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HOT FORGE DAY AT HUNGERFORD ARCADE

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Diccon Dadey is a self-taught artist working with sheet steel to produce sculptures, ornaments and functional items for interior and garden display.  His work sometimes incorporates recycled materials such as wood, glass and metal itself. Diccon’s  range of sculptures is diverse from animals to abstract ornaments but usually replicates real life from birds to fish, sheep, horses etc. Much of his work is commissioned.  Diccon says there is very little that can’t be made with metal and a bit of imagination. Below is a picture of the stunning Three Flying Swans sculpture that Diccon has just designed and made as a commission for a new housing development just outside Oxford – Cholsey. Also below is a picture of an Owl which Diccon has borrowed from a stallholder at Hungerford Arcade so that  he can do a sculpture from it. Diccon’s hot forge day at Hungerford Arcade is on the 24th March. The people love watching him make things and he even lets them have a go at making something!  It is amazing to watch.  Just like in the old days of the “smithy”!. Rita

 

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BACK TO GRASS ROOTS FOR BANK MANAGER!

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A very rare and unusual event took place at Hungerford Arcade courtesy of  Barclays Bank!  The Bank have a scheme called ‘Back to Business’ which involves their bank’s business managers arranging to go to a business for a day or half a day, rolling up their sleeves and getting involved at ‘grass roots’ level in the day-to-day running of that business.  This gives them an insight into how a business is run, what problems they face, how they are resolved and also what makes a business successful. It is hoped that this hands-on approach to business banking will give the bank a better understanding of businesses and how best to meet their needs!

We were very pleased to welcome Barclays Bank Business Manager,  Phil Hobbs, into the fold as a member of staff and threw him in at the deep end, behind the counter!  After a short briefing, he settled in immediately, was very relaxed and jovial and got on well with everyone.  He built up a wonderful rapport with the customers in no time which they thoroughly enjoyed.  Phil chatted with them about the items they were purchasing and some, being real characters, were quite bemused at being served by Phil, a bank manager!  

Unfortunately, the one thing Phil wasn’t asked to do and that was to be the “tea boy”!  So, his tea making skills have to be….. “no comment”!

Phil took it all in his stride.  He understood and managed the computerised till system which would normally need extensive staff training and did exceptionally well. His ‘people’ skills are first rate! 

Phil was totally unflappable and the customers loved him.  It was a pleasure working with Phil and he has an open invitation to return whenever Barclays can spare him!
Left: me (Rita), Phil & Liz Browne
Left: me (Rita), Phil & Liz Browne
Rita
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A CART FOR NAPOLEON AT HUNGERFORD ARCADE

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A beautiful antique French cart, built in the 1800s and owned by Douglas Shepherd, a stallholder at Hungerford Arcade, was sold to National Geographic film makers on Tuesday.  

Douglas found the cart in a field on a business trip to France.  It wasn’t for sale, but he thought he would make the owner an offer and see what happened.  Luckily, the owner accepted the offer and the cart was bought back to Hungerford Arcade where it stayed in the garden area until Tuesday.  We will miss it!

National Geographic are making a film regarding a major incident which they have recently discovered, happened to Napoleon!  I cannot say more as it will give the plot away!  Sorry!!

I have taken some pictures of this beautiful cart as Douglas loaded it onto his lorry ready to be delivered to National Geographic on Thursday, 21st February. 

When I find out more about the film, I will let you know!  In the meantime, enjoy the pictures.

I must just tell you that the picture showing a small metal wheel, is the wheel which is turned to operate the brakes.  Amazingly, the wheel and the brakes still work!
Rita


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VINYL RECORD VALUATION DAY

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Adam Thompson (unit 50) will be holding a vinyl record valuation day on Saturday, 23rd February at 9.30 a.m.  The valuations are free but we will appreciate it if you would kindly donate £1 to our sponsored charity, Walking With The Wounded. Adam also buys records so bring them along and find out what they are worth and help a good cause in the process! 

