Tommy Cooper hats sold for double expected price

Two hats owned by comedy legend and magician Tommy Cooper have been sold at auction for twice their estimated value.

The fezzes, which were iconic features of Cooper's performances, were expected to sell for up to £400 at John Taylor's Auction Rooms in Louth earlier, but sold for £860.

Cooper gave them to Tim Dixon, then aged five, after performing at a children's Christmas party in Grimsby in 1955.

Mr Dixon said: "I am pleasantly surprised they went for twice the estimate, that was a real bonus. I am pleased they have gone to a good home."

Mr Dixon, now a retired businessman, remembered the night Cooper gave him the hats.

He said: "I was fascinated by the fez and just asked him straight out if I could have it.

"He took [the fez] off his head and handed it to me. I saw it was a bit sweaty after the performance and I pulled a bit of a face."

Noticing the look of disdain, Cooper went to his props and retrieved a fresh fez, before handing that over, too, added Mr Dixon.

Cooper was still establishing his career when he entertained a group of children in the canteen of the Peter Dixon Paper Mill in Grimsby.

The mill, one of the town's biggest employers, was run by Mr Dixon's father, Anthony.

He introduced his young son to Cooper, who then handed the boy the hats as a gift.

Auctioneer James Laverack said the provenance of the two hats was "rock solid", adding: "They're two wonderful pieces of memorabilia from a quite early stage in Tommy's career.

"He went into showbiz in 1947 after leaving the Army. In the early 1950s he was working mainly in variety theatres and the London nightspots.

"The television shows that would make him one of the most famous comics of the 20th Century were still some years ahead."

Within a few years of the Grimsby show in 1955, Cooper would go on to enjoy huge success.

His television shows were watched by millions who loved his comic timing, failed magic tricks and catchphrase "just like that".

Cooper died after suffering a heart attack during a live TV broadcast at Her Majesty's Theatre in London in April 1984. He was 63.

A fez, believed to be the last one owned by Cooper, sold at auction for £7,000 in Bedfordshire in March, more than twice its estimate.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.