Kirriemuir’s world record-breaking fairytale dream has come true.
Just a few weeks after the town’s Cancer Research Relay for Life played host to hundreds of Peter Pans, Guinness World Records has confirmed the Angus town has written its place in their famous book.
The attempt to gather together the greatest ever number of Peter Pans was dreamt up as the centrepiece of this year’s 10th anniversary relay, which is once again poised to raise a huge sum for Cancer Research UK.
Participating teams and other visitors responded magnificently to the clarion call for Peters and the final figure of 534 easily bettered the previous record of 289, set in Seffner, Florida on October 30 2015.
Each of the Peter Pans met the strict requirements of the record, including a costume which had to contain a green tunic and tights, peaked cap and sword.
They poured into the centre of the relay arena for the five-minute duration of the record attempt, with Kirrie Relay for Life chair Keith Hopkins dressed as Captain Hook to oversee proceedings.
The record attempt had received vital sponsorship support from the local community, and extra backing from Paul’s Hair Studio in the town allowed the bid to be fast-tracked as Guinness officials ran their eye over the mountain of photographic and video evidence provided by Relay officials.
Official certificates are to be posted in a few locations around town and there is also the possibility participants will be able to order one as a reminder of the day they became a record-breaker.
News of the record coming ‘home’ to Kirriemuir – the birthplace of Peter Pan creator J M Barrie – was an extra talking point for Saturday doors open day visitors to the volunteer-run camera obscura at Kirrie Hill, situated in the pavilion which the author himself gifted to the town in 1930.
