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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sophie Norris & Bradley Jolly

Britain's 'most patriotic' mum splashes out £10,000 turning home into UK shrine

A mum who thinks she's "the most patriotic person in the UK" has splashed out £10,000 on creating her own British shrine.

Adele Cowpland's palace boasts red phone boxes, a red letterbox, a huge London bus mural and a Union Jack flag.

The 52-year-old receptionist does admit her friends "take the mickey" out of some of her bizarre belongings, including a red, white and blue shopping cart, but she doesn't care.

The photos come days before Britain finally leaves the EU after endless delays.

"I'm probably the most patriotic person in the UK. I've had a love for Britain since a little girl - it's just the way I've always felt," the mother-of-two said.

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The mother, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, sits in her living room surrounded by various memorabilia (Kennedy News and Media)

"I probably drive everyone else round the bend with it. My friends all think I'm a bit daft, as you might guess.

"We've spent thousands and thousands on British memorabilia over the years.

"I love the Royal Family and anything to do with Great Britain. I've always been really, really patriotic.

"Everyone is asking when I'm getting a London bus now. I don't think the neighbours would be too happy with that though - they're huge."

Adele and Carl moved into the property around 20 years ago (Kennedy News and Media)
The receptionist has splashed out more than £10,000 on creating her palace (Kennedy News and Media)

Adele's husband, 47-year-old Carl, forked out £6,000 to have a four-ton phone box restored and craned into their garden in Wigan, Greater Manchester, in 2018.

The receptionist's Mini has a Union Jack adorning its roof, interior and wing mirrors.

Since moving to the property 20 years ago, Adele has created a quintessentially-English shrine for her family.

"My husband and kids just go along with it," she added.

The receptionist says she has loved England 'since she was a little girl' (Kennedy News and Media)

"I have a shopping trolley that's Union Jack-themed. All my friends take the mickey out of me saying I'm far too young to have one of them but I don't care.

"I've got poppy wallpaper and curtains because that's the same kind of theme.

"We went down to London for Remembrance Sunday and watched all the Royal Family drive past and the Queen even waved at me.

"The telephone box is really iconic and it's very British. I'd always wanted one, but never imagined I would get one.

"My son was washing his car one day and some Jehovah's Witnesses came round. They asked if they were okay to take selfies in front of the phone box."

Adele confesses her friends 'take the mickey' of some of her belongings (Kennedy News and Media)

Carl has often treated his wife with memorabilia for birthday presents.

The dad said: "Adele loves anything traditionally English. Anything that's nostalgic, London-based. If we had the room she'd have a full London bus.

"The telephone box was around £6,000, then the letterbox was a few hundred pounds.

"It's not often you see the traditional phone box and postboxes together these days. We wanted to put them both together to stand out.

"Hopefully no one will post any letters in it but if they [want to] post a card with money in it, they can post all day long. My wife's the most patriotic woman. If you go into the back garden, I've got an American diner. It's a bit of competition for us.

"She's got the front garden and house and I've got the side garden.

"It's her birthday in February so I've three weeks to think of something else."

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