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Daily Record
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC Antiques Roadshow guest refuses to sell Titanic letter worth incredible fortune
Antiques Roadshow expert Hilary Kay met a guest whose father worked on the Titanic and survived the sinking of the vessel Antiques Roadshow's Hilary Kay had an eye-opening encounter with guests whose father, Sidney Daniels, was employed as a plate washer on the Titanic at the age of just 18. Sidney was one of the survivors of the tragic sinking and his offspring brought along a letter he penned to the beloved BBC programme. Recalling the fateful night, his daughter stated: "It was a Sunday, he was sound asleep, there was a banging and shouting and it was the night watchman. They were all a bit bleary-eyed because at first they thought it was a drill. "It wasn't until he got up on deck, there were hardly any people around at first and then officers came and turned to him and said, 'Go to these cabins'." She then explained how Sidney had been tasked with waking sleeping guests on the ship, as she went on: "Of course it was hard to wake people, they were asleep. Some reacted in different ways. One or two said 'What does this young man know? He's 18, the boat is unsinkable, we're not going up on deck'. "Others were saying, 'We've got children, they're going to get a chill if they go up on deck'. So he helped the children with the lifejackets and ushered them up on deck." Hilary chimed in on the episode which was re-aired on Sunday night: "You can imagine the scene of chaos and despair because people realised there weren't enough lifeboats." Sidney's son replied: "That was his job, to try and get people into the lifeboats and the water was rising all of the time. When all the lifeboats had gone, the water was up around his knees and he thought, 'It's time to go'. "So he dived off the side of the boat, swam away from it, came to a lifebelt and to my Dad's mind, it was too close to the boat, he was afraid when the boat went down, the suction would take them down so he said to this chap, 'It's no good here, let's swim away'. "Apparently this chap followed him and they just kept swimming. He said he saw a star in the sky which he thought was his mother and swam towards this star and eventually came to this life raft which was upside down and managed to cling onto that." "When he was on there, he said, 'I'm tired, I want to go to sleep,' and the chap next to him said, 'Don't go to sleep lad, if you do, it will be your last'. "So they sat there singing hymns trying to pass the time away." The duo had brought along a letter which had remained tucked inside Sidney's uniform pocket when he leapt from the Titanic, the Express reports. Hillary, clearly stunned by the letter, began to speak about the artefact's significance and value: "It's an extraordinary item and anything related to Titanic has this extraordinary effect on people. It is an extraordinary moment to behold something which is so linked into an extraordinary moment in history." She estimated its worth, saying: "We're talking about around £10,000, is the realistic value."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Antiques Roadshow expert shares huge value of Titanic letter but guest refuses to sell
Antiques Roadshow expert Hilary Kay met with a guest whose father Sidney Daniels was hired to work on the Titanic as a plate washer at the age of 18 Antiques Roadshow's Hilary Kay had an emotional encounter with a guest whose father, Sidney Daniels, was employed as a plate washer on the Titanic at just 18 years old. Sidney was one of the survivors of the tragic sinking, and his daughter brought along a poignant letter he penned to the beloved BBC series. She recounted: "It was a Sunday, he was sound asleep, there was a banging and shouting and it was the night watchman. They were all a bit bleary-eyed because at first they thought it was a drill. "It wasn't until he got up on deck, there were hardly any people around at first and then officers came and turned to him and said, 'Go to these cabins.' Of course it was hard to wake people, they were asleep. "Some reacted in different ways. One or two said 'What does this young man know? He's 18, the boat is unsinkable. We're not going up on deck.' Others were saying, 'We've got children, they're going to get a chill if they go up on deck.' So he helped the children with the lifejackets and ushered them up on deck." Hilary reflected on the harrowing event, adding: "You can imagine the scene of chaos and despair because people realised there weren't enough lifeboats." Relaying the harrowing tale of survival, one of Sidney's kin recounted: "That was his job, to try and get people into the lifeboats and the water was rising all of the time. When all the lifeboats had gone, the water was up around his knees and he thought, 'It's time to go.' So he dived off the side of the boat, swam away from it, came to a lifebelt and