Richard Carter
AS a child, Richard loved LEGO – and his passion for the building blocks has never gone away.
He has completely lost count of the total number of bricks he owns, but while one 2017 estimate put it at 400,000, Richard reckons he’s “closer to a million these days”.
“I’ve been buying a lot,” the 34-year-old says. “I’ve never not collected LEGO and I’ve never really grown up, in that sense.
“I started pretty young. I think my parents have regretted it ever since!”
Richard, who runs a company called Bricks Mcgee, believes his personal collection is worth around £25,000. But he is never far from LEGO at work either, as he runs workshops in schools, museums and with corporate clients like Google, who use the iconic bricks for teambuilding exercises.
Richard, who started Bricks Mcgee in 2012, says: “There are a lot of big companies who I’m surprised want to come and play with LEGO. But it’s really good – it keeps me in my hobby.”
Richard recently moved from Newcastle to a “spacious” flat in Leicester, but still reckons he’ll end up with LEGO in every room.
And as well as his professional work and personal collection, Richard is the chairman of the Brick Alley group – a network of likeminded enthusiasts in the North East.
It started with just six people in 2014 but now boasts around 80 members.
“We keep finding people popping out of the woodwork,” Richard says. “We knew there were people out there, it’s just the number of people in the North East who are willing to get involved surprises me.
“One guy had been building this LEGO Hogwarts that he started with his daughter 20 years ago and he just kept building.
“It was in his attic and it hadn’t been shown in public or had photos anywhere until about two or three years ago when we got it out for an exhibition for the Locomotion museum in Shildon, Co Durham.
“There are some amazing models that people hide in their attic or spare room… I’m sure there are lots out there.”
The explosion of interest in LEGO and its ability to retain its value does have downsides for big collectors like Richard.
For one build he’s currently considering, he needs 28 pieces of a particular dark green brick, which are currently selling for around £7 each. Richard says: “I’m still umm-ing and ahh-ing about that.”
When it comes to LEGO sets, Richard admits “a lot of value is retained if you keep them in the boxes”. But he adds: “I’m one of those people who does have a pile I haven’t started building yet, but I do intend to open and build them.
“I think the caveat with LEGO being a better investment with gold is that you have to know what you’re buying.
“Quite a few of my friends do make money and pay for their hobby that way.
“You can’t just go out and buy any LEGO City sets in Smyths or Argos… if you buy those thinking they’re a good investment, they’re probably not going to be.”