Hi! Muriel.. Knew you were out there somewhere :-) JANE not quite in Rupert Bear Vogue. Yes it was the Daily Mirror . One of Winston Churchill's "Pin Ups He named her "Britains Secret Weapon " She boosted morale when the blitz was on taking her clothes of during the times of bad news... Those were the Days. !!!!!! --------------------------- betty

Hi Lister-friends, I have been sitting on my hands, as they were itching to add to the current topics; and can stand it no longer! I hope that you will bear with me!!! I am not only going to reminise about comics and other reading matter, but also add a bit to what Joe has mentioned. My memories go back to the thirties and I am not sure whether I read Radio Fun and Film Fun in the late 30s or early 40s. Laurel and Hardy featured, as did Ethel Revnell and Gracie West. Then in the war years Tommy Handley and the spy Funf ( sorry haven't got around to finding the umlaut, yet!). I loved the latter in his enveloping cloak and hat and only eyes showing, saying "I go---------I come back!" There was some good dialogue both on the radio and in the comic. Now as to the long Ethel and her short dumpy sidekick, Gracie. Years later, in the mid 50s when I taught in a British Army School in Tampin, Malaya, I was asked if an army cot could be put into my small bach, (attached to the mess), as Tessie O'Shea needed to be accommodated after the show that was coming to entertain the troops. I was happy to fall in with this, but said that I would take the camp bed myself and the guest could have my more spacious one. Well, Tessie O'Shea cancelled and in her place came Ethel Revnell, a tall, quiet, cultured lady with no hint of Show Bizz about her. I'm glad that I had the camp bed, though, as it did have a characteristic sort of fusty army equipment smell, especially when the mosquito net was in place! Her itinery didn't allow time for more than passing pleasanteries. I was a veritable bookworm, and having the Foleshill branch of the Public Library nearby, after the Blitz of 1940, I usually visited there daily. Everything was "grist to my mill" and I devoured boys' books with equal enthusiasm, too. I never entered the sacred portals of the Coventry Central Library, Joe, as far as I can remember, as the branch and school ones met my needs. However I do remember the card system and date stamp---and above all the sacred hush, when even a whisper raised a frown from the LIbrarians! How different it is now, even in the smaller libraries. Usually an area with a playpen and toys for the toddlers, and in the children's section bright posters, beanbag seating and cosy corners. Earlier this year when visiting such a one in Picton, Emma. my gt-granddaughter was happily in the playpen whilst her mother and I browsed. Emma grew restive and so was given some books that they were to take home. She had recently turned 2years old, but was a fluent chatterbox! I hushed her, but the librarian smiled and said she was OK. As she looked through a B & W picture book about babies she came to one of a naked baby peering through its legs. "Baby, put your knickers on" she said, in bell-like tones that were clearly audible throughout the room! It is an area of many retirees, and it raised many smiles. She loves her books and the relaxed library atmosphere will encourage her "reading" habit. When we moved to Webster Street the previous tenant gave us a huge pile of Arthur Mee's Children' s Newspapers. I was in my seventh heaven as I worked my way through it. I give this publication the credit for my good general knowledge rather than from my education within the school system! It was a bit "Ra ra" and over-emphasised national pride in our country and empire, but so did the Scouting and Guiding movements prewar. I also remember Empire Day was celebrated in schools and we also observed the 2 minute silence and had special assemblies on Remembrance Day. So I read these papers with enjoyment and disregarded what I didn't particularly like----still have that habit! It was almost mandatory for you to receive an annual in your Christmas stocking, in my younger days. Rupert Bear was one such, that you might receive, but I never sensed any undercurrents within its story lines. Perhaps I was too thick? In the 40s and 50s I took a great interest in the cartoons that appeared in some newspapers. My interest was in the cartoonists' technique rather than content, though. I think that it was in the Daily Sketch that Mopsy appeared, a ditzy lady, drawn in a very free American manner. Was it the Mirror that had Jane? She was drawn superbly and had enviable "charms". The names Chick Young and Dagwood come to mind, but I am hazy about it---did the former create the latter? I can remember Dagwood having to lift his feet whilst Blondie vacuumed under them. I was entranced with the way her curls were drawn---as little corkscrews in the nape of her neck! Outside the newspaper format we had famous cartoonists like Searle with his inspired and quirkily drawn "inventions". And don't forget Giles, who was on the scene for so long. I think that I must resemble his "Grandma" character, short, unlovely and often grumpy! At school, as fledgling teachers we used to hold our classes spellbound with the adventures of "Little Black Sambo", and the silliness of Epaminondas. But then political correctness came on the scene and they were forbidden! However, with the re-instatement of Noddy and others, I see that a new version of "Little Black Sambo is now allowed, with the naming and phraseology altered a little. Good! It was a story that lent itself to inspired artwork by the listeners. I am returning to comics, again. The Eagle with Dan Dare's adventures against the Treens and the squat ugly little Mekon popping up inconveniently and hovering nearby, came into my life after my childhood had passed. It came because my brother was 7 years younger than me. Naturally he wanted Dan Dare comics, but he was making "heavy weather" of reading at that juncture. Mum said that he could have it, but was required to read a bit to her every day, before we completed the telling. An unusual Primer, but it worked! At the time we thought that the Treens were "way out" but what would we have made of the odd and wierd characters that people the comics of today? I have a favourite, though---it is Yugi of Yu-Gi-Oh ! My 9 year old grandson can just sit down and re-create him, with nothing to copy from. I am lost in admiration of this feat and he has lent me his scrapbook so that I can practise, one day. Such magnetic eyes and zig-zag blonde hair! I must try!!! People moaned that television and films was creating a nation of none-reading children. But, " what goes round, comes round", and Harry Potter and more recently "Lord of the Rings" films have made children avid to read the books. My own eldest granddaughter was led to reading good fiction through seeing a television version of "Pride and Prejudice". She read that and carried on, also found more than one video version, and decided that the newer one was more faithful to the book; and I agreed. More keeps coming to mind, but it is high time that I finished my narrative. Regards, Muriel.

