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Woman collects 163 bedpans over 40 years

Luke Deal/BBC Mary Jacobs with some of her collection of bedpansLuke Deal/BBC
Mary Jacobs says she loves the way bedpans can differ in shapes and sizes

A woman who has collected 163 bedpans of all different shapes and sizes is now hoping to sell them.

Mary Jacobs, 77, from Newmarket, started her collection in 1984 when she bought her first one for 50p in a jumble sale in the town.

The most she ever spent on one was £18 and she has tried to auction them off before but, despite interest, failed to find a buyer.

She told BBC Radio Suffolk she wanted to ensure they were given to someone who would "appreciate them" as much as her.

"[My] children have got to get rid of them if I don't and I'd rather they go to a home or a museum that I know is going to appreciate them rather than just being [put in the] skip," Mrs Jacobs said.

She bought her first bedpan at the Newmarket Salvation Army jumble sale and little did she know she would end up with over 150 of them.

"I used to help out at the Salvation Army jumble sale and one came in that was different and I had never seen before," she said.

"I asked the captain if I could buy it and he said yes, so I actually bought it. That was the start of the vast collection I have now."

Luke Deal/BBC Some bedpans from Mrs Jacob's collectionLuke Deal/BBC
Mrs Jacobs' collection includes a large range of bedpans, some of which have lids and spouts

Mrs Jacobs said she was fascinated by the way the bedpans could be different shapes and sizes, and even have different coloured writing.

Some in her collection have lids or spouts too.

"I was told by the auctioneers several years ago when I did enquire about selling them that it was a unique collection," she added.

"They had never, ever seen one like it before.

"I don't know of anybody who's got that many apart from a man in America."

Luke Deal/BBC Mrs JacobsLuke Deal/BBC
Mrs Jacobs wants to ensure her collection goes to someone who will appreciate it as much as she does

Mrs Jacobs said she had "plenty of interest" when she tried to auction them off before but that "people didn't want to actually pay any money for them".

"The highest price for about one lot of 10 or 12 was £10 and the auctioneer decided that wasn't realistic because he'd take his fees out and I'd be left with nothing," she said.

"So he disclaimed the bid and told me they were unsold and I had to pick them up."

Mrs Jacobs said she was "disappointed" but was still keen to try and sell them.

"If anybody's interested that would be great," she added.

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