Newmarket bedpan collector's items at Peterborough exhibition
A bedpan collector said it was "lovely" to see two of her rarest finds included in a private exhibition in a cathedral.Mary Jacobs, 77, from Newmarket, Suffolk began collecting bedpans in 1984 eventually ending up with 163.She decided last year to sell them and sold two made by Shelley - a renowned Staffordshire pottery - to Julie Stevenson, 54, from Peterborough who collects this pottery.Mrs Stevenson held a private exhibition of her Shelley collection at Peterborough Cathedral on Sunday where she invited Mrs Jacobs to come and see her former bedpans.
"It was a private viewing - they are all private collections so you can't go and visit them," Mrs Jacobs explained."It was lovely to see two of them again... it's unusual that the bedpans are plain white with writing on them."Most of the Shelley collections that Julie had were all coloured and different designs."Shelley closed in 1966 and it is believed the two bedpans were made for the NHS in 1948, the year it was founded.
Mrs Stevenson, who is also a Peterborough councillor, explained her exhibition was for the official collectors group, The UK Shelley China Group.Eighteen of the group were in attendance from across the region as well as the Mayor of Peterborough and several councillors."I came upon the idea of hiring a space at the cathedral to highlight a selection of pieces from my private collection after realising I have a few bits that specifically tie in with the venue," Mrs Stevenson said. Within her collection of about 800 items, Mrs Stevenson has a jug from 1911 with an illustration of Katherine of Aragon who is buried at the cathedral as well as a 1920s ginger jar decorated with pomegranates that were Katherine of Aragon's symbol.
"The cathedral team went above and beyond to ensure we had a lovely afternoon. I cannot thank them enough," Mrs Stevenson said. "It was wonderful to see Mary again and to show her how her slipper pans fit in with my collection, and for her to meet other pottery enthusiasts."Mrs Jacobs sold the majority of the rest of her bedpans to a collector in the United States.
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lidl issues urgent recall on popular kitchen item due to fire hazard
Lidl has warned customers to stop using an air fryer it sold 'immediately' due to a 'fire hazard' associated with the product. The retailer issued an urgent recall notice for the Tower 8L Dual Basket Air Fryer, which is said has a 'risk of overheating'. Customers have been asked to check whether their products has the code T17129L and to return it if so. The batch number can be found on a white sticker on the base of the product. 'Our supplier is recalling the above-mentioned product due to risk of overheating, which could present a fire hazard,' the notice read. 'If you own one of the affected models, please stop using it immediately.' It added that customers should contact the supplier at to check if their unit is affected and follow the instructions for returning it. People who have bought one of the devices can also contact or phone 0203 966 5566 for more information. No other Tower products have been affected by the recall. Earlier this month, Lidl issued a product recall for Harvest Basket Hash Browns with the batch number 5144L and best before date of the May 24 2027. Lidl GB recalled the product due to the 'potential presence of foreign bodies (metal)' which may present a choking hazard.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Thanet charity returns home after £10k flood damage
A Kent charity which helps families in poverty is reopening at its main site after it was forced it to move due to flooding which caused £10,000 worth of to Mama, which provides second hand items to vulnerable pregnant women, carers and children under five in Thanet, will reopen at its Ramsgate site on the charity said there was delay in distributing items after it was hit by flooding on 13 Furniss, the charity's CEO, said: "It's just heart-breaking because its months and hours of time, resourcing, cleaning, sorting, so it's difficult." The charity delivers care boxes to new mums that include baby cloths, a blanket or sleep suit, a muslin and a comforter or soft toy. It also adds a pack of biodegradable wipes, organic cotton wool pads and pregnancy or new baby toiletry Furniss said: "We have had an incredible response from our community, so we are hoping this week we will get a flurry of donations and we are hoping some brands have read our plea and they will get in touch." Despite seeing a jump of more than 40% in referrals in recent months, the charity says there has been a decline in donations of bigger 2023-24, Mama to Mama supported 128 families in Thanet and it was hoping to increase this by 40% by 2026.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Louth dad warned over school absence to attend Lincolnshire Show
A father who received a penalty warning for taking his sons out of school to visit the Lincolnshire Show said he wants the council to change the Wilkinson, 55, received a fixed penalty warning and was told he could be fined up to £120 for taking his two sons out of their school in Louth for the day."The council shouldn't be thinking about fines. They should be thinking about subsidising children going so that more children can learn about the countryside," he County Council said schools were "advised to record absences as unauthorised unless they fall under exceptional circumstances". The Department for Education (DfE) says it is the responsibility of the local authority to decide when to issue fines to parents, meaning the process varies from council to under national rules introduced in August 2024, all schools are required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (five days) for unauthorised to DfE guidelines issued in August 2024:Schools must consider fines if a child misses five or more days unauthorisedFines cost £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 daysIf a parent gets a second fine for the same child in three years, it costs £160 immediatelyFor a third unauthorised absence, other action like prosecution is considered. A court appearance could result in a fine of up to £2,500The DfE says money from fines goes to the local authority. Mr Wilkinson, who first attended the show as a child nearly 50 years ago, said the warning, which was recorded as an unauthorised absence, "came out of the blue"."The Lincolnshire Show when I was a boy was something kids went to and it wasn't an issue at school," he said."They used to alter their schooling around the two days for the Lincolnshire Show. "It is a big event. It is a day when Lincolnshire is celebrated. I can teach the kids on a one-to-one basis about the countryside." Mr Wilkinson said he knew of other parents who received warning letters. "Having to pay £75 for a family ticket to the show and then have this worry looming over you of a possible fine... does act as a deterrent," he said."People can't afford that and it's a time that [the council] could make special so that people can go visit the show." Matthew Clayton, head of education support at the county council, said: "While schools retain some discretion when marking registers, they are advised to record absences as unauthorised unless they fall under 'exceptional circumstances'."Schools will promote and remind parents of the attendance procedures and ways to manage them as part of their approach to improving attendance and reducing persistent absence."The Lincolnshire Show, which celebrated its 140th year last week, is a flagship event that celebrates the county's rural life and BBC has contacted North Cockerington Church of England Primary School for comment. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
