Jools Holland in Harrogate

.. and the Yorkshire 'Crafts for Christmas' Show.

Jools Holland in Harrogate

Every year we look forward to visiting Harrogate in North Yorkshire where we attend one of the country's largest Christmas shopping events - the 'Yorkshire Crafts for Christmas' show held at the Showgrounds a few miles from the town centre. Our unique collection of silver and gold jewellery always seems to attract attention in the North and we look forward to exhibiting at this popular annual event.

This year proved to be even more interesting than usual. We discovered that Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra was performing for one night only at the Convention Centre in Harrogate. As luck would have it two seats were still available and Wendy and I jumped at the chance to 'boogie-woogie' the night away at this raucous, star studded blues concert.

Not only did we delight in the undoubted skills of Jools himself but we were entertained by some of the best instrumentalists in the business including saxophonist Derek Nash and the Badbone jazz-funk showman Dennis Rollins. Reggae enthusiasts would also have been thrilled with the trombonist Rico Rodriguez, a Jamaican legend responsible for the cult 80's album, 'That Man is Forward'. His solo contributions included a very different rendition of Frank Sinatra's 'I've got you under my skin' - it was a real treat to see him on a concert stage! Jools also received some impressive support from the talented vocalists Louise Marshall and the Rhythm & Blues specialist Ruby Turner who really turned up the heat with several of her powerful gospel flavoured songs.

Since learning to play fluently at the tender age of eight, Jools has gone on to become one of the UK's most proficient jazz and blues pianists. The performance in Harrogate was confirmation of his ability to entertain a large audience - by the end he had us all singing and dancing in the aisles as he led us in 'Enjoy Yourself' ... and we certainly did!

Detling Crafts for Christmas Show

... and the most influential man in Kent!

The most influential man in Kent. Who is he?

Last week we attended the Crafts for Christmas show at Detling in Kent to exhibit our unique collection of handmade silver and gold jewellery including the popular silver daisy pendants, earrings and bracelets that have become associated with Paul Wright Jewellery throughout the UK and internationally.

Readers of our regular blog will know that we always endeavour to photograph some of the 'rich and famous' who are known to visit several of the important national events we attend during the course of the year. These have included celebrities, actors, singers and members of the Royal family. We have featured a broad spectrum of personalities from 'Jordan' and Dame Vera Lynn to Prince Charles and even Her Majesty the Queen!

These are very often people of great influence who make a difference. Who is the most influential person in the country? Gordon Brown is the most influential man in Britain while the Queen is the country's most influential woman, according to a poll of 1,000 business leaders. There are also those we may consider to be the most influential people in a given field or occupation. Last week, whilst in Kent, we met just such a person! A leader in the field of educational reform.

We ask: "Do you know the most influential man in Kent?" We offer the following clues and invite you to write in with your answers. Let's see if you can identify him:

• A revolutionary 'thinker' and great educational reformist
• A leading authority on the eleven plus examination
• Inventor of the World's first online educational diagnostic and remedial programme
• An accredited investor - not in stocks and shares but - 'in people'.
• Married to a secret cordon bleu chef
• Loves pork chops for breakfast

If you can identify this man write in with his name and you could win a pair of fab silver daisy earrings worth £25!

Who is the No.1 most influential man in Kent? Can you put a name to the face?

Dame Vera Lynn

We'll Meet Again .....

Vera Lynn at the Crafts for Christmas Show, in October 2009

This year's Ardingly College 'Crafts for Christmas' show saw the visit of Dame Vera Lynn, the English singer whose career flourished during World War II. She was nicknamed "The Forces' Sweetheart" and some of the songs most fondly remembered and associated with her include "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover".

Dame Vera and her daughter spent some time admiring the jewellery that formed our display at this popular annual event. Having asked her permission she kindly allowed us to snap this photo of her before moving on to browse the other exhibits that were on show. At the age of 92 she remains just as attractive and charming as she was during the war years at which time the nostalgic lyrics .. "We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day" .. became one of the emblematic songs of that period.

And now at the age of 92, she has done it again, hitting No 1 in the album charts with her offering 'We'll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn' and usurping Bob Dylan, 68, as the oldest artist to grace the top spot!

Her visit at the Ardingly Crafts for Christmas Show was the highlight of this year's event ... and, of course, we all hope to meet her again some sunny day!