Old Tonbridgian spins his way into the record books

James’ (MH 16-21) interest in physics and engineering was evident throughout his time at Tonbridge, where he developed a longstanding enthusiasm for mechanical design. A keen student of both subjects, he was recognised as an Arkwright Scholar, reflecting his aptitude for engineering and innovation.

For his Lower Sixth project, he explored the question of ‘How does the distance from the centre of mass to the tip of a spinning top impact the angular velocity of precession’, sparking his interest in spinning tops.

Now studying Engineering at the University of Cambridge, James has achieved a Guinness World Record after designing a precision-engineered fidget spinner capable of spinning for more than 30 minutes on a single finger. The achievement grew out of an interest in gyroscopes and spinning tops that first emerged during his academic studies.

James’ fascination with rotational physics was initially inspired by the spinning top featured in Inception. From there, he began exploring the mechanics and engineering principles behind spinning objects, an interest that later developed into the design of spinning tops and fidget spinners.

His record-setting spinner achieved a time of 30 minutes and 34.54 seconds, surpassing the previous Guinness World Record by almost five minutes. The project drew upon concepts he continues to study at Cambridge, including aerodynamics, friction, and the behaviour of gyroscopic systems.

James said: “This has been a hobby of mine since I was a kid, so I’m delighted to achieve the record – although my finger did ache a little after holding it in the same position for so long. I suppose, in a way, I’ve taken the fidget out of fidget spinning!”