It’s a Bank ‘Wally-Day!
in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care and the Have a Heart appeal
The Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership has declared May 31st 2010 as Bank ‘Wallyday’ Monday as they set about organising another attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as the Where’s Wally book character in one place.
The official record attempt was launched on 14th April in Great Yarmouth Market Place with the restoration of a 55ft tall banner of Wally, or Waldo as he is also known.
Volunteers assisted in re-painting the giant print of Wally that was originally completed by children from St. Nicholas Priory Junior School last year. The banner had been placed on the roof of Market Gates shopping centre in an effort to be caught on the Google Earth satellite, but the paint has since faded.
The giant image of Wally created a bit of a stir by covering a large section of Great Yarmouth Market Place whilst being painted. The intention is to suspend 15m x 5m banner from one of the buildings surrounding the Market Place on Monday 31st May..
Following a turnout of 901 ‘Wally’s’ for the first attempt last October, Town centre manager Jonathan Newman is convinced that Great Yarmouth has an appetite for a second attempt, “Everyone had such a great time when we tried this before I am certain that many of those people who already have a Wally costume will want to give it another go” And in preparation for the day Mr. Newman has ordered another 1,000 red and white striped t-shirts and bobble hats to supply to potential Wally’s who haven’t already got a costume.
However there is an element of caution being used as having sold 1,200 costumes in the run up to the previous record attempt only 900 of those actually turned up on the day. This time around the costumes can be pre-ordered at £6 each, however they will not be available to collect until the morning that the World Record attempt takes place at 1pm on Monday 31st May in Great Yarmouth Market Place.
Anyone wishing to take part will need to register either on-line at www.gytcp.co.uk/wally or at Books Inside and Boots in Market Gates Shopping Centre and Palmers Department Store in the Market Place.
Registering will cost £1 per person which is being equally split between two charities; Macmillan Cancer Care and the Have a Heart appeal which gives money to local children’s charities. Where’s Wally costumes can also be ordered from each of the shops listed.
Largest gathering of people dressed as Wally/Waldo is 1,052 people and was achieved by Rutgers University (USA) at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, on 2 April 2009.
The attempt is being supported by local radio station Heart 102.4FM who will be providing regular updates on the sales of Where’s Wally outfits. The station’s promotional team – the Heart Angels – will also be helping with the count on the day.
Jonathan Newman, Town Centre Manager,
Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership,
Unit 5 Wilkinson’s Yard, Market Gates,
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2AX
Telephone 01493 745828 [email protected]
WVB-Cantors Theatre School
