TV show’s royal link to Royal Wootton Bassett (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

TV show’s royal link to Royal Wootton Bassett

6:00pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Royal Wootton Bassett By Josh Layton

Celebrity antiques dealer David Dickinson paid tribute to the people of Royal Wootton Bassett after rolling into town with his TV show.

More than 200 people turned up to have their wares put under the experts’ eyes for a recording of Dickinson’s Real Deal at the weekend A number of episodes of the ITV1 show are being filmed at royal towns to be broadcast in time for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations this summer.

The turnout at Wootton Bassett School in Lime Kiln was one of the strongest on the tour, according to crew members.

Dickinson, 70, said: “What was a real treat was to meet the mayor and to see the Royal Charter, and to be here in Royal Wootton Bassett because I think it’s a name the whole country knows and will always remember.

“It’s a credit to the townsfolk here to see the respect and dignity the whole town has shown to not only the families but also the returning fallen heroes.

“When we think of Royal Wootton Bassett, that is what we think about – we think of the people of Royal Wootton Bassett and the respect and dignity they have shown to our fallen heroes.”

Paintings of all descriptions, medals, cutlery sets and jewellery were among the items brought through the doors.

The show offers sellers the chance to take an immediate cash offer from a dealer or have their antiques put up at auction.

Dickinson said during the shoot: “There’s been a real mixture of items coming through.”

Among the sellers was Fran Wildish, from Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, who brought along a rare Royal Academy engraving by Herbert Dixey.

She said: “I watch the show all the time so it was quite nice to actually experience what’s it like to take part in the filming.”

Mrs Wildish was told by Dickinson that the engraving was “terrific” and looked “very honest and very nice”.

She was called to the podium to negotiate with dealer Karen Dalmeny but said she was under obligation to keep the result a surprise for viewers.

The show visited Royal Windsor and Royal Leamington Spa before the day-long shoot on Saturday.

Up to four programmes from Royal Wootton Bassett will be aired over the summer to tie in with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.