Antiques Expert Paul Atterbury talks to students

Wey Valley Academy were delighted to invite guest speaker and antiques expert Paul Atterbury to  the school on Friday . Paul is well-known from the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow which is often described as a ‘British institution’. He specialises in the art, architecture, design and decorative arts of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Since 1981, Atterbury has been a freelance writer, lecturer, broadcaster and exhibition curator. He most frequently curates for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Atterbury delivered his talk with passion and instilled a deep sense of intellectual curiosity in his Year 10 audience. There was a real focus on careers and aspirational choices. ‘My career choices happened through a series of mishaps that led to me becoming an antiques expert’ exclaimed Atterbury. The group had prepared questions for our guest. Atterbury invited students to ask anything related to his career or any other questions that would be helpful.

One student said ‘this talk has inspired me to consider different career opportunities and I would like to become a journalist for the BBC’. Mark Chutter, Head of Performing Arts and Teaching and Learning Challenge Lead’ commented ‘our thanks to Paul Atterbury for delivering a session that really did deepen the insight of our students within the antiques world and journalism at the BBC’.

To read the Dorset Echo article click here