Hilary Kay delivered unfortunate news that a signature of former US president John F Kennedy was not (Image: BBC)
Antiques Roadshow returned to BBC One and the latest episode saw Hilary Kay speak to a guest who had brought along a signed photograph of the former US president John F Kennedy. She admitted she “didn’t expect to see” a signed photograph of the American politician.
The guest explained how the photo had been in the family for more than 60 years. They added: “It was sent to my great-grandfather, William Ewart Pitt, who at the time in the ’60s was Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police.”
Kennedy had come over to Ireland for a state visit and was seeing the Prime Minister of the day, who was Harold Macmillan. He ended up taking a detour to RAF Waddington.
The guest continued: “From RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire he took a helicopter to Chatsworth, where his sister is buried in Edensor. And as my great-grandad was Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police, he met him at the helicopter, took him to his sister’s graveside, spent a few hours with him then took him back to the helicopter, and the helicopter then flew down to meet Harold Macmillan for the rest of his stay in the UK.”
Despite the amazing story behind the photo, Hilary confirmed the signature was likely to be printed. The photo had been sent alongside a tie pin, which was an exceedingly kind gesture.
The guest brought along a signed photograph of the former US president (Image: BBC)
However, Hilary explained: “Eighty per cent of the signatures that we see purporting to be by Kennedy are either secretarial or by the famous Autopen 50.
“Autopen signatures, I mean, if you got that machine fired up and it worked an eight-hour day, it could sign 3,000 pieces of paper in a day.”
Dropping the disappointing news, she added: “My feelings looking at this, it seems that the dedication, obviously, to your great-grandfather is in a proper hand. But I think the ‘with best wishes’ and the signature is probably printed.”
The guest appeared to look a little crushed by the news.
Don’t miss… [VIDEO]
The Antiques Roadshow guest said the revelation did not change anything (Image: BBC)
Hilary reassured him that the tie pin, which depicted the PT-109 that Kennedy was in charge of in the war, out in the South Pacific, was a “little gem”.
She added: “He obviously rated the time that he spent with your great-grandfather because otherwise her wouldn’t have out that pin in.”
The value of the photo would be around £150, with an original signature being worth a lot more.
The guest confirmed the item was never going to be sold, and it did not matter about the fact it was not original.
Antiques Roadshow returns to One on Sunday