Bill Savage's Jumble Facts #2

Bill has been running loose amongst the jumble donations and has unearthed some incredible fashion history* to share here for your delectation.

This fine piece of fuschia headgear was donated to the Big Bum Jumble by a retired MI5 agent. While the hat looks exactly like the kind of thing a teary-eyed mother would wear to an offspring’s wedding, it is in fact an incredibly advanced piece of spyware, and has, over the course of the last decade, averted several national security disasters. The hat’s genius lies in the netting which acts to disguise the true identity of the wearer, much like Clark Kent’s geeky specs. It also functions as a radio-wave scanner that intercepts enemy communications on almost any frequency. The elastic chin strap doubles as a garotte for use in emergencies while the head band is lead-lined to prevent penetration of x-rays. The flower decoration houses an advanced GPS system and homing device which can be activated should the wearer be stranded in hostile territory.

The hat has been fully decommissioned and would fit pretty much any sized head.

By Bill Savage

* Some of these facts might need to be corroborated.

Bill Savage's Jumble Facts #1

We let Bill run loose amongst the jumble donations to unearth some incredible fashion history* to share here for your delectation.

#1: The Dress

If you’re lucky enough to snap up this dress at the Big Bum Jumble not only will you be the proud owner of a lovely summer frock, but you’ll be taking home a real piece of South Devon history. This dress has a provenance steeped in the glamorous worlds of provincial theatre and cutthroat retail. It originates from the legendary Rossiters department store - for over a century a leading light of Paignton’s fashion scene. However, in the recent economic down-turn Rossiters’ fortunes waned and the store was threatened with closure. In a last ditch attempt to save it, staff rallied round and wrote Gussets and Gabardine: The Rossiters Story, a musical based on life in the store’s womenswear department, complete with props and costumes sourced from the store. The dress you see here was worn by the womenswear manager Jean during a scene set in the mid-80s in which the staff are preparing for a visit from Princess Margaret. Gussets and Gabardine played for four consecutive nights at the Prince’s Theatre Torquay in 2008 before poor ticket sales forced it to close. Rossiters department store has since shut down.

Jean’s dress is a size 18. No certificate of authentication is provided.

By Bill Savage

* Which may or may not be completely fabricated, heehee.

Jumble treats: true tales of the Big Bum Jumble

This classic episode of children's television heaven programme Rainbow is an exact rendition of the behind-the-scenes work going on here at Big Bum Jumble HQ. Got ten minutes to spare? Watch and learn.

Rainbow - 'Jumble Sale'

Thanks to BBJ supporter Simon Murphy for digging up the clip.