Former and current pupils, and members of the School’s wider community, gathered together for the first Business Breakfast of the new year on Friday 27th January.

Class of 2006 former pupil, James McNaught, gave a fascinating talk about his decade-long career with Lyon & Turnbull, Scotland’s premier, and one of the longest established fine art auctioneers in the UK.

His presentation also focused on the various antiques, works of art and other interesting artefacts which he, and other colleagues, have discovered. Some of which have sold for world record-breaking amounts of money.

Of all the items that James has valued throughout his career, he highlighted two as his favourite finds. The first being a John William Godward oil painting entitled ‘Poppies’, signed and dated in 1898, which he discovered in the upstairs of one of his client’s houses.

The second was an unexpected find during one of the company’s Charity Valuation Days. The blue and white tripod ‘drunken scholar’ incense burner from the Ming Dynasty captured James’ attention for many reasons. Its history being one of them. Originally gifted to his client’s great uncle for his work in the fire service in Penang, Malaysia during the 1920s/30s, it makes for a heart-warming story that James’ client was also recognised for his service to the Fire Brigade by receiving an OBE on 1st January 1943.

Our thanks to James for such a wonderful presentation.

Interested in attending more of our Business Breakfasts? Then please have a look at our events page.

Would you like to participate in one of our future Business Breakfast events? If so, please contact our External Relations team at: community@hsog.co.uk.