As you walk in, the strains of The King, Elvis Presley, can be heard and you are greeted by Alex Tebbutt, one of the biggest Elvis fans you will ever meet.
Many people know Lambton resident Alex for his mixed martial arts academy but there are many sides to the 70-year-old man, one being his great love for The King.
“I have been an Elvis fan since 1956 when the song Jailhouse Rock came out,” said Alex.
“I was seven years old and on the weekends you could walk down any street in our neighbourhood and you would hear it.
“My brother, John, was a big ducktail and he helped inspire my love for Elvis as I grew up with his music.”
Alex’s love for Elvis turned into a collection in the 1960s when he started collecting memorabilia.
“I started collecting small things which I picked up from different people here and there,” said Alex.
“My main collection started in the 1970s when I married Annette, who is also an Elvis fan.”
He houses all his Elvis memorabilia in his museum which he has named Little Graceland.
“I collect anything and everything to do with Elvis.
“I don’t know how many pieces I have in my collection, there are too many to count, but I think I might have the biggest Elvis memorabilia collection in South Africa,” he said.
Alex has all sorts of items, from an Elvis suit, records, movies and clocks to a telephone, ornaments, mugs, rings, coins, buckles and photographs, in his collection.
His children, Sakkie, Jimmy, Susan Scott and Elize Douglas are also all Elvis fans.
ALSO READ:
Tebbutt’s students start their year on a high
Tebbutt’s makes history
“Sakkie even looks like Elvis,” Alex said.
“As a big fan, he will inherit the collection one day.”
The collection is worth more than R1-million.
Alex acquires most of his memorabilia in America.
“When I travel to America for kickboxing tournaments I always come home with a suitcase full of authentic Elvis memorabilia,” he said.
“I also visit pawn shops in South Africa as often you can find bargains at them.
“If I see something related to Elvis I will take it.”
Alex has had the privilege of visiting Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, with his daughter, Elize, many years ago, but he would love to return with his wife.
“I think we need to go for about two weeks so we can also go to Mississippi, where Elvis was born,” said Alex.
Alex is very particular about people touching his collection and once a month he will personally clean each piece in the museum.
Apart from Elvis, he also enjoys collecting James Dean, Buddy Holly and Marilyn Monroe’s memorabilia but said these items are difficult to find.
Often on a Friday when he wants to relax, he will come and sit in the museum, put on a DVD or CD and enjoy the space.
Another way Elvis inspired Alex was with the guitar.
“I learnt to play after I saw Elvis playing,” Alex said.
“I can play the guitar and the concertina and in my younger days was part of a boereorkes.
“My son-in-law William Douglas and I still like to get out the guitars some evenings and play while we are having a braai.
“It’s a wonderful way to relax.”
Alex is always looking for more Elvis memorabilia and he often collects items from people who do not want them anymore.
If you want to donate memorabilia to his museum, you can call him on 072 437 7845.
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za
Also follow us on:
