Story Donated By Frankie McGregor
@ St Gemmas Retro Fair

This hat came to me by chance. I run a vintage shop in Leeds, Lily De La Mers Vintage, but I had never really considered selling mens clothes until a guy called Joe came in with a suitcase full. The clothes were in such good condition and so interesting that I couldn’t resist! I’ve since learned that the hat is from around the 1920’s and would probably have been worn by a drayman delivering beer from a wagon. I’ve also been told that the hat is in mint condition and looks like its spent its whole life in a box. The label on the rim says it was made in Halifax (West Yorkshire).

I love the quality and style. Unlike most of my vintage things I feel it has virtually no history. Its almost like nipping into the 1920s for a brand new hat!
Frankie McGregor

Story Donated By Boff Whalley

I got this fantastic safari suit from a Charity shop in Armley about fifteen years ago. I thought it would be perfect for that Morecambe & Wise ‘Riviera Touch’ look. I love it so much.

Unfortunately I have never found the perfect event at which to wear the suit. It sits in my clothes pile and waits to be worn. Sometimes I get it out and put it on, then decide it isn’t the right moment. One day I’ll wear it in public and people will say, “Hey, you’ve got The Riviera Touch”.
Boff Whalley

Story Donated By Lee Goater

Age Concern
Shipley
August 07

My good lady bagged us these beauties. They were like new. I used to wear trainers like these at school but in a slightly more RUN DMC style, this time I opted for the Michael’s J Fox look. I think that was on trend for this season anyway. They are serving me well and defo improve my moon walk. And I didn’t even get a veruca.
Lee Goater

Story donated by Pete Z / DJ Booth

I bought these DMs in Armley in the late 1990’s. I think it was in the British Heart foundation in about 1997. I needed a new pair of boots to do shows in and up until that point I had always bought handmade boots from “made to last” in Woodhouse. Its quite odd to find a pair of size 12’s in a charity shop and they fitted a treat and I needed some boots that didn’t look ‘hippy’ and a bit more mainstream.

With these boots and a fake leather jacket from a charity shop in Morley I created DJ Booth for Cabaret Heaven. For the first few cabaret’s nearly all of the playlist came from vinyl bought in charity shops across Leeds, but eventually I switched to my first mixer and cd players.

DJ Booth at that time always wore the jacket and boots and jeans and a big bunch of keys from my top desk drawer that holds lots of useless things, including keys that we don’t know what they are for anymore.

PeteZ