HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER Article (19/04/2011)

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Lindley’s Liz West becomes a record breaker for her Spice Girls memorabilia exhibition


SHE is the world’s biggest Spice Girls fan – and now she’s a record breaker too. Liz West, of Lindley, is currently exhibiting more than 2,000 pieces of memorabilia devoted to the girl group. And the exhibition at Leeds City Museum has earned her a place in the record books.

The collection of memorabilia and merchandise was officially counted last weekend in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record. The 2,066 items was comfortably higher than the previous best of approximately 1,000 making it officially the biggest number of Spice Girls items in a collection together anywhere in the world. Liz said: “It’s all been very exciting, I applied to have Guinness come in and see if it’s the biggest collection. “We spent a month counting everything and making check lists to make it easier for them as they went round, but it took them half a day to go through everything. “The exhibition has been going really, really well, it’s beyond expectations. “It is fantastic to break the record and I am pleased we did it at Leeds City Museum as part of the exhibition. “Everything went really well and a special thank you to all the Leeds Metropolitan University students and volunteers who took time out of their weekend to help.”

With only items related to the group able to qualify for the count, it meant the items on display from the group’s solo careers were not able to be considered. And her collection has proven to be a massive hit – so far more than 25,000 people have visited the exhibition at the museum off Millennium Square. Liz added: “Mel B keeps teasing us saying on her website she’s going to come and I really hope she does, I know her mum came along to see it." Liz’s exhibition includes a range of outfits worn by Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm, who quickly became known by the nicknames Posh, Baby, Ginger, Scary and Sporty. There are also accessories, platinum discs, books, magazines and dolls sourced from all over the world. Leeds City Museum curator of exhibitions Helen Langwick said: “We are delighted that Leeds City Museum has played its part in breaking a Guinness World Record. The exhibition has gone really well so far and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to it in the coming weeks.”

The exhibition runs until July 3 and admission is free. In the summer of 2012 it will go to the Tower Museum in Londonderry. Liz added: “If any museum wants to fill in the gap they’re welcome to contact me, it’d be great if it went to the Tolson Museum, but we can take it anywhere.”