SOUTHPORT mowing marvel Brian Radam is set to feature in a brand new book about life in the British Isles.
‘UK at Home’, sponsored by Swedish furniture store IKEA, is described as a “photographic, fly-on-the-wall social commentary” about us and our homes.
Brian, the curator of the British Lawnmower Museum, on Shakespeare Street, was asked to appear in the publication after it was discovered that his impressive collection of lawnmowers has crept out of the museum and into his home.
The lawnmower luminary was pictured in his back garden, cutting the grass with an antique mower, one of many he keeps at his Birkdale house.
Brian says his love for lawnmowing comes from his father, who opened Southport’s first DIY shop in 1945.
The pair began restoring old mowers to save them from the scrap heap, and his passion just grew and grew.
Although machines have modernised since their creation nearly 180 years ago, Brian believes their appeal remains the same.
He said: “When Edwin Budding invented the lawnmower in 1830 everybody thought he was a lunatic for inventing such a contraption - and he had to test the machine at night time so nobody would see him.”
As well as a variety of vintage contraptions dating back to the 19th century, the museum is home to an assortment of showbiz mowers, which have been used to cut the grass of many a celebrity.
Brian explained: “We once had a phone call saying: ‘Oh it’s Brian May here from Queen, I’ve got an old lawnmower, would you like it?’ Of course we said yes!”
Other attractions include mowers from Hilda Ogden actress Jean Alexander, Nicholas Parsons, Paul O’Grady, a strimmer from Joe Pasquale, and the lawnmower given to Prince Charles and Princess Diana as a wedding present.
l ‘UK at Home’ is on sale in IKEA stores and bookshops now.
