OVER one and a half thousand people dusted off family heirlooms and queued outside The Courtyard last Thursday to take part in the Antiques Roadshow.

The pilot show of the popular series, presented by Bruce Parker, was recorded at Hereford Town Hall in 1977 and the event marked the return of the programme to the city after a 30-year absence.

Herefordians who took part in the first show made a special appearance and one guest even brought along the same items.

Joan Cutter, from Hereford, attended the first show with her late husband, William, and her figurine of two bishops in cream porcelain was valued at that time by Arthur Negus, who told her that it was worth "three figures".

She also took along her husband's old high chair, which dated back to 1850. Last week, Joan took along the same items and met Michael Aspel and Bruce Parker.

She said: "It was very exciting. The BBC crew couldn't believe it when I told them I still had the same items which I brought to that first show 30 years ago but I could never sell them."

First presenter Bruce Parker fondly remembered recording the first show of the long running series and said: "We weren't sure if anybody was going to turn up. It was the pilot programme and we weren't really sure how it was all going to work out - but we quickly realised that we needed a system of security and control.

"The programme has not changed that much over the years. People bring in items, get them valued and are gobsmacked when they find out that that the bargain they paid £10 for is actually worth £100 or more."

Current presenter Michael Aspel added: "This is where it all began. If the Antiques Roadshow hadn't been such a success here in that pilot episode, then we wouldn't have the show we have today."

Among those at the event on were Sue Crooke, from Hereford, who had assorted pieces of china valued by expert John Bly, who said that they were worth possibly up to £1,000.

And Jeremy Pytel, son of Herefordshire sculptor, Walenty Pytel, was selected to take part in filming as he had taken along his metal detecting collection from the left bank area, which he had built up over the last 10 years.

He said: "I was told this was the first collection of coins, jewellery and other artefacts from one place on the show."

While at The Courtyard, Michael Aspel and Henry Sandon took the opportunity as patrons of Noah's Ark to meet up with representatives from the charity, which works with bereaved children and young people in Hereford and Worcester.