Pupils attempt world record for longest washing line of socks

Jul 11 2008 By Tony Collins

IF you’ve ever wondered where all those odd socks end up, then look no further than the contents of a record-breaking washing line at a school in Birmingham.

Pupils at King Edward’s School, in Edgbaston, set themselves the daunting task of getting into the Guinness Book of Records.

But instead of growing the longest fingernails, or cramming the most number of people into a Mini Cooper, the Year 8 class from King Edward’s chose to break the world record for the longest washing line of socks.

The record was held by a team led by Wolfgang Zwerger from Germany at 1.3 kilometres.

But months of preparation and sock gathering by the team of 13 year old boys has now set a new world best of 1.5 km after all 28,400 odd socks were hung up.

It is hoped the event will raise more than £1,000 for the school’s charitable fund, known as the Cot Fund, which supports local, national and international charities, selected by King Edward’s boys on a term by term basis.

King Edward’s School’s head of biology, Duncan Witcombe, said: “The bulk came from a sock manufacturer in Manchester, who let us go through their warehouse and pick up all the odd socks.”

The socks will eventually be sorted and passed on to charities while the pegs will be sold to raise even more funds.