'Life is all about experiences'
Lennox Cato is a renowned antiques dealer and an expert on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. Born to immigrant Grenadian parents, he was adopted by a white antiques dealer in 1961 at the age of two months. Having learned the business amidst the rough and tumble of Brighton’s antiques trade, Cato set up his first shop at 19. Now living in Edenbridge, Kent, he is a Deputy Lieutenant of the county and a panel member of the National Heritage Memorial Fund. He speaks to journalist Anil Dawar.
Growing up, was racism something you and either of your families discussed?
No, my birth parents never mentioned racism. When I visited them, it wasn’t something we talked about. They dealt with life as it came at them. My adoptive parents didn’t raise it as an issue and I didn’t really feel it.
At school, there were only two black children, my brother and myself, but it wasn’t something that stood out or was made an issue of. Children would say, ‘Lennox has two mums,’ and that was that.
What is your connection to Grenada and what was your first visit to the island like?
To me, Grenada was always where my parents were from. I am from Brighton. My son wanted to understand his roots, so we went to Grenada. My family was incredibly welcoming.
My grandmother told me about our relative Hutch [Leslie Hutchinson, a hugely successful cabaret star in the 1920s who had a scandalously public affair with Lord Mountbatten’s wife]. The BBC made a programme about him. It was incredible to discover about his life as a performer and encounters with the royal family. Just like Vera Lynn, during the Second World War he went and entertained the troops, but he never gets mentioned for this. Hutch had been written out of history but now there is a blue plaque on his house.
‘I have an eye for a piece, and I know how to do a deal’
How did you get into the antiques trade?
I grew up in the business. My adoptive father was a dealer, so I was surrounded by it and loved it. I have an eye for a piece, and I know how to do a deal. My father always taught me, make sure at the end of the week you have more money than at the start of the week. That’s what I do. I worked hard and built my reputation. It wasn’t easy, especially as a Black man in this field, but I’ve always been ambitious.
Have you faced prejudice in the antiques world?
Absolutely. But let’s be clear, prejudice is everywhere. If you think it’s not there, you’re in denial. Once, I was introduced to a very successful dealer. I went for a handshake, and he walked away. He was so prejudiced he couldn’t be in the company of Black people. This is very rare. Generally, people in the art and antiques world are broad minded.
The reality is people don’t expect to see a Black man running an antiques business. Someone once came onto my stand at a prestigious antiques fair in London and asked: ‘Where’s the boss?’ And a dealer’s daughter told me she had never seen a Black man dealing in fine period furniture before. It really threw her even though she grew up in the business.
How do you cope with that kind of prejudice?
My coping mechanism? It’s not my problem, it’s theirs. I’m not confrontational, I just walk away. I’ve always focused on my goals and let my work speak for itself.
‘Ambition has always kept me going’
You’ve achieved several firsts in your career. How do you feel about those milestones?
Proud. I was the first black specialist on Antiques Roadshow and the first Black person on the council of the British Antiques Dealers’ Association (BADA). I was the only Black councillor on my town council and school board. These achievements were not handed to me because of my race. If anything, being Black made it harder. I’ve always had to work twice as hard and prove myself in spaces where people didn’t expect me to be.
Did anyone ever discourage you from pursuing these roles?
Yes. When I told a dealer friend, I wanted to join BADA’s council, he said, ‘It’s not for you.’ He meant I wasn’t at the right level for it. But I wanted to be there, so I worked hard and got there. Ambition has always kept me going.
Your family has produced a number of successful performers – are you one, too?
I am a performer I suppose. When I was younger, I used to sit back and be quiet. My wife said I should get out and share my knowledge. I joined the Round Table and that’s when I started to talk to people more and network.
Since then, I’ve given talks all over the country, including the Guildhall, the V&A and of course I am on Antiques Roadshow speaking in front of millions. One of the first times I spoke publicly I had 10 minutes and was worried about how I would fill it. Someone advised me to speak about my experiences. So, I started off, the next thing I knew an usher was telling me to wind up because my time was up.
Have you faced any awkward moments in your TV career?
Yes. Once on live TV, I was speaking about my field of expertise and the presenter asked me how I know all this stuff. It was a strange question. You could take it as – How does a Black person like you know? All I could reply was that I am a specialist on Antiques Roadshow. Afterwards he apologised for asking such a silly question. It's a reminder of how people can sometimes see your colour before your expertise.
'I stand out in the crowd'
Do you feel your race has shaped your career path?
Not really shaped it, but it’s made it. Because I’m Black, I stand out in the crowd. What confuses some people is that I deal with classical English period furniture instead of ethnic art. But that’s my passion, what I know and love. Ronnie [Archer-Morgan, an Antiques Roadshow colleague] deals with ethnic art because that’s his passion. I want my knowledge, expertise and integrity to define me, not my race.
Do you think representation is important?
Yes, I go out to inner-city schools, clubs, groups and universities, representing myself being in the heart of my industry. But I don’t make it about colour – my actions speak for themselves. I want others to know they can do what I have done and more.
What advice would you give to young people?
I’d say: ‘It’s up to you, have ambition and motivate yourself. The world owes you nothing. You can’t succeed if you don’t have a go. If you fail, at least you had a go. If it doesn’t happen today, it will happen tomorrow. Just get out and do it.
Life is all about experiences. Don’t sit on the sidelines making negative comments. Act positive and be proud.
What’s next for you?
I’m not sure. My journey is ongoing. There’s always more to learn and achieve, I’m excited for what’s ahead.
Anil Dawar is a journalist born in London to Asian and British parents. He specialises in home affairs and education issues.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Runnymede Trust.
Join the fight for racial justice: support the Runnymede Trust’s work by making a donation.
