Two iconic fez hats, once belonging to comedy legend Tommy Cooper, are set to be auctioned off. These cherished pieces of memorabilia were gifted to a young Tim Dixon, then only five years old, at a children’s Christmas party in Grimsby back in 1955. Cooper had been performing at the festive bash hosted at the Peter Dixon Paper Mill, one of the town’s largest employers, run by Mr Dixon’s father. Cooper, who was still in the early stages of his career, handed the young boy the first fez. Upon seeing the boy’s reaction to the slightly sweaty hat, the comedian promptly offered him a second, fresh one. Mr Dixon, now a retired businessman, is putting these hats, synonymous with Cooper’s chaotic comedy routines and magic tricks, up for auction at John Taylor’s Auction Rooms in Louth. The auction, slated for Tuesday, estimates a pre-sale value of £200 – £400. The fez hats are not just items of clothing, but pieces of comedy history from a man whose television shows, unique comic timing, and memorable catchphrase ‘just like that’ brought joy to millions. Cooper’s last fez was auctioned off in Bedfordshire in March for £7,000, smashing its estimate.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
