Wonderful shop had everything a man needed
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THERE must be hundreds of people in and around the county who have a memento tucked away in a tallboy or wardrobe of a much missed gents’ outfitter.
And The Famous was most certainly an outfitter, not a mere clothes shop.
Occupying the same premises in Cheltenham’s High Street for 186 years until it bade us a fond farewell in October 2012, The Famous could always be relied upon as the place to find a present for the man who had everything.
Since it stopped trading I couldn’t tell you where to find men’s sock suspenders, a pair of adjustable braces for trousers, or indeed a snake belt with Liquorice Allsorts patterned elastic.
All these things I bought with a sigh of relief for this or that relative or friend come this or that Christmas when I couldn’t think of anything else.
My parents bought me a Gloverall duffle coat from The Famous, navy blue with a tartan lining, when I was about 12.
As was their way they made sure it was plenty big enough so that I’d have room to grow into it.
I still have that coat. It’s in the attic of my house on a hanger.
Occasionally, for old time’s sake, I pull it out and try it on. And I’m still waiting to grow into it.
My Cub uniform came from the famous, as did my school blazer.
Oh yes, and in the drawer where I keep such knick-knacks I have a tie pin, a pair of stretchy metal armbands and two cravats, both paisley, given to me a presents that were purchased over the glass topped counter of that splendid store, presumably from the Sundries department.
The tie pin, armbands and cravats are as new by the way. I’ve never worn them.
The tie pin has remained in its box because it has an enamel fox in full flight on the front and I’m not really the huntin,’ shootin’ and fishin’ type.
The armbands I did try once, but being a tad tight they cut off the circulation and made my fingers go blue.
And I’ve never necked either of the matching cravats because the occasion has never arisen.
I doubt it ever will, unless I go to a fancy dress party as Nicholas Parsons who incidentally lived in Gloucestershire for many years at Windrush, so could well have been one of the Famous’s famous customers.
Favourite among my Famous memorabilia is the centenary year book produced in 1986 when the shop notched up 100 years of keeping men in Cheltenham and it environs in tweeds and sensible shoes.
It tells us that Ernest Zebedee was taken on by the business as an apprentice in 1896 and the conditions of his indentures forbade him from marrying, playing cards or dice, visiting taverns, or playhouses during his apprenticeship.
Mr Zebedee went on to work in the shop for more than 50 years.
From memory it seems that all the Famous’s gentlemen assistants worked there for over 50 years.
No surprise really. Who wouldn’t be pleased to pass their working days surrounded by polished hardwood fixtures and fittings, bevel edged mirrors and the vacuum whizzer system?
The latter fascinated me as a child. Actually, it fascinated me as an adult too.
When you bought a Double-2 shirt, a pair of Wolsey socks, or whatever it was at The Famous, the assistant put your cash in a brass cylinder, which was then introduced to what looked like a small bore drainpipe.
This done, a sucking noise like that of a person with a good appetite eating blancmange, was heard and the brass cylinder whizzed off to the Finance Department on the top floor.
Shortly after, a soft whooshing, like the sound of a light wind kissing quaking grass, heralded the return of the brass cylinder with your change.
What a wonderful shop it was.