Where's Wally? record bid falls short
IT was so near, yet so far, as a second attempt by Great Yarmouth to set a world record for the largest Where's Wally? gathering fell short by just 123 people.
IT was so near, yet so far, as a second attempt by Great Yarmouth to set a world record for the largest Where's Wally? gathering fell short by just 123 people.
A total of 930 Wallys crammed into the Market Place on Bank Holiday Monday sporting the book characters' red and white striped t-shirt, bobble hat and black spectacles.
Having counted and recounted the number of people taking part, town centre manager Jonathan Newman reluctantly admitted defeat.
He said: “We needed 1,053 to beat the existing record held by America but despite a great turnout we have only 930 registrations to count. Apart from not actually achieving the record, everything else went really well and it was all down to the invaluable assistance given by so many individuals and businesses.”
The climax of the attempt at setting a new Guinness World Record attempt took place soon after 1pm as everyone arrived in their Wally outfits, dancing and waving to photographers perched on rooftops and window ledges while the registration forms were counted.
Although unsuccessful in setting a new world record nearly �1,000 was raised for charity and the event provided spectacular viewing, drawing crowds of onlookers into the town centre.
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The event was organised by the Town Centre Partnership with the help of the staff of town centre businesses including Boots, Books Inside, Palmers and Market Gates Shopping Centre.
The town's previous record attempt took place last October - the current record of 1,052 people was achieved by Rutgers University at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey USA on April 2, 2009.
