Henry Sandon

Born in the East End of London, Sandon was evacuated to Buckinghamshire during the Second World War and finished his schooling at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. He then studied at the Guildhall School of Music and became a singer and music teacher at the Royal Grammar School Worcester and a lay clerk in the Worcester Cathedral Choir.[1] He is the father of ceramics and glass expert John Sandon, who is also a well-known television personality.[2]

Sandon (seated centre) examining porcelain on the Antiques Roadshow

He began his career as an archaeologist and his knowledge covers pottery and porcelain of all periods and countries. One of his projects was an excavation at the Royal Worcester factory site. He was appointed the curator of the Dyson Perrins Museum at the Royal Worcester Factory in 1966 and held that position until 1982.[1] He has made appearances on the BBC television programme Antiques Roadshow. He has written books on the subject of Worcester and other porcelains, and also lectures on the subject.

In 2000, he was voted Antiques Personality of the Year by the readers of BBC's Homes & Antiques magazine.[3] He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to broadcasting, the ceramics industry, and to charity.[4]

The Henry Sandon Hall at the Royal Porcelain works in Worcester is named in his honour.[5] He opened the centre for the arts in 2018.[6]

• 1969: The Illustrated Guide to Worcester Porcelain 1751 - 1793. New York: Praeger
• 1973: Royal Worcester Porcelain 1862 to the Present Day. London, Barrie and Jenkins; New York: Clarkson N. Potter (2nd ed. 1975; 3rd ed. 1978)

• Info on Sandon
• Publications by Henry Sandon: bibliography
• Henry Sandon's Memories of VE Day, Antiques Roadshow website