There were celebrations in Twyford on Tuesday evening after see saw couple Richard March and Michael Jones finally beat the world non-stop see-saw record – originally set in the village 50 years ago.
Richard, 38 and from Sandhurst and Michael, 36 and from Ruscombe, climbed off the giant see-saw having bounced continuously up and down for 80 hours, 10 minutes and 6 seconds, beating the existing record by just over 10 minutes.
In the process they bounced up and down 78, 871 times, beating the 1969 record of 57,810 bounces.
Large crowds were present on both Tuesday and when the successful attempt started at 11am on Saturday, April 13. A constant stream of local residents visited the former Polehampton Boys’ School, where the giant see saw was located during the challenge, even paying £5 to have a go themselves.
Back in 1969, the then Twyford Youth Club members David Turner and David Sutch set the previous world record for the length of time spent going up and down on a see saw without a moment’s break. The two Davids gained a place in the Guinness Book of Records for their efforts.
And David Turner masterminded this latest record-breaking success in order to raise money for a newly established charity named Twyford Community Hub, which plans to turn the former Polehampton school into a library and a central venue for local organisations.
As family and friends congratulated the pair after they had beaten the record Richard, a project manager, said: “It was not as bad as I thought although I am very tired. I am amazed at the interest there has been in our attempt. It has had a global reach.
“A friend of mine told me he had seen it on television in Majorca.”
Microsoft consultant Neil added: “I have been overwhelmed by the interest shown within our community.
“The lack of sleep has been the toughest part, but now I can go home and be with the family.”
More pictures and insight in this Thursday’s Wokingham Paper