Hi Ian, Remember I'm speaking of pre 1941. I suggest Dennis Waterman was just a twinkle in his Daddy's eye ay that time. What's Telly? Mo

Oh! and he had those lovely check trousers and a nice scarf >>What about Bobby Bear. ?? betty Original Message ----- From: "Jill Bloom" <jilby@onetel.com> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:31 AM Subject: Re: [BAN] Re: Comic Cuts > Yes indeed, and all pretty harmless knockabout slapstick amusement. Oddly > enough, it was Rupert Bear who, for me, had the really scary, spine chilling > adventures. Something sinister seemed to be hidden there. > Jill > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <LenDenham@aol.com> > To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 9:46 AM > Subject: Re: [BAN] Re: Memories of the 50s > > > > I'm with you, Jill. > > > > And what about Comic Cuts featuring Weary Willie and Tired Tim? > > > > Len > > > > > > ============================== > > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

Bah! All those comics - what about Biggles and 'Just William', heart stirring stuff! Must admit that the Dandy was so-so OK. Mo Southam

It was a signal honour to be invited as guest speaker at the annual Speech Day. I'm told. Strict criteria attended this appointment. An Old Boy of the school, a household name in some acclaimed field of endeavour, and an entertaining and motivational speaker. Exceptions were allowed and indeed were normal. The best speaker that I remember was a woman. Two out of three isn't bad. The ethos of the school was to prepare its pupils for successful careers by encouraging initiative and stimulating imagination, on a sound base of academic achievement. Sigh. This involved pupils travelling everywhere in two-by-two crocodile formation, dressed in identical uniforms. We marched to the centre of town for Speech Day in this fashion; as we were for the Polio inoculations, as we were for weekly sports day activities. There was a range of sports activity, depending on the season. The aesthetes (a small group, only two courts) marched off in whites to play tennis; the bruisers marched off to settle a few scores in rugby practice; and the rest of us marched down to the local park. Here the two supervisors (arrived by car) made themselves comfortable while we ran two circuits around the perimeter, possibly five miles in total. Whatever the weather. The threat was that the last five pupils would run an extra circuit. In practice we all realised that Authority could not keep track of some sixty pupils strung out, running, jogging, strolling in discussion, or pausing for a quiet cigarette. We knew that at four o'clock everyone would march back to the showers (those without a note from Mum). Two memories stand out, but I'm not sure what they say about the school ethos. Any boy dashing ahead with exuberance was soon brought to heel by fellow runners (bad form), but also any boy struggling to make the distance was motivated and supported by fellow runners (good). Looking back, there seemed to be an unconscious attempt to remove outliers from the population and lower the standard deviation. That's mathematics. Maybe politics as well. Smokey Checked by Norton 2004 before transmission with Mozilla Thunderbird

