Graham Lay

Graham Lay is an antiques expert, born in 1960, specialising in Arms and Militaria and Military History, probably best known for his many appearances on BBC TVs Antiques Roadshow^[1] television programme where he has been one of the team of experts since 1988.

He has appeared as an expert on other BBC TV antiques programmes such as 20th Century Roadshow, Priceless Antiques Roadshow, Bargain Hunt, etc. During an episode of 20th Century Roadshow recorded at Imperial War Museum Duxford, he valued a WWII Spitfire MkIX aircraft at between £1,000,000 and £1,500,000, the highest price for anything ever valued on the Show.

He has contributed to several books, Antiques Roadshow Collectables,^[2] for example, and writes auction reviews and articles for newspapers and periodicals, including writing for Black Powder, the magazine of the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain.^[3]

There are also a large number of newspaper articles about him and The Antiques Roadshow.^[4][5][6][7] and a number of clips on the BBC TV website of him on The Antiques Roadshow discussing letters from a Concientious Objector from the First World War including a white feather letter, a Sticky Bomb brought in by an ex bomb disposal officer from the Second World War, to a Roadshow in Jersey in the British Channel Islands, and a photograph album belonging to a woman who was a member of The Women's Timber Corps.

In 2011 The Antiques Roadshow broadcast special items titled Basic Better Best. Graham recorded an item with Fiona Bruce about medals. It was recorded at Aberystwyth in Wales in the UK.

Another clip shows Graham talking to Fiona Bruce, the Presenter of the Program, about Nelson's missing diamond Chelengk (brooch).

References