This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-46171221
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Clacton owner to auction original Sooty TV puppets | Clacton owner to auction original Sooty TV puppets |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Sooty fans have the chance to buy the ultimate toy memorabilia - original hand puppets from the TV shows. | |
| Two puppets owned by father and son, Harry and Matthew Corbett, will be auctioned along with Sooty's magic wand. | Two puppets owned by father and son, Harry and Matthew Corbett, will be auctioned along with Sooty's magic wand. |
| One was used by Matthew Corbett in his last stage show in London in 1977. | |
| The other was given to Eunice Weston in 1960 after Harry Corbett stayed at her parents' bed and breakfast pub in Clacton, Essex, while performing. | The other was given to Eunice Weston in 1960 after Harry Corbett stayed at her parents' bed and breakfast pub in Clacton, Essex, while performing. |
| Mrs Weston, now 69, was living with her parents who ran the Robin Hood pub. | Mrs Weston, now 69, was living with her parents who ran the Robin Hood pub. |
| "I didn't really speak to him very much," the 69-year-old said. | "I didn't really speak to him very much," the 69-year-old said. |
| "I was only 11, quite shy and used to scuttle off to school. So, I was delighted at the end of the week when he gave me the Sooty puppet. | "I was only 11, quite shy and used to scuttle off to school. So, I was delighted at the end of the week when he gave me the Sooty puppet. |
| "Sooty was huge back then. At that time everyone only had three TV channels - and everyone watched Sooty." | "Sooty was huge back then. At that time everyone only had three TV channels - and everyone watched Sooty." |
| Sooty turned 70 in July and - together with his friends Sweep and Soo - have delighted generations of children. | Sooty turned 70 in July and - together with his friends Sweep and Soo - have delighted generations of children. |
| Mrs Weston's puppet, which was made to measure Harry's hand, has an estimated auction value of £1,000 to £1,500. | Mrs Weston's puppet, which was made to measure Harry's hand, has an estimated auction value of £1,000 to £1,500. |
| In September, an original puppet used by Harry Corbett on TV in the 1950s sold for £14,500. | In September, an original puppet used by Harry Corbett on TV in the 1950s sold for £14,500. |
| The 1997 Matthew Corbett puppet, which comes with magic wand, could fetch between £2,000-£3,000, said Hansons Auctioneers. | The 1997 Matthew Corbett puppet, which comes with magic wand, could fetch between £2,000-£3,000, said Hansons Auctioneers. |
| The Sooty-wand combo up for sale belongs to Rob Smith, 37, from Tewkesbury and his wife Suzie, 35 who are selling it to raise money for a new wheelchair for her. | The Sooty-wand combo up for sale belongs to Rob Smith, 37, from Tewkesbury and his wife Suzie, 35 who are selling it to raise money for a new wheelchair for her. |
| They bought it in 2011 as it was being sold to raise money for Whizz-Kidz, a charity close to their hearts which provides wheelchairs for disabled children. | They bought it in 2011 as it was being sold to raise money for Whizz-Kidz, a charity close to their hearts which provides wheelchairs for disabled children. |
| Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: "I hope I can make good use of Sooty's magic wand and deliver another strong result. | Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: "I hope I can make good use of Sooty's magic wand and deliver another strong result. |
| "The interest in this iconic children's character is huge," he added. | "The interest in this iconic children's character is huge," he added. |
| The auction will take place on 23 November. | The auction will take place on 23 November. |