to my Dad's mind, it was too close to the boat, he was afraid when the boat went down, the suction would take them down so he said to this chap, 'It's no good here, let's swim away.'". They continued with the gripping narrative: "Apparently this chap followed him and they just kept swimming. He said he saw a star in the sky which he thought was his mother and swam towards this star and eventually came to this life raft which was upside down and managed to cling onto that." The story took an emotional turn as they shared: "When he was on there, he said, 'I'm tired, I want to go to sleep,' and the chap next to him said, 'Don't go to sleep lad, if you do, it will be your last.' So they sat there singing hymns trying to pass the time away." Accompanying their visit, the relatives brought a poignant piece of history - a letter from Sidney's uniform pocket as he leapt from the Titanic, reports the Express. Expert Hilary weighed in on the artefact's significance and value: "It's an extraordinary item and anything related to Titanic has this extraordinary affect on people. It is an extraordinary moment to behold something which is so linked into an extraordinary moment in history." She estimated it's worth: "We're talking about around £10,000, is the realistic value." Upon hearing the valuation, the guest firmly stated: "It's very nice but it's not going out the family, it's going to a museum." Antiques Roadshow is broadcast on Sundays at 8.15pm on BBC One.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ozzy Osbourne told pals his dreams for the future just days before death
EXCLUSIVE: Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne showed a softer and emotional side at a photoshoot with family and pals just days before the music icon died Proud grandpa Ozzy Osbourne welled up with pride during his last photoshoot with many of his closest rock star pals and family - just 18 days before his death. The rock icon told friends at the shoot the focus of his life 'was dedicated to being with the family and grandchildren'. Emotional Ozzy told a raft of superstar performers that his grandson Sid will follow in his footsteps as an entertainer. The 76-year-old had built a terrific bond with the two-year-old, whose mother is the Black Sabbath rocker's daughter, Kelly. Friends of the star say Ozzy boasted that Sidney, who was born in November 2022, already showed signs of having musical talent during his visits. One musician, who asked not to be named, recalled how Ozzy "could not stop beaming as he spoke about Sidney and how he doted on the kid". Ozzy had photos taken with family members and with Sidney on his lap taken by photographer and long term friend Ross Halfin on July 4. The gathering was a celebration and thank you for the acts, who'd agreed to appear in what would become the highest grossing charity show of all time. There were also pics taken of Ozzy with the biggest stars from Rock and metal who would go on to appear alongside him in the Back To The Beginning show a day later at Villa Park. Lass than three weeks later, Ozzy would pass away. The insider said: 'Ozzy just loved boasting about Sidney's talent and voice. There was a real bond between them when he had him on his lap fooling around and laughing. You could see at that moment, he was still Ozzy, but actually the smitten grandpa, whose child was his star. Ozzy had told many of the people there that Sidney would be the next generation of musician flying the flag for the family. 'They sang together at home. He said that being with family and being a grandfather was now his main focus in life. He loved all of his grandkids so so much. His loss will be hard for them.' Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine along with Sharon were the driving forces of bringing the talent together. Bands and stars playing the bash included Steven Tyler, Metallica, Axl Rose and Slash of Guns N' Roses, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Tool, Grija, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit and Jonathan Davis of Korn. The photoshoot was filmed as part of the Ozzy documentary about Back To The Beginning on Paramount. The source added: 'Ozzy was really touched to see so many big names to come out and support his farewell. As they praised him, he kept saying things like 'I dunno what to f***ing say'. It was overwhelming really, but very powerful.' Speaking to the Guardian in May, Ozzy also suggested after the gig his time would be spent away from the spotlight. He said: 'It's time for me to spend some time with my grandkids. 'I don't want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family.' Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now, covering the singer's struggles with a series of health issues, will premiere on Paramount + in late 2025. Ozzy died on Tuesday, his family confirmed in a statement sent from his hometown of Birmingham. The statement read: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."
