Kate Bliss, a familiar face from the BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Flog It series, spoke at Gilwern U3A’s May meeting about her career in antiques.

Kate went from the Cathedral School in Hereford to Brasenose College, Oxford, where she graduated in English Literature before studying Fine Art to become a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

After taking the rostrum as an auctioneer for seven years at Brightwells Fine Art saleroom, she founded her own valuation business and became a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, specialising in silver and jewellery.

Kate is also patron of two Herefordshire charities: St Michael’s Hospice and The Little Princess Trust where she regularly enjoys hosting charity auctions and fundraising events as well as actively supporting SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Kate illustrated her talk with slides of exciting ‘finds’ from her various excursions.

She also introduced the audience to a mote skimmer - a delicate Georgian silver spoon with a perforated bowl to scoop up floating tea leaves and a point on the end of the handle to unblock the 18th century teapot spout.

She also showed them a ‘priest’, which would be recognised by fishermen as it was used to administer the last rites to a fish by hitting it over the head.

On Wednesday June 21, Gilwern U3A has a complete change of topic as Stephen Marshall talks about ‘Flowers at your feet - a walk across The Alps’ and everyone can look forward to seeing some stunning photos of alpine meadows and mountains.

The meeting on Wednesday July 19, deals with ‘Telepathy, Clairvoyance and Precognition’ given by Bob Charman, who asks people to turn up with an open but critical mind to listen to a presentation of personal experiences between parents and children, siblings, twins, friends and dog owners (yes, dog owners!). He will also present results from laboratory research exploring if telepathy really does occur.

Both of these monthly meetings take place in the Community Centre, Common Road, Gilwern and start at 2pm. Non-U3A members are always welcomed.