THIS year promises to be precious, with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee sharing Kemp Hospice’s pearl anniversary, so to celebrate, the charity is holding a sparkling event.

A champagne lunch with a talk by a former Sotheby’s jewellery expert will be held at Stone Manor on Thursday, January 26.

The three course meal, with two glasses of wine and coffee will include a talk by Jacqueline Pearn, entitled Jewels to Treasure.

The Fellow of the Gemmological Association, has more than 25 years as a specialist jewellery valuer and auctioneer. While working for Sotheby’s Bond Street, she was on the team that undertook the sale of jewels belonging to The Duchess of Windsor.

At Phillips she was responsible for cataloguing the flagship Geneva jewellery auctions. Since 2001 she has run her own international consultancy business advising private clients on both the buying and selling of jewels.

The talk will focus on fine pieces of antique jewellery that will capture the imagination. It will also give advice on what to look for in a piece of jewellery and how to make jewels work as both as an investment and an item of beauty.

There will be a chance to have precious jewellery valued for a donation to Kemp and a raffle for a cultured pearl jewellery piece worth £350. Dress code is pearls, of course.

For more details and tickets, call Carol Hinett on 01562 822233 or 07966 586646.