A Ghostbusters superfan with a colossal collection of memorabilia worth £100,000 has become a world record holder.
Darren McQuade has loved Ghostbusters since childhood and started collecting the toys when he was a kid.
Now 41, he has amassed 2,012 items connected to the franchise and now holds the Guinness World Record, previously held by Robert O’Connor, who had 1,221 pieces when counted in 2020.
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Darren’s hoard is made up of figurines, toys, costumes and one-of-a-kinds – he even has a ‘Five Alive’ drinks carton that was used as a promotion for the release of Ghostbusters 2 in 1989.
One of his rarest pieces is a Ghostbusters 2 Christmas cracker box, he knows of no other collector who owns one.
Darren, from South Ockendon, Essex, UK, says his collection started with the original four Ghostbuster figures from US company Kenner.
“I had all the toys when I was younger, starting at about age three. I grew up watching The Real Ghostbusters cartoon show and it has always stuck with me,” Darren told What’s The Jam.
“Other interests came along like WWF or Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, but they never lasted and I’d always go back to Ghostbusters.
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“My first bits of memorabilia were the original four Kenner figures, plus Slimer, which was called Green Ghost on the packaging, and Stay Puft.
“Unfortunately the only one of my childhood toys I still have is the Stay Puft figure. All the others have been replaced over time with mint-of-card versions.
“My original Stay Puft is well played with and worn, but I treasure it more than the rarer figures.”
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Darren encountered one of his most exciting experiences as a collector last year.
He said: “When I was a kid I had a Real Ghostbusters stunt kite, but it blew away. I’d been searching for one for years.
“Then one came up on eBay as a Buy it Now. I’ve never clicked that button so quickly. I didn’t want to miss out on that.”
He works as a professional magician and has even incorporated his spooky love into his act – called the Magic Ghostbuster. And he got to feature as an extra in the latest movie, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which was released in March.
Darren loves the sense of community he has with other superfans and regularly attends events with the Southend-on-Sea Ghostbusters. He also recently spent time in New York to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original movie, released on 8 June 1984.
He said: “The best thing about being a collector and a member of the Ghostbusters community is the people I have met, I couldn’t ask for a better group of friends.
“I have just been in New York for the 40th Anniversary, again meeting loads of amazing people.”
He added: “My girlfriend Anna is very supportive, too, and encourages my collection.”
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