Antiques Roadshow expert Raj Bisram is set to advise guests on the programme, which was filmed in Roundhay Park, against ever selling a unique heirloom.
In the classic episode which originally aired on September 2023 but is scheduled to be repeated on BBC One on Sunday, the family of a war hero and Leeds Football legend sought the expert’s advice on their items.
Looking through a collection of photos, medals and caps, Bisram commented: “So here we’ve got this lovely photo of a a family member, Joseph Eric Stephenson who played for Leeds.
“He was a legend in the ’30s, we’ve got two of his England caps and his wartime medals. Tell me about him.”
“Well, he’s my great-grandfather, he lived locally in Leeds,” the young man replied, with Bisram instantly picking up on an overseas accent.
“I mean I have to say, he played for Leeds and he lived around here – you don’t sound like you’ve got a very Leeds accent! Where are you from?” he inquired.
Antiques Roadshow expert Raj Bisram evaluated items relating to Leeds footballer Joseph Eric Stephenson
BBC
“I mean, I live in Spain. My grandmother lived here, I have lots of memoires of my childhood here,” the footballer’s great-grandson responded.
“I mean he was a legend of Leeds, because he kind of had two careers didn’t he?” Bisram noted, continuing: “There’s this footballing career, and then of course the war came along.”
“He enlisted in October ’39, a month after the war broke out,” Stephenson’s granddaughter explained.
“And initially, he was given the role of physical training instructor for the army. But after maybe two years, he felt like he wasn’t doing enough and he wanted to take a more active role.
Raj Bisram correctly assumed the family would want to keep the items
BBC
“He actually went to Sandhurst, where he left as a commissioned officer in the Indian Army, and he led a company of Gurkhas.
“I know that he served in three campaigns and he was killed in action on the 8th September, 1944.”
“A really brave man, you know – there’s no doubt about it, because he came from an extremely humble background because he came from Leightonstone in London, and then his parents – because they didn’t have a lot of money they moved here to Leeds,” Bisram pointed out.
“And he did trial for Leeds, and because his family didn’t have a lot of money he was going to have to go out to work and not turn professional, but Leeds were really good to him.
“Because at 16 or 17 I think it was, they offered him a contract and that was £12 a week which was a lot money in those days, which meant that he didn’t have to go out and do physical work.
“And he could carry on playing football and support his family as well, so it’s a beautiful story.”
Raj Bisram valued the footballer and war hero’s Antiques Roadshow items
BBC
The antiques specialist then declared: “There’s no way I can ever see you ever selling this out of the family, I can tell already.”
“No,” the guests agreed before Bisram went on: “But you might want to know a value – the two England caps, one that he got for playing against Ireland and one against Scotland… Being conservative, we’re talking about £1,200 to £1,500.
“The medals – these don’t have a great value, probably looking at £80 to £120. And for that kind of money I’m sure it’d never leave.”
“No,” the guest interjected, confirming: “It would never leave the family.”
