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Football fans have long asked the question, “Who ate all the pies?” of any opposition player of generous proportions and now they may have their answer - J. Sam Gresham of Teddington, London. That’s because Gresham, who passed away aged 84 in 2023, had one of the world’s biggest collections of pie funnels. The late collector amassed a hoard of some 500 novelty pie funnels, a Victorian kitchen utensil dating back to the 1860s, which are set for auction on Friday (20September2024). Placed in a pie’s pastry topping to create a hole, pie funnels, or pie birds, release steam to stop pies from bubbling over, helping to ensure a crispy crust. For Gresham, they became something of an obsession. Over 30 years he amassed and sold hundreds, travelled to Pie Bird conventions in America and became such an aficionado he even authored a book, British Pie Funnels. Sadly, Mr Gresham, a former Shell engineer born in Hazel Grove, Cheshire, passed away last year.. Now his family are looking for a new home for their father’s museum-worthy collection. It includes rarities dating back to 1880 - plus more modern designs. The first UK patent for a pie funnel was in 1862. The funnels plus related books and journals and will go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ Derbyshire saleroom on Friday, September 20. Some 14 multiple lots, range from as little as £5 to £50-£70. His son, Sam Gresham, Jnr., 49, a communications manager from Teddington, London, said: “Dad was from the generation that collected things - originally stamps and then matchbox labels. He got very specialised focusing on Japanese labels in the inter-war years. “According to my brother, Toby, it all started when dad bought him a Toby jug. This led to him building Toby a Royal Dalton character jug collection. Apparently, dad was more excited about collecting them than Toby. It was during their trips to antique shops in London’s Portobello Road in 1992 that dad chanced upon a pie funnel. His collection started to build, as did his curiosity. The giant pie funnel collection was the net result.  “Pre-Ebay dad made a killing from them, flying over to the US with a suitcase full of them to sell at conventions. He used to make enough money to fund his entire trip and buy a new set of golf clubs, golf being his other passion. “He also enrolled in a ceramic restoration class at college so he could restore and sell the funnels. He really just needed access to their kiln! I suppose he was a bit of a Lovejoy character. He sometimes made hundreds of pounds on funnels he’d bought for a couple of quid. Money raised went back into expanding his collection or buying golf clubs. “When eBay came along it took the bottom out of the market but he was still able to spot a bargain and mastered sniper software which placed auto bids on items seconds before bidding closed. This ensured he got the best deal. He also spent many a happy hour at the Public Records Office in Kew researching patents for his pie funnel book. “Though rarely used nowadays, celebrity chef Paul Hollywood launched his own pie funnel, as did Le Creuset and many pottery manufacturers. They’re all in dad’s collection. Pies are still hugely popular. In fact a British chef known as the Pie King, Calum Franklin, opened a Brasserie called Public House in Paris this year offering pie perfection to the French.” Where: Teddington, London, United Kingdom When: 16 Sep 2024 Credit: Hansons/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED SUPPLIER.**