An interesting find during a Sunday walk at grandma’s insistence may land a Ladysmith boy a spot in Guinness World Records.
Joshua Persson, 9, along with his brother Jordan, 5, and their grandmother Virginia were at Gourlay-Janes Park on November 13. It wasn’t something the boys wanted to do initially.
“I told them it’s a no computer day,” Virginia said. “They had to go out with grandma.”
The three walked along the beach near Virginia’s house and then headed to the park when the tide started coming in.
The boys then noticed all the leaves that had fallen during a windstorm the previous day. That is when a huge maple leaf caught Joshua’s eye.
“I saw it on a branch and then it fell off,” Joshua said. “I thought it was pretty big and decided to keep it.”
That leaf measured 23 inches across and 19 inches long, not including the stem.
The largest maple leaf currently recorded by Guinness World Records is 20.86 inches wide and 20.55 inches long. It was found by a family in Richmond, B.C., in December 2010.
“Joshua’s is wider, but theirs is longer,” Persson said. “I’m not sure if they included the stem or not and if Guinness would measure by surface size.”
To apply for an entry into Guinness, Virginia needs to supply a picture of the leaf and have a declaration signed by two people of “high standing” in the community. Virginia is pressing the leaf to preserve it and plans to go through the application process.
“Even if they send a rejection letter, it will still be an experience for Joshua,” Virginia added.
By coincidence, Guinness World records day was Nov. 17.
