BBC Antiques Roadshow expert 'highly moved' by mum's heartbreaking story

Edinburgh Live

12-06-2025

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An Antiques Roadshow expert had an emotional reaction as he learned about a "very courageous" woman who spoke of her late son.
During the BBC show filmed at Tredegar House in Wales, Marc Allum encountered a guest presenting a unique Status Quo themed tapestry.
She shared: "Well my son was Status Quo mad, absolutely Status Quo mad. In the old days it was records they brought out.
"I remember those!" Allum replied in recognition as she added: "CD's came later. And as time went on, we had to go out and buy it for him because he was disabled, he was in a wheelchair. He had an accident at 18."
The lady explained further after being sensitively questioned by Allum: "A motorbike accident, paralysed from the chest down. No feeling from here down.
"So he really couldn't use his limbs," he noted, leading her to clarify: "No, he could move his arms but he couldn't move his fingers. No use of his fingers."
(Image: BBC)
"That's a sad story," acknowledged Allum, pondering the tapestry's connection with her son.
She revealed to Allum: "He was told he wasn't capable of doing anything and he didn't for five years".
"After five years, he began doing a few things, tapestry was one of them.
"As we'd pass through my kitchen, there at my kitchen table would be his wheelchair, and he would say 'thread me a few needles'.
"And he used his teeth to push it through the tapestry and he would turn the whole frame over, it was on a swing, and pull it through with his teeth."
The expert remarked: "That is unbelievable. So your son executed this entire tapestry with his teeth.
"I mean, obviously I can see it lists all the albums, song titles and it's quite clearly dated. I think what would be fantastic would be if Status Quo got to know about this as well.
"I think they would be absolutely massively impressed by the devotion of a fan who went to this kind of trouble."
As the woman presented a photograph of her son, who had sadly passed away 20 years after his accident at the age of 39, the expert observed: "He looks to be a happy soul," to which she replied: "Oh he was so happy, he was a happy boy."
The expert pointed out that the tapestry remained unfinished, prompting the woman to emotionally confirm: "No, it was never finished. Lots of people have asked if they could finish it for me and I've said no, it's not finished because he died.
(Image: BBC)
"And it was only after he died that I actually looked at the titles and he never repeated a title but he did towards the end and the title was So Ends Another Life."
The expert acknowledged, "And I can see that final line at the bottom," as the woman added, "Yes, so he knew."
He was visibly moved after confirming the name Colin Thomas Booth belonged to the guest's son.
"I have to say I'm so highly moved, it's all I can do to carry on, to be honest with you", Allum said.
"And the fact you've come here today to talk to me about this, I think is wonderful.
"It's a testament to his achievement, producing something like this which I think is absolutely incredible.
"This thing is priceless. I think it is an amazing thing.
"Also, you've been very courageous to come and talk about it, so thank you very much."
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.