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'Perfect' bedpan collection to be shown

Julie Stevenson Julie Stevenson, in a yellow top and black cardigan is pictured holding a bedpan she has bought from Mary Jacobs, who stands to her right wearing a white shirt with red details.Julie Stevenson
Julie Stevenson (left) bought two Shelley bedpans from Mary Jacobs (right), who has a large bedpan collection

A bedpan collector said she was delighted two of the rarest will be shown at a private exhibition in a cathedral.

Mary Jacobs, 77, from Newmarket, Suffolk, bought her first bedpan in 1984 in a jumble sale. She ended up with 163.

She appealed for someone to buy the collection and was pleased when a pottery collector from Peterborough showed interest.

Julie Stevenson, 53, bought two bedpans made by Shelley - a renowned Staffordshire pottery that closed in 1966 - and now intends to show them to fellow collectors at Peterborough Cathedral.

Mrs Stevenson collects Shelley and, despite only starting a year ago, already has nearly 800 items.

Mrs Jacobs said: "In the process of sorting through, I found two Shelley ones and I got in touch with [Mrs Stevenson] and she came and bought them from me.

"It was nice and at least I've made somebody happy."

Julie Stevenson An old image of a Shelley-made white porcelain bedpan. It shows the Shelley brand logo, as well as some written explanation that the bedpan could be used both in the home and hospital. Julie Stevenson
Mrs Stevenson believes the Shelley bedpans were made for the NHS

Mrs Stevenson, a Peterborough councillor, will be showing her collection - including the bedpans - to the pottery group's members in March 2025.

"Not only has Mary been able to pass her beloved bedpans to a collector who will value them, they're actually going to be appearing at the cathedral, which is an extraordinary extension of their life considering what they were made for," Mrs Stevenson said.

"It's an amazing story - who knows what will happen to them next?" she added.

Luke Deal/BBC Mary Jacobs is pictured sitting behind some of her collection of white bedpans on a table. She is smiling, wearing a white top. The collection consists of an array of bedpans of all different shapes and sizes.Luke Deal/BBC
Mrs Jacobs said she loved the way bedpans could be all different shapes and sizes

Mrs Stevenson believed the Shelley bedpans were made for the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948, the year it was founded.

"They don't often pop on the market, but when they do they're generally not in very good condition because they're porcelain - they're often chipped or cracked.

"These are perfect, so I feel as though I have found a real treasure here."

Mrs Jacobs said she had since had some interest in the rest of her bedpan collection and she was keeping her "fingers and toes crossed" it would result in a sale.

LISTEN: How a Peterborough woman amassed a huge collection of Shelley vintage China pottery

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