Biggles was a bit serious for my liking. Just William was on Telly, so why read it? Remember Denis Waterman? Ian

Yes indeed, and all pretty harmless knockabout slapstick amusement. Oddly enough, it was Rupert Bear who, for me, had the really scary, spine chilling adventures. Something sinister seemed to be hidden there. Jill ----- Original Message ----- From: <LenDenham@aol.com> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 9:46 AM Subject: Re: [BAN] Re: Memories of the 50s > I'm with you, Jill. > > And what about Comic Cuts featuring Weary Willie and Tired Tim? > > Len > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

Please unsubcribe me Denis CASTLE -- Whatever you Wanadoo: http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/ This email has been checked for most known viruses - find out more at: http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/help/id/7098.htm

Forwarded this, though poster not subscribed , for its interest value. Dennis if you are normally subscribed - get back to me and we will solve why this message appeared as non subscriber. Helen Temp. List Admin. -----Original Message----- From: dennis shirley [mailto:denshirley@tiscali.co.uk] Sent: Wednesday, 15 September 2004 1:00 a.m. To: ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: {not a subscriber} Re: [BAN] THOMAS' of Camborne- Goldmining There have been attempts at gold mining in the UK & Ireland, but it often costs to much to produce. The Prince of Wales Crown was made of Welsh Gold. ----- Original Message ----- From: Julie Nicks <julienicks21@hotmail.com> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 4:21 AM Subject: [BAN] THOMAS' of Camborne- Goldmining > Can anyone on the list tell me if there was gold mining going on in > Cornwall? > I have to 1901 census results for THOMAS in Camborne area [ John and > Richard[ - one was Retired gold miner and one listed as working goldminer. > Could it be that they had gone to the US for goldmining and come back? > Would appreciate any help I can get on this one. Thanks. > Julie in sunny but still cold Adelaide SA > > _________________________________________________________________ > Love Movies? You'll love HomeScreen. Rental DVDs - no late fees! Go to: > http://www.ninemsn.homescreen.com.au/account/freetrial/?.promo=9msn_hotm ail_ > tagline > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

What you never got to read "Chicks Own"; must have been the naughty one..?? "Little Bro'...:>(( ----- Original Message ----- From: <IRHUCKIN@aol.com> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 6:49 AM Subject: Re: [BAN] Re: Memories of the 50s > And a bit later, Parade and Carnival! > Still love the Dandy and Beano. Get a copy and I am sure you will see many > you will remember. Tin Teacher, Billy Whizz, Korky, Biffo et al. > Never did get into Noddy or Mickey Mouse. Three older brothers you see!! > Nowadays Viz is probably the best around. > > Ian > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

I can only think that Film Fun and Radio Fun were before your time, let alone Girl's Crystal! This was in the forties. Jill ----- Original Message ----- From: <IRHUCKIN@aol.com> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 9:49 PM Subject: Re: [BAN] Re: Memories of the 50s > And a bit later, Parade and Carnival! > Still love the Dandy and Beano. Get a copy and I am sure you will see many > you will remember. Tin Teacher, Billy Whizz, Korky, Biffo et al. > Never did get into Noddy or Mickey Mouse. Three older brothers you see!! > Nowadays Viz is probably the best around. > > Ian > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

My first school, after Primary School, was Spendlove at Charlbury. OK, so they didn't have names like Griffindor, Huