KEEP ON SUCKIN’
BY SAMANTHA YULE A WOMAN who bought a Hoover as a newlywed in 1965 has been using it ever since for 53 years – long after her marriage ended.
Val Marks, 70, paid £20 for the second hand 1962 Junior 1334A model.
It even has its own vacuum cover called Rosie, owned by her late mum.
Val said: “It wasn’t happily ever after for me and my husband but the Hoover has stood by me, no matter what.”
She parted with her husband in 1975 and does not hold with today’s throwaway culture and will not buy anything new if she has one that already works.
“Things were built to last back then,” said the retired administration worker.
She added: “A lot of my appliances DUCK FOR COVER The fun dress handed down by mum have lasted a long while. I don’t buy anything new unless I have to. I’d much rather save my money for holidays.”
Val, who has no children, bought the reconditioned Hoover “on tick” from Wigfalls electrical store on Rotherham high street in Yorkshire.
“You couldn’t afford to pay for things like that in full then,” she said. “You had to pay in instalments”.
The Hoover has never broken and just needs a bag change now and then.
Val, who has visited Gambia 24 times in 10 years to make charity runs with clothing and spectacles, has moved home three times with her Hoover.
She added: “It’s a shame because when I go somebody will just throw this away when it works perfectly well.
“Hopefully a museum will take it.”