Harry Potter fanatic crowned Britain’s Biggest Collector – with one of her 9,000 pieces housing her mum’s ashes

A Harry Potter fanatic who has more than 9,000 items in her collection, and who named her son after the eponymous wizard, has won an award as Britain’s Biggest Collector – with one of her pieces even housing her mother’s ashes.

Victoria Maclean, 44, a hotel receptionist and YouTuber from south Wales, has a huge collection of Harry Potter memorabilia which she estimates is worth around £250,000, including a cabinet – featuring a gold handmade miniature replica of Dumbledore’s office – worth £35,000.

The mum-of-three also runs a YouTube channel where she shares her love of the wizarding world with more than 27,000 followers, and she has also started a Facebook group which has over 100,000 members.

After buying an ornament shortly after reading the first instalment of the franchise, Victoria’s collection has grown over the years – a passion which she shared with her mum Susan, who passed away in 2015 aged 64.

So fanatic about the series is Victoria, she even named her youngest son Harry and she was crowned Britain’s Biggest Collector by Airtasker – a local services marketplace – in February 2024.

Victoria, who is a former world record holder for the largest Wizarding World collection, lives in Neath with her husband, Adam, 44, a teacher, and has three children, Monica, 25, Daniel, 22, and Harry, 14, and told PA Real Life: “My mum was a big Harry Potter collector too and when she passed away nine years ago, my collection became more of an obsession and it basically took over my life.

“Luckily, with my job being an influencer, I get sent items all the time but when I see something new, I don’t even have the patience to ask for it, I just have to buy it there and then. So, I’m lucky that I don’t have to buy everything, but I do think that I am addicted.”

Victoria first fell in love with the book series in 2001, after Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone became the first novel she had ever read after growing up with dyslexia.

She said: “Harry Potter is something that is obviously fiction and you can’t visit Hogwarts so I literally wanted to bring Hogwarts to me. It started off with wanting to collect little things like ornaments and grew from there.”

Victoria’s favourite item in her collection is a cabinet that contains a handmade miniature replica of Dumbledore’s office which is 24 carat golf leaf, costing £1,100 to make and is now worth an estimated £35,000 because it is one-of-a-kind.

She said: “My mum’s ashes are in Dumbledore’s office, she was cremated wearing her Harry Potter goalkeeper’s top that she bought from the studios because she loved Harry Potter.”

Victoria inherited her mum’s collection when she passed away, adding: “My sister just literally put anything Harry Potter related into a box to give to me. We’ve got a lot of memories of going to the studio together.”

While Victoria had a growing collection before her mum passed, afterwards she said she would buy items to “feel closer to her”.

Victoria’s home is full of robes, hats, wands and other props, which she says are displayed all around the house.

She added: “The only place my collection isn’t seen is in my children’s rooms. Their rooms are Harry Potter-free apart from a few items in my youngest son’s room, he’s named after Harry Potter.

“But it’s everywhere else. It’s almost every single part of the house. It’s in boxes, cupboards, wardrobes, drawers, trunks, in the attic, under the bed. I wear it every day. At work I have a uniform so I put on my Harry Potter socks underneath because no-one can see it.”

Victoria’s husband Adam embraces her love of Harry Potter and at Christmas and on birthdays, he always buys her new pieces to add to her collection.

She also has collectables from press events which she bought on eBay and shares on her YouTube channel, and Victoria recalled how her children will often comment on how proud they are of her for the community she’s built online.

Victoria said: “They’re really proud of me and they tell me every day. It’s really lovely to know that I’m not doing anything that embarrasses or upsets them. It’s something they can appreciate and they love me for it.”

While controversy around JK Rowling’s beliefs on transgender rights has soured the franchise for some fans, Victoria believes that the world now belongs to the fans.

She said: “I’m part of the LGBT community so for me, I’m listening and supporting the people that were affected by it and I feel that Harry Potter does kind of belong to the fans more than her in a way because we’ve built it up. It’s such a huge fan community and we’re such an amazing community.

“Harry Potter at the end of the day is something for everybody, regardless of who you are, your beliefs, your sexual orientation, your race or your religion. It is for everyone out there and I love that everyone is accepted.”

In February 2024, Victoria found out she had been crowned Britain’s Biggest Collector.

She added: “I am thrilled to have been awarded Airtasker’s British Collector Award 2024. I am passionate about my Harry Potter Collection which brings joy not only to myself and family, but also to the community. Being one of the biggest collectors globally, I’m also thrilled to fly the flag for the UK where the Wizarding World originated.

“With so many collectables, winning the accolade and also £1000 prize money to help store, assemble, display and organise my huge collection of memorabilia with an Airtasker, is a dream come true.”