varied and this problem is not restricted to the countries one would imagine. While laws have repealed slavery, these have only driven the problem underground.


There were reckoned to be 40 million slaves in 2016. During the time it took him to deliver his talk, 300 people would be


John Benjamin


On Tuesday afternoon the Speaker was John Benjamin of Antiques Roadshow fame. John left school at the age of 17 with no qualifications, a bad stutter and no idea of what he could do in life. A careers analyst, on hearing that John liked visiting art galleries and also enjoyed the colours of the clothes that his Fashion Wholesaler father brought home, suggested he might enjoy working with gemstones. Working at Cameo Corner in Bloomsbury, John discovered an instinctive eye for stones and eventually became a Fellow of the Gemstones Association, being voted the best in the country. He then moved to Phillips Auctioneers staying for 23 years before becoming self-employed.


Pearl necklaces are now usually cultured pearls but, prior to 1921, all pearls were natural. The famous pearl necklace owned by Jacqueline Onassis, which was sold at auction for $211,00 was actually imitation pearls, showing that ownership is sometimes more important than value. It was probably worth around 25p to £2. Flawless diamonds with the best colour, are classified as “D” and John showed a picture of a 100 carat rectangular-cut diamond to demonstrate this. It was worth $200,000 per carat!


Twenty-five years ago, at 8.30am, a phone call from the Antiques Roadshow resulted in John stepping in for a sick presenter. That afternoon a young lady produced a platinum and diamond watch, with the name Cartier on the box, bought at a boot sale for 25p. John valued it at £2,500! This is what the viewers love, the reactions of the owners when the value is revealed.


Another lady brought a beautiful diamond and emerald necklace and ear-ring set which could be adapted to wear as a tiara. John examined the box and discovered a secret compartment containing the tiara frame and, wrapped in tissue, two 7 carat diamond brooch clips which apparently her Gran had claimed on her insurance in 1951.


The next series consists of eighteen programmes from nine venues and John dropped a hint that the first programme will feature the most expensive item ever shown on the show.


Ann Fox


taken into slavery. On the plus side, some 66,500 were helped in 2016. It is reckoned that 0.16% of the world’s population is in slavery of one kind or another.


Mark suggested we educate ourselves to the problem by checking with businesses that supplies are ethically sourced. We also need to be aware of our surroundings – a house with a suspicious number of comings and goings, a young person who is afraid to talk or anything that does not look right. How can we help? Mark suggested we should question anything unusual.


He concluded his speech by reiterating that we DO have a choice - we can do nothing, or we can use our own consciences.


“If we are neutral, we are on the side of the oppressors”. Dorothy Cree


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Innerwheel


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