During a recent episode of BBC’s Antiques Roadshow at Crystal Palace Park, an emotionally charged moment unfolded when a guest presented a unique cartoon drawn by her late father, a former senior customs officer at Heathrow Airport. The illustration depicted the 1984 incident involving Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Linda, who were detained at Heathrow following a cannabis-related offense in Barbados.
The guest recounted that her father, known for creating personalized cards for family occasions, sketched the cartoon during McCartney’s interview at the airport. Remarkably, the drawing was on official HMRC notepaper and bore McCartney’s signature, referencing his then-hit song “Pipes of Peace.”
Expert Hilary Kay, upon evaluating the piece, expressed astonishment at its authenticity and historical significance, estimating its value between £2,000 and £3,000. The guest reacted with visible shock and emotion, reflecting on her father’s legacy and the unexpected worth of his impromptu artwork.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
