Arthur George Negus,

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(1903–1985) was a British television personality and

antique An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...

s expert, specialising in furniture.

Biography

Negus was born in Reading, Berkshire, to Amy Julia Worsley and father Arthur George Negus Sr, a cabinet maker. His family has had a long history in the antiques business. Negus was educated at Reading School and began running the family business when he was 17, following the death of his father. During World War II he was an air-raid warden. He later joined the company of Bruton, Knowles & Co., auctioneers of antiques based in Gloucester. For many years Negus resided in

Cheltenham Cheltenham (), also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a spa town and borough on the edge of the Cotswolds in the county of Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort, following the discovery of mineral s ...

Broadcasting career

His broadcasting career began at the age of 62 when he appeared on the panel of the television series '' Going for a Song'' (1965–1977), where he appraised antiques. He quickly became a household name as a result of his slow and distinctive West Country speech style, which in turn also made him popular with impersonators. He returned to television with ''Arthur Negus Enjoys'' (1982) and, especially, '' Antiques Roadshow'' (1979–1983). He was mentioned in the 1970 ''

Monty Python Monty Python (also collectively known as the Pythons) were a British comedy troupe who created the sketch comedy television show '' Monty Python's Flying Circus'', which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four ...

'' " Election Night Special" sketch, and again two episodes later in the sketch "

Archaeology Today "Archaeology Today", recorded on 9 October 1970 and broadcast on 17 November 1970, was the 21st episode of the popular British television comedy ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' which was created by the Monty Python group. As stated on the ''Mont ...

". He also appeared on other TV programmes including several editions of '' The Generation Game'' during the time it was presented by Bruce Forsyth and Larry Grayson.

Honours and legacy

Negus was appointed to the Order of the British Empire in 1982. He died in 1985 at his home in

exactly one week after having turned 82. In April 2013 Negus's daughter Anne appeared on BBC One's ''Antiques Roadshow'' with the Negus family Bible, owned by her great-grandparents Charles and Harriet Negus, which had been shown in a previous edition of the show in Wimbledon. Since discovering the bible, the Negus family had been able to trace its ancestors back to the 1700s.

Bibliography

* ''Going for a Song: English Furniture'' (1969) * ''The Arthur Negus Guide to English Clocks'' (1980) – foreword by Negus, remainder of text by David Barket * ''A Life Among Antiques: Arthur Negus Talks To Bernard Price'' (1982)

References

Sources

External links

*
Pick of the Past: Heelas, Arthur Negus and Dennis J Hands
at getreading.co.uk {{DEFAULTSORT:Negus, Arthur 1903 births 1985 deaths Antiques experts British television presenters Civil Defence Service personnel Officers of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Reading School People from Reading, Berkshire