Largest collection of Santa Claus memorabilia-world
record set by Jean Guy Laquerre
BOUCHERVILLE, Canada -- Retired geography teacher Jean-Guy Laquerre
, 73, owns more than 20,000 Santa Claus
illustrations and figurines-setting the world record for the Largest collection of Santa Claus memorabilia
.
Photo: Father Christmases peer out from
behind curtains, from table tops, window ledges, cupboards
and every other available surface at his home in Boucherville,
Canada. "I just can't get enough Santas," says Jean-Guy, who
has carved several wooden likenesses of Santas himself./Polaris
( enlarge
photo
)
Jean-Guy - a dead ringer for Dad's Army
star Arthur Lowe - says: "Every year the basement of my home
becomes a Santa Claus kingdom.
"I started with just a few objects in 1988 but
now it takes me two weeks to put them all out on display for
Christmas.
Jean-Guy started collecting when he discovered
a papier mache Santa in the home of an aunt who had died.
"That beautiful piece is my favourite to this day," he says.
"It's time well spent as I love everything about
Christmas and everything that Santa stands for."
Outside Jean-Guy's twostorey house
his inflatable Santa attracts a lot of attention. Cars hoot
as they come past," he says. "People can come into my home
to see all the figurines on display."
But he still admits that his greatest
treasure is his wife of 45 years. "Lise is not a collector
- she just collects the bills for all my Santas," he admits.
But he's very popular with his grandchildren, Alexandre, 16,
and Audrey, nine. "They love it and bring their friends around
to see me."
Jean-Guy Laquerre
: "Father Christmas offers
many dreams. Without dreams a child will become an adult without
goals and hope."
"I truly believe that the world would be
a better place if we made more time for the magic of Christmas."
Related world records:
Largest
Gathering Of Santa Clauses-world record set by Porto
Largest
private collection of movie cameras-world record set by Dimitris
Pistiolas
Largest
collection of handmade aeroplanes-world record set by John
Kalusa
Largest
collection of ladybug-related items -world record set by Sheri
Gartner
Largest
miniature railroad-world record set by Miniatur Wunderland
Most
birthday cards received-world record set by Sean Barnea
Largest
collection of elephants
Sunday,
December 21, 2008
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