March Speaker Supper - Joanna Hardy

Published 13:02 on 22 Feb 2024

We had a full house for this month's speaker, Joanna Hardy, who gave us a fascinating talk about her world as a gemmologist, fine jewellery specialist, auctioneer and expert on the BBC Antiques Roadshow.

Joanna took us back to the earliest days of her career grading rough diamonds in London to the more unusual tales of working as an auctioneer to an empty room in Dubai and being tested on her knowledge by a client who intentionally presented her with a fake.

Many of the jewellery photographs in her presentation were spectacular as were the prices she quoted on some of the pieces! Joanna is hugely knowledgeable and entertaining and she had the audience totally rapt throughout the evening.

Her work has taken her around the world, gaining many accolades along the way, and as the title of her talk suggested she has definitely succeeded professionally as a woman in a man's world.

Joanna kindly donated her fee to the RNLI.

With thanks to Ollie and staff for putting together a delicious supper and turning around the room from an auditorium to a dining room in record time.