I WAS first told about Susan the button extraordinaire when my boyfriend did a stint working at the Southampton Echo.

Having never expressed any opinion whatsoever on buttons, he now seemed to be full of them.

“I really don’t think you can ever have too many,” he said over breakfast.

Pardon?

“Well, you know they’re like... useful and attractive.”

He stared at my outfit.

“A nice art deco button could really spruce up that dress,” he added helpfully.

Before I started to worry, Joe explained that the week before he had been to visit Susan Symes, member of the Solent Button Club and owner of over 10,000 buttons.

Intrigued to find out more, I made a quick phone call to Susan and she kindly agreed to take me on a tour through her world of buttons.

Arriving at her house in Lymington, I was quickly ushered in by husband John – “Hello love, we’ve been expecting you” – and given a warm welcome by Susan: “Come in, come in!”

Taken through to the back room I was greeted by hundreds of buttons, all displayed neatly on boards, with information about where they were from and so forth.

Instantly falling in love with the 1930s snakeskin range, I stared in amazement at the others, gasping when Susan pointed out one that was 400 years old.

“But it’s tiny!”

“People were in those days dear.”

Susan’s gorgeous collection, which ranges from Japanese Pearl to 1970s Beatrix Potter, covers the entire room, all on placards describing their wonderful history.

She is so warm and welcoming, and is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about buttons, that you genuinely want to hear more.

I’d pick up a button, and she’d say: “That one! Well... let me tell you about that one...” and start reeling off its history, who it would have belonged to, what occupation that person would have had, when and where they would have worn it, and on what garment.

It’s interesting to learn that originally buttons were worn as decoration and had no practical use.

In fact, in the very early days it was men and not women that wore them, often as a display of wealth and power.

Women would have made them by candlelight hundreds of years ago, with very limited tools at their disposal.

I’m drawn to a large brass button that opens like a locket, revealing a picture of a smiling First World War soldier inside.

I learn that soldiers often gave them to their sweethearts before going off to battle.

I ask if her husband shares her hobby.

“Ha!” he roars from the kitchen, “you must be joking!”

Clearly not.

She shrugs when I ask her the value of her buttons, saying that that side of things doesn’t interest her, going on to explain that it doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby.

She avoids going to the British Button Society in London, for fear of being tempted by dealers: “I have to resist! Otherwise I’d spend a fortune!”

Susan does endless work to support the charity Gift of Sight, often giving talks at Women’s Institutes and homes for the elderly.

She has raised over £1,600 in the last two years alone.

Tour finished and about to leave, I ask exactly how many buttons Susan has.

“Well,” she replies, “years ago I was doing an exhibition and a little girl asked me the same question.

“I admitted I didn’t know so she started to count them.

“A few hours later she came back, put her hands on her hips and said, ‘I have got to 2,000 buttons and I am giving up!’”

  • This year will be the Solent Button Club’s 25th anniversary.

They are now 12 members strong and welcome anybody that would like to join.

If you are interested in joining or going to one of Susan’s open days in September, contact her on 01590 675066.