Not so stupid boy
A 15-year-old Norfolk schoolboy has set up a Dad’s Army museum in his back garden.
Darren Stride is obsessed with the classic BBC sitcom and his collection has filled his dad’s shed and workshop in Scratby, near Great Yarmouth, reports the Daily Mail.
One contains a 1940s living room, filled with gas masks, uniforms, newspapers, documents and a black and white television showing footage from the period.
The other has a shop with shelves lined with cigarette packets, Oxo cubes and jars containing sherbet lemons and licorice sticks.
The schoolboy’s fascination began as a four-year-old when he watched episodes of Dad’s Army perched on his grandfather’s knee.
Now his homespun museum, called Bygones, is lending memorabilia to schools and taking visitor bookings via a website.
“My grandad gave me his World War II medals and that started the collection. He started giving me newspapers and all sorts of things after that,” said Darren.
“My mum didn’t like the musty smell so my dad said “All right, you can have my workshop”. That started when I was 12.”
His mother Pat, 56, said: “Darren started going round his playgroup saying his grandad was John Le Mesurier. It all stemmed from there.
“Now, whenever Darren’s late for the bus, I tell him “You stupid boy” – which he loves.”
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