Record bus collection is Geoff and Linda Price's driving force
GEOFF and Linda Price have 10,922 reasons to stay together as a world in miniature dominates their lives.
Collecting has become a magnificent obsession for Geoff, who is celebrating half a century amassing a superb array of model buses and trams.
A neverending journey of discovery for the couple has seen them travel to all corners of the globe to add to their ever-growing collection, which has forced them to move house three times to accommodate the models.
The world record model bus collection of Geoff is recognised in the 2009 Guinness Book of Records, being released today.
This year marks 50 years of collecting for Geoff and researchers from the famous annual contacted him ealier this year to issue him with a new “world record” certificate.
Geoff, aged 57, is listed in the book for the sixth successive year.
Geoff and his wife Linda, aged 53, from Walsall, have continued to add to their collection, worth at least £500,000, by making trips to Sri Lanka, America, Turkey, Belgium, Holland, France and Thailand.
The first model in the collection was a Dinky Half Cab Coach, bought for Geoff as a birthday present by his parents in 1958.
Now the collection stands at 10,922, all different models, dating back to 1905 and from all parts of the world.
The models include items made of wood, ceramic, card, metal, glass, silver and coal, and range in size from an eighth of an inch to 10ft working models.
Amongst the unusual items are cookie jars, squeezy models, teapots, silver charms, clocks, plant pots, dog toys and anything in the shape of a bus.
Geoff married Linda in 1973 when he had only 423 models.
Earlier this year they had a new model room built onto their current home – and they have pledged never to divorce as that would mean splitting up Geoff’s pride and joy and causing double heartbreak.
After 50 amazing years still more models are being searched for, including old wooden buses and promotional models used for advertising.
