ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Videos
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
President of the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society explains why he loves roundabouts so much
Home>News
Published 16:29 3 Dec 2022 GMT

President of the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society explains why he loves roundabouts so much

Kevin Beresford's love of roundabouts led to his wife divorcing him after she got 'fed up' of his passion

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Yes, you read that right. There is indeed a UK Roundabout Appreciation Society.

Buckle up and prepare to loop-the-loop into a whole new way of looking at the world:

Although, considering we have days such as Polar Bear Plunge Day - which occurs on 1 January every year if you really wanted to know - and Spicy Guacamole Day (14 November), are you really surprised?

Advert

It may have started off as 'as a bit of a joke' but the UK's Roundabout Appreciation Society has taken off - from a 'Roundabouts of Redditch' calendar in 2003 to a worldwide appreciation and a nationwide collective of traffic circle fanatics.

Without going round in circles, President of the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society, Kevin Beresford - whose nickname is the 'Lord of the Rings' - has since opened up about what it is about roundabouts which really gets him ticking - or turning, as it were.

Kevin realised his love of roundabouts when coming up with a 'unique' idea for Redditch's 2003 calendar.
Confused.com

Having since developed his original, 'Roundabouts of Redditch' calendar to the best in Britain and later, to include the best in the world, Kevin reveals to Confused.com how his 'passion' began.

He explains: "I ran a small printers in Redditch New Town. We wanted to come up with a calendar which was totally unique.

"It just went ballistic and sold worldwide, so I started taking an interest - a genuine interest.

"The interest grew into - I'm not going to say an obsession - a passion. Artists have always focused on the mundane.

"People might see a roundabout as mundane, but they are blank canvases."

Kevin views his love of roundabouts as a 'passion' rather than 'obsession'.
Confused.com

Essentially, Kevin doesn't think motorists 'fully appreciate' roundabouts as they drive past them and often fail to notice details such as the roundabouts 'unique' architecture.

The 'Lord of the Rings' explains: "We should all be drawn to these wonderful creations of art."

There is even a 'mecca' of the roundabout world, a 1909 build and the UK's first ever roundabout located in Letchworth Garden City.

The UK's first roundabout is located in Letchworth Garden City.
Confused.com

As well as seeing roundabouts as works of art, Kevin tells the Financial Times there is 'a serious side' to his fangirling too.

He said: "Research in Pennsylvania proved roundabouts flow more freely than traffic lights — and save up to 40 percent on fuel costs.

"They reduce accidents by 35 percent and road fatalities by 90 percent, when compared with traffic lights."

Oh, and proving Kevin's hobby is genuine, it's also come at a price to his personal life and relationships as he ended up getting divorced from his wife after she got 'fed up' with his 'passion'.

"At least there's nobody stopping me visiting roundabouts when I like now," he resolved.

Kevin's wife got 'fed up' with his hobby and the pair got divorced.
Confused.com

Kevin's personal favourite roundabout? One featuring a grandfather clock and wheel of cheese in Morbier, France.

The next to tick off the list? Columbus Circle in New York, believed to be the oldest roundabout in the world, which opened in 1905.

So, scrap the school trips or historical visits to Stonehenge, because it's time to start appreciating the everyday roundabout a bit more.

Oh, and if you fancy joining the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society - particularly women, as Kevin notes the group could do with being a bit more diverse - then there's no point running round in circles, just go ahead and sign yourself up here.

Featured Image Credit: Confused.com

Topics: UK News, Viral, Social Media, YouTube, Reddit, Weird

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

Recommended reads

How a Shakira impersonator became embroiled in bizarre World Cup body double theoryUnivisionWorld Cup final under threat despite FIFA decision as fears of delays intensifyTullio Puglia - FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesLionel Messi sends warning to Lamine Yamal ahead of tonight's World Cup finalJustin Setterfield/Getty ImagesFrom Shakira to Will Smith: The 10 best World Cup songs, ranked Ryan Pierse - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • Tullio Puglia - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    World Cup final under threat despite FIFA decision as fears of delays intensify

    New York has been hit hard at the worst possible time

    News
  • Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Lionel Messi sends warning to Lamine Yamal ahead of tonight's World Cup final

    Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday

    News
  • Richard Pelham/Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Argentina manager issues complaint to FIFA claiming Spain have ‘unfair advantage’

    Lionel Scaloni claimed that Argentina are at a disadvantage in the final

    News
  • Police Scotland
    4 hours ago

    New detail emerges about mother who killed her baby with hairdryer

    Courtney Gartshore was found guilty of culpable homicide of her three month old daughter

    News
  • Man explains why he got $2million diamond embedded into his eye as shocked people say he looks like 'Bond villain'
  • Doctor explains why thousands of women had two periods in June
  • Experts warn parts of the UK are at 'exceptional' risk of wildfires as the heatwave continues
  • Experts warn cases of sexually transmitted gut infection are spreading rapidly in the UK