THE antiques world's 'Nelson Know-all' is inviting members of his own club "back home" for the weekend.

Eric Knowles, born in the town, is the resident expert on the popular BBC show Going for a Song. Now the man often referred to by chairman Michael Parkinson as the 'Nelson Know-all' or 'Burnley Bow Tie' has launched the Eric Knowles Antiques and Collectors Club.

Members are travelling to Pendle for the club's first weekend away. The club has booked the whole of the Oaks Hotel at Reedley for a look at the antique treasures of the area.

It is not pure partisanship that has brought Eric back to Lancashire. He believes Lancashire's treasures remain largely unknown outside the county and is keen to show people what they have been missing.

The Oaks could have filled twice over by his faithful followers. Club members will travel to East Lancashire to meet at the hotel on Friday, March 6, for an evening meal and after-dinner speech from Eric entitled Rule Britannia on the subject of royal memorabilia.

Next day the members will be off to the Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth before travelling to the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington to see its magnificent collection of Tiffany glass.

Eric will be joined back at the hotel by ceramics expert Terry Lockett who will give a workshop. Terry is a familiar face on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow and also president of the Northern Ceramics Society.

On Sunday morning, members will travel to the north's largest antiques fair at Charnock Richard.

After lunch back at the hotel the final visit will be to Towneley Hall in Burnley, home of wonderful furniture, Pilkington glass, paintings and other treasures.

Nelson-born Eric attended Nelson Secondary Technical School, now Edge End High, and was made redundant from his engineering job at Pioneer Western, Barrowford.

He then started work as a porter at Bonham's in Knightsbridge working his way up in the art nouveau and deco business until he was appointed Bonham's director of ceramics, specialising in English, European and Oriental porcelain.

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