Don’t try eating the contents of these sweet jars because they are all part of one girl’s eraser collection.

Rachel Whitbourn, of Hyde Lane, Pimlico, has 680 pencil rubbers – the largest collection the Watford Observer has found ... so far!

The 11-year-old pupil at St Michael’s School in Garston has only been collecting for three years but she has already built up an impressive display.

Perhaps the most unusual is a complete rubber chess set, an early birthday present from Rachel’s 14-year-old sister Debbie.

“I am learning how to play chess now I’ve got a set,” said Rachel.
She began her collection while on holiday in Cornwall.

“I saw some nice ones and bought one,” she said. “There are so many different kinds.”

Like our other collectors Rachel does not use her erasers. She said: “I’ve got separate ones for school. They’re ruined once they’re used.”

Most of the Whitbourns collect something. Rachel’s mother, Teresa, has more than 50 ornamental owls, 18-year-old sister Paula has a collection of dolls and brother Mark, aged 16, is a stamp enthusiast.

The family also have 30 Peruvian guinea pigs.

The leading eraser collectors to date are Karen Surridge, 405; Clare Woods, 631; Rachel Whitbourn, 680. Unless you know of someone with more!

[From the Watford Observer of October 26, 1984]