North Wales Live
09-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Mum says picture taken at nursery saved her son's life
A grateful mum says a picture of her son having fun at nursery saved his life when the camera flash revealed a rare cancer lurking in his eye. Laura Davies said her husband Tom Davies, 39, first noticed a strange cloudiness in their two-year-old son Sidney's left eye in April. The 39-year-old said at the time she searched online for information relating to cloudy eyes but all that came up was information about cataracts. But when Sidney's nursery took a picture of him as he enjoyed a day in the sensory room, the camera flash revealed his left eye was cloudy compared to his right. After a visit to her GP and Specsavers, Sidney was eventually referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital and had an ultrasound. He was diagnosed with retinoblastoma on May 19 - a rare eye cancer that can affect young children. Doctors decided the best course of action would be to remove the eye and Sidney underwent the operation on May 27. Laura said she 'burst out crying' when doctors told her Sidney had the all clear on June 11 and would not need any chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Laura, from Mold, Flintshire, said: "His nursery saved his life by taking that photo. "He was basically sat in his high chair opposite the French doors in our kitchen and my husband was like, 'his eye doesn't look right.' It basically looked cloudy. It was literally just when he was looking to the left. I've got to be honest I probably wouldn't have noticed it. "His nursery took a photo of him in the sensory room and that's when it showed it [Sidney's eye] white. It was almost like it was reflecting the light, it's really hard to describe. It was like his eye wasn't there, it was like a mirror. "He [Sidney] coped with it so well and I think the boys gave me strength as well. It was so scary seeing him go for the operations. I think we went into mum and dad mode. You kind of just get through it. Afterwards when we found out that he was okay and he didn't need any chemotherapy then it all hit me if I'm honest. "I burst out crying [when he got the all clear]. It was such a relief." Sidney currently has a temporary plastic shell called a conformer fitted in his eye socket but is undergoing another operation in July to have a prosthetic eye fitted. Laura said doctors also discovered Sidney's retina was detached, and they were not sure how long it had been since he had been able to see out of his left eye. He will have to wear protective goggles when he plays sport, but other than that Laura hopes her son will be largely unaffected by the prosthetic. Laura said: "It was horrendous. We were so worried, we expected it but you know when you're actually hearing those words it's a different story. It was a lot to take in. "I was obviously upset about the fact that he needed to have his eye removed. All the thoughts run through your head of how they are going to cope in school and kids are horrible and things like that. But I was also looking at it and thinking, 'I just want it out' because you could literally see it. "In terms of the effects on him it's been quite minimal because he's already dealt with that himself, not being able to see out of that eye. I keep saying to people, 'I would never have known.' "I've always said he's very careful. He will go down the steps very carefully unlike my other son who is older and who's like a bull at a gate. "You sort of think back and think, 'maybe that's why?' but he's a happy boy, he showed no signs of this. We didn't notice that he couldn't see out of his eye. "It's funny because people have said when they see him on the school run and things that he's got a new lease of life. I don't know whether it was bothering him before, whether it was blurry. We'll never know really." Laura's husband is taking part in a sponsored walk up and down Moel Famau, the highest hill in the Clwydian Range, 12 times in 12 hours with family and friends to raise money for Birmingham Children's hospital. The distance will be around 40 miles in total and Laura said she and their two children are planning to join him for the last summit. Specsavers Broughton Park Ophthalmic director Kelly Gibson said: "We're incredibly grateful that Laura attended with her son, Sidney, to see us after being alerted by a concern from his nursery. It's reassuring to know that I was able to ensure he received the urgent care he needed. We're relieved that his condition was caught early, and he received treatment in a timely manner. "Stories like this are a powerful reminder of how important it is to attend for an eye examination if you ever notice a change or feel that something isn't quite right with your eyes. It also highlights the importance of eye examinations for children, whether it is due to a concern or a routine review, we look after all ages. An eye examination can sometimes uncover signs of more serious health conditions, and acting early can make all the difference." To donate to the JustGiving page follow the link: The NHS describes retinoblastoma as a rare eye cancer that can affect young children and says it can be in one of both eyes and affects the back of the eye. The NHS says it can be treated successfully if it is found early and is often linked to a change in gene that controls the growth of the eye.
