Couple spend 40 years buying toast racks - and they've never used them

15 May 2023 , 11:23

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Judy with her collection of toast racks (Image: Swindon Advertiser / SWNS)

A couple who collected "impractical" toast racks for more than 40 years is putting them up for auction, as they've never been used because they "make the slices go cold".

Judy Smyth, 69, and husband Sam 73, started buying the breakfast accessories in 1981 but now need to get rid of them, and they are putting the large collection under the hammer.

Judy, of Stratton, Gloucestershire, said: "It was at the point when we moved into our first home that I wanted to customise the kitchen and I chose toast racks.

"I had seen a feature wall and I was open-minded. I came across really pretty toast rack and I thought that might work and as I looked around I found quite a few different ones."

The toast racks are now being sold as the couple look to downsize their home (Swindon Advertiser / SWNS)

To her surprise, Judy found that for each special occasion or milestone, loved ones would buy her toast racks.

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Judy said: "People started buying me them for Christmas and birthdays and on our 10th anniversary, Sam bought me 10 different toast racks.

"He had friends looking in different places to get them and after I opened the third one I thought 'what can this next one be?!'."

After more than 40 years of collecting and keeping the racks, Judy is finally ready to part ways with the treasured collection.

She said: "They were up on the wall for about 20 years, but I got fed up of dusting them so we took them down. We are wanting to downsize and we have made the decision that we want to sell the house and lots of things have to go.

"We will miss the memories for sure but we won't miss physically seeing them as you have to make the hard decision and get rid of stuff."

Ironically, Judy and Sam never actually used the racks themselves because they thought they weren't practical enough.

Judy continued: "They were rarely used, more for decoration. We are not going to keep any for day-to-day use. They are impractical as the toast always goes cold."

The pair have all 50 toast racks listed at £200 and are hoping for a good return.

Sam said: "The two Coalport ones were being sold for £30 each when we checked. Hopefully an eclectic hotel might want them."

Tim Hanlon