Sheila uses knickers with a twist in town's Diamond Jubilee bunting of bloomers
SHEILA is showing her off her knickers again — and this time it's in honour of Her Majesty.
Retired royal dressmaker Sheila Thomas, of Dawlish, has made sure the town is decorated with the very best bunting.
And if you look up, you'll see that the customary colourful triangular flags are interspersed with ladies' undies in patriotic hues of red, white and blue.
Sheila, 70, has created five-miles of bunting, all of which has been put up around Dawlish's main streets in readiness for the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations this weekend.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
It is an event she is excited about, given her connections to the royal family as a couturier for a designer who dressed the Queen.
Aged 15, Sheila went to work for fashion designer Norman Hartnell who carried out many royal commissions including the Coronation dress of Queen Elizabeth.
As a young apprentice Sheila caught a glimpse of the Queen, pregnant with Prince Andrew, when she attended a fashion show to choose a gown for a royal tour to Canada.
Sheila recalled: "She arrived with Charles and Anne — small children at the time — and a lady-in-waiting. I was behind the curtain and when it was pulled back, I made sure I took a really good look at her.
"She was wearing this beautiful velvet green coat. She looked amazing. Princess Anne and Prince Charles were on the carpet, fighting. I went straight back and told the other apprentices what I had seen. They were so jealous."
Sheila, who owned and ran upmarket King Street gown shop 'Wouldn't It Be Lovely' until its closure in 2006, has spent six months working on the special celebratory decorations.
And her bunting of bloomers has bedecked the streets before — for the town's annual carnival. She said: "I started making this bunting in November. It was just something I felt like doing."
Comments