July 12th 2024.
Gary, a 60-year-old man from Bristol, has a rather unusual hobby - collecting crisp packets. His wife finds it amusing and often teases him, calling him a "nutter." But for Gary, his collection holds a special meaning.
It all started twelve years ago when his partner, Joanne, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. Gary wanted to do something to distract himself from the difficult situation and found solace in collecting crisp packets. He has amassed a staggering 24,000 packets over the years, with his favorite flavor being the classic Walker's ready salted.
Even after Joanne passed away, Gary continued with his collection. But now, as his youngest child, Alisha, is graduating from school, he has decided to bring his hobby to a halt. "I think not collecting them is really going to get to me," he admits. "It's become a habit, and I might find myself automatically saving the packets."
Gary, who works at the University of Hull, has become quite famous for his collection. His friends and colleagues often save their packets to give to him. He even admits to picking up a stray packet if he sees one lying on the ground. "I once got stopped by a litter warden who thought I had dropped it," he chuckles. "But I had to explain that I was collecting them, and thankfully, the CCTV footage proved my innocence."
With Alisha also catching on to her dad's hobby, the message has definitely gotten across. "She takes a packet of crisps to school and brings it back home, but sometimes she comes back with a few more that her friends have given her," Gary shares proudly.
His impressive collection, which grows by an average of 279 packets per month, is stored in plastic containers after they have been grilled and rolled up. Gary has hopes of turning his hoard into something more meaningful - a water feature for a cancer charity. "I can't even lift the boxes now, they're that heavy. But I want to do something with them, like putting them in a fountain. The colors would make it look really beautiful," he explains.
Despite his wife's teasing and the physical challenges of managing such a large collection, Gary is determined to make something positive out of his hobby. And as Metro's latest news update, we can't wait to see what creative project he comes up with next! Don't forget to follow us on Whatsapp for more interesting stories.
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