Bare-faced geek! (From Thisisdorset)

Bare-faced geek!

9:59am Thursday 7th December 2006

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BOURNEMOUTH'S stamp collecting services and libraries have earned the resort the "nerdiest" town in Britain title, according to a new survey.

And Poole has come third in the nerdiest town table, thanks to its six computer games stores and abundance of chess clubs.

Statistics from Locallife's 32 local internet directories also show that southerners are far "geekier" than their northern counterparts, with seven of the top 20 nerdiest towns on the south coast.

There are only three entries in the top 20 for northern England, perhaps confirming northerners' perceptions that southerners do not know how to enjoy themselves outside the office.

Though home to Mike Oldfield, the Reading Festival and WOMAD, Thames Valley capital Reading came a close second to Bournemouth.

Ranked at number 12, Leeds is the nerdy capital of the North and other towns in the top 20 include Wolverhampton, Scotland's highest entry Stirling and Tunbridge Wells - a must-visit destination for model makers.

The rankings are based on the number of "nerdy" products and services available to inhabitants and data from 322 towns across the UK.

To earn a nerdy ranking towns need to have chess clubs, model shops, stamp collecting services, computer games outlets, libraries and online dating agencies.

Locallife.co.uk chairman Tony Martin said: "It is no great surprise to see Bournemouth named the geekiest place in Britain. Anyone who's familiar with Bournemouth's nickname God's waiting room' will already know that it's far from the most exciting place in Britain.

"Overall it seems that the further south you travel the nerdier the inhabitants become. The south coast really outshone everywhere else.

"There must be something about sea air, cold beaches and proximity to France that makes people turn to geeky activities. A trip to the coast would be the perfect holiday for any true nerd."

Bournemouth council spokesperson Georgia Smith said: "Bournemouth cannot be slotted into any particular category in terms of our residents.

"We are proud of our vibrant town where there is something for everyone.

"We are delighted to offer 12 libraries - not 25 - to our residents and visitors.

"They contain fabulous modern resources, including computers, free internet access, DVDs, CDs and much more.

"I hardly think that watching films, listening to music, surfing the web or reading can be classed as the pastimes of nerds'."

Rikki Hyde, who has organised Bournemouth Stamp Fair since 1982, said: "I've been collecting stamps since I was 12.

"Stamp collecting is a huge hobby on the south coast, particularly for many people who have retired here.

"It's fascinating and to say it is boring is absolutely ridiculous.

"For some people it becomes almost an addiction."

Bournemouth councillor Jim Courtney is another avid stamp collector. He said: "I actually sold my stamp collection to pay for our honeymoon in Venice.

"It was necessary at the time but something I regret and I've gradually built up my collection ever since. Stamp collecting is a hobby and investment.

"My stamps will be family heirlooms and I will leave instructions that they are not sold for at least 25 years after I've gone.

"Some people might see stamp collecting as dull but it keeps people's minds active. Bournemouth is certainly not a boring place, in fact we have now gone the other way and have too many pubs and clubs. Personally, I prefer the town's bath chair image and its former elegance."

Bournemouth Stamp Fair will be held at Pelhams community centre in Millhams Road, Kinson, this Saturday from 10am until 5pm.

• What do you think? Are Bournemouth and Poole "nerdy"? And what's so wrong with having libraries anyway? Ring our reader response line on 01202 411455 or email newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk

NERD

"Someone who is considered foolish or despicable, often because they are completely wrapped up in something that is not thought worthy of such interest" - Chambers Concise Dictionary

Nerdy facts and figures about Poole

• Over 250,000 lava lamps are produced in the resort each year - famous owners have included Cher, Prince and Paul and Linda McCartney.

• Kerry Foods produces 103,000,000 sausages and 66,000,000 pies a year.

• Poole lifeguards walk the equivalent distance from John o'Groats to Lands End patrolling the beaches each summer.

• The town's library has 147,000 adult books. Assuming an average length of about seven inches, laid end-to-end they would stretch for 16.2 miles.

Nerdy facts and figures about Bournemouth

• It's the 305th biggest district in the UK by area, 92nd by population.

• Its library won the Prime Minister's Better Building Award.

• More than 14,500 students attended Bournemouth University in 2004/05, and 65 per cent of them were over 21.

• The town has 35 miles of principal roads.

• Its tourist accommodation sees 8.2 million "bed nights" a year.

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