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MORE BARGAIN HUNT PHOTOS

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I now have some much better photos of Bargain Hunt at Hungerford Arcade taken by Tony Bartlett of the Hungerford Camera Club.  Tony followed the proceedings all of Tuesday afternoon and took some fabulous pictures.  Hope you agree!
Rita

 

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BBC BARGAIN HUNT AT HUNGERFORD ARCADE

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What a wonderful two days we had at the Arcade on Monday and  Tuesday (11th and 12th February) with the BBC’s Bargain Hunt  hosted by the wonderful, Tim Wannacot.  The customers were enthralled watching the programme they love being filmed!  Some were camera shy and stayed out of shot, which was quite funny, while others just ambled along with one eye on the camera.

There were two separate film crews.  One filming the two Red Teams and the other the Blue Teams.  They were filming two shows over the two days.  The camera men, Mike Caine for the Blues and Giles Edwards for the Reds were very patient and kind as were the lovely directors and runners.  

 

Each team had their own antiques expert.  James Braxton for the Blues and Colin Young for the Reds.  They were wonderful and such good fun!  Each team gets just sixty minutes to choose their three items and not a second longer.  The directors are very strict and time it all on a stop-watch!  If any team runs out of time, they have to go to auction with what they did manage to buy.  This would greatly minimise their chances of winning!  Thankfully, the director keeps them on their toes!

I have a few photos to show you, but I am hoping to get a much better mix for you shortly!
Rita

 


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GOODBYE PETE, THE HUNGERFORD ARCADE SNOWMAN!

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Goodbye Pete, the Hungerford Arcade snowman!  Dear old Pete has been sitting on his bench for over a week now, wiling away the hours, enjoying his short but interesting life on earth!   Pete has seen all the comings and goings to and from the Arcade and met some very nice people.    Sadly, the rain came down and dear old Pete is now but a shadow of his former self.  Pete does not mind melting away into oblivion as he will gently flow away down the High Street only to pop-up again in the nearby canal as a free-flowing spirit to begin his travels once again!!  Lucky Pete!  

Dear Pete was sculpted by our very own Alex Rogers.  Thank you Alex! Rita







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HOMES & ANTIQUES

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Homes & Antiques magazine has published an article on what it has meant to Hungerford Arcade to win the Best Antiques Centre in the UK Award from the Homes & Antiques and National Antiques Week Awards. It has made a tremendous difference to us and gave us an incentive to do improvement works on the Arcade, as being a 16th century building, the work is continuous!  We are very proud when customers comment on seeing us on television and winning the award or reading about us in the press.  We have customers from across the world who come back to us time and time again!    Many of our customers are signed up to our free newsletter which is sent out by e-mail every month! (You can e-mail us at hungerfordarcade@btinternet.com or hungerfordarcade@gmail.com if you wish to sign-up for it). They also support us on Facebook, Blog and Tweet!  The Award has helped Hungerford Arcade to flourish in these difficult times which must be good for all the other shops in the town too. A new competition is taking place now to find the best antiques shop, best antiques centre and best vintage shop in the UK.  I believe our very own Stuart Hofgartner from Below Stairs and Great Grooms have been shortlisted. We heartily wish similar success to them and to all the Awards entrants in the 2013 competition. Rita

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TAKE A CHILD TO WORK DAY

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Today is ‘Take a Child to Work day’ which is exactly what Anna Joy did. Anna brought her beautiful daughter, Sophie. to Hungerford Arcade to learn about antiques and to get a feel for what it is like being an antique trader! Sophie attends St John’s School, Marlborough and will be 14 years old on the 27th January.  


Sophie thoroughly enjoyed her time at the Arcade, helping her mother, Anna clean and re-arrange the stock in her unit (Unit 35C) and filling the spaces with the other items they had brought with them. Anna mainly sells silver, glass and ceramics.


Sophie saw how other units were set-up and all the different things that each dealer had for sale. She also met lots of nice people which made her smile a lot! Sophie knew quite a lot about the items her mother sells and is genuinely interested in antiques.


I hope you will like the photos of Anna and Sophie enjoying a very special day together at Hungerford Arcade!
Rita

 




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