Wales Online
09-07-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Mum says picture taken at nursery saved her son's life
Mum says picture taken at nursery saved her son's life The picture revealed that something was wrong and Laura immediately asked for help Sidney alongside his mum Laura (Image: Kennedy News and Media ) A grateful mum says a picture of her son having fun at nursery saved his life when the camera flash revealed a rare cancer lurking in his eye. Laura Davies said her husband Tom Davies, 39, first noticed a strange cloudiness in their two-year-old son Sidney's left eye in April. The 39-year-old said at the time she searched online for information relating to cloudy eyes but all that came up was information about cataracts. But when Sidney's nursery took a picture of him as he enjoyed a day in the sensory room, the camera flash revealed his left eye was cloudy compared to his right. After a visit to her GP and Specsavers, Sidney was eventually referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital and had an ultrasound. He was diagnosed with retinoblastoma on May 19 - a rare eye cancer that can affect young children. Doctors decided the best course of action would be to remove the eye and Sidney underwent the operation on May 27. Laura said she 'burst out crying' when doctors told her Sidney had the all clear on June 11 and would not need any chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Laura, from Mold, Flintshire, said: "His nursery saved his life by taking that photo. "He was basically sat in his high chair opposite the French doors in our kitchen and my husband was like, 'his eye doesn't look right.' It basically looked cloudy. It was literally just when he was looking to the left. I've got to be honest I probably wouldn't have noticed it. "His nursery took a photo of him in the sensory room and that's when it showed it [Sidney's eye] white. It was almost like it was reflecting the light, it's really hard to describe. It was like his eye wasn't there, it was like a mirror. Article continues below "He [Sidney] coped with it so well and I think the boys gave me strength as well. It was so scary seeing him go for the operations. I think we went into mum and dad mode. You kind of just get through it. Afterwards when we found out that he was okay and he didn't need any chemotherapy then it all hit me if I'm honest. "I burst out crying [when he got the all clear]. It was such a relief." Sidney currently has a temporary plastic shell called a conformer fitted in his eye socket but is undergoing another operation in July to have a prosthetic eye fitted. Laura said doctors also discovered Sidney's retina was detached, and they were not sure how long it had been since he had been able to see out of his left eye. Two-year-old Sidney Davies - Laura Davies said her husband Tom Davies, first noticed a strange cloudiness in Sidney's left eye in April when it hit the light (Image: Kennedy News and Media ) He will have to wear protective goggles when he plays sport, but other than that Laura hopes her son will be largely unaffected by the prosthetic. Laura said: "It was horrendous. We were so worried, we expected it but you know when you're actually hearing those words it's a different story. It was a lot to take in. "I was obviously upset about the fact that he needed to have his eye removed. All the thoughts run through your head of how they are going to cope in school and kids are horrible and things like that. But I was also looking at it and thinking, 'I just want it out' because you could literally see it. "In terms of the effects on him it's been quite minimal because he's already dealt with that himself, not being able to see out of that eye. I keep saying to people, 'I would never have known.' "I've always said he's very careful. He will go down the steps very carefully unlike my other son who is older and who's like a bull at a gate. "You sort of think back and think, 'maybe that's why?' but he's a happy boy, he showed no signs of this. We didn't notice that he couldn't see out of his eye. "It's funny because people have said when they see him on the school run and things that he's got a new lease of life. I don't know whether it was bothering him before, whether it was blurry. We'll never know really." Sidney alongside his mum Laura (Image: Kennedy News and Media ) Laura's husband is taking part in a sponsored walk up and down Moel Famau, the highest hill in the Clwydian Range, 12 times in 12 hours with family and friends to raise money for Birmingham Children's hospital. The distance will be around 40 miles in total and Laura said she and their two children are planning to join him for the last summit. Specsavers Broughton Park Ophthalmic director Kelly Gibson said: "We're incredibly grateful that Laura attended with her son, Sidney, to see us after being alerted by a concern from his nursery. It's reassuring to know that I was able to ensure he received the urgent care he needed. We're relieved that his condition was caught early, and he received treatment in a timely manner. "Stories like this are a powerful reminder of how important it is to attend for an eye examination if you ever notice a change or feel that something isn't quite right with your eyes. It also highlights the importance of eye examinations for children, whether it is due to a concern or a routine review, we look after all ages. An eye examination can sometimes uncover signs of more serious health conditions, and acting early can make all the difference." Article continues below To donate to the JustGiving page follow the link: NHS describes retinoblastoma as a rare eye cancer that can affect young children and says it can be in one of both eyes and affects the back of the eye. The NHS says it can be treated successfully if it is found early and is often linked to a change in gene that controls the growth of the eye.
