Happy National Mad Hatter Day

Today, 6th October, is National Mad Hatter Day.

A lot of hats in Luton

The occurrence reminded me of the time Emily and I helped break the Guinness World Record of 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' while we lived in Luton back in 2014.

The event was organised by the Museum Makers team and saw 797 people turn out for the record attempt and SMASH the previous record of 250 boater wearers.

A pair of mad hatters

Luton is famous for it's hat industry. As is our new home town of Stockport!

Both football clubs are known as The Hatters and both towns have hat musuems.

The similarities don't end there as both towns are also under flight paths. You could call Stockport 'The Luton of the North', or Luton 'The Stockport of the South'. Though I can't imagine anyone would.

In fact it was the growth of the hat trade in Luton that contributed to the decline of the hat industry in Stockport.

Video from the official Guinness World Record attempt for the 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' held at Wardown Park in Luton on Saturday 16th August 2014.

Lutonians break Guinness World Record!

Luton Museum Makers organise successful Guinness World Record Attempt!

Hooray we've done it!

The people of Luton turned out for an official Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' - and smashed the previous record of 250 people!

A sea of straw boaters in Luton's Wardown Park

A grand total of 797 people - mostly Lutonians, with a smattering of people travelling to the town for the event - stood in Wardown Park with straw boater hats firmly fixed on their heads for five minutes as the stewards and official adjudicator made the count.

Record breakers #166 & #167 - Richard & Emily Gottfried

Great planning and presentation of the event from the organising team of Luton's Museum Makers.

The 'Love Luton' branded Arriva bus went past Wardown Park just before the official count. I wonder what all the people driving along Old Bedford Road thought of the massed ranks of be-hatted people assembled in the park!

Luton has a long tradition of millinery and Wardown Park Musuem houses a collection related to hatmaking, with over 700 hats and materials from the trade.

It was a great event, with entertainment on-stage throughout by Joe Corrigan's Signature Swing Band. It's a brilliant record for the town to hold. Nice weather too.

Another feather in his straw boater, helping to set a Guinness World Record in Luton

Over the years Emily and I have been a part of some other Guinness World Record Attempts including Hopping, Brussels Sprouts eating, most people to ‘High Five’ simultaneously, the UK's longest Conga line and the Largest picnic ever in the UK.

The record for most straw boaters on the bonce of a Lutonian after the main-event was four

The Museum Makers are a new team consisting of members of the community who are dedicated to saving, cherishing, running and recreating Wardown Park Museum in Luton.

Links:
- Museum Makers website
- Museum Makers on Twitter
- Museum Makers on Facebook
- Guinness World Records
- Video: Luton's Straw Boater Guinness World Record Attempt 2014

Related blog posts:
- Luton Museum Makers Aiming To Break World Record
- Guinness World Records
- Luton

Luton Museum Makers Aiming To Break World Record

Luton Museum Makers targeting a Guinness World Record for the "Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats"!

On Saturday 16th of August 2014 Museum Makers and Wardown Park Museum in Luton will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats".

The current world record is 250 people, but the team behind the attempt are aiming to get 2,000 people involved!

Luton has a long tradition of millinery and Wardown Park Musuem houses a collection related to hatmaking, with over 700 hats and materials from the trade.

For more information and to register as a participant visit the Museum Makers website.

The Guinness World Record Attempt will take place at 11.30am on Saturday 16th of August.

If you don't own your own straw boater there will be some available on the day.

The event sounds fun and a little less extreme than some of the other Guinness World Record Attempts I've undertaken, such as Hopping and Brussels Sprouts eating. I've also taken part in record attempts for the most people to ‘High Five’ simultaneously, the UK's longest Conga line and the Largest picnic ever in the UK.

The Museum Makers are a new team, consisting of members of the community, who are dedicated to saving, cherishing, running and recreating Wardown Park Museum in Luton.

Links:
- Museum Makers website
- Museum Makers on Twitter
- Museum Makers on Facebook
- Guinness World Record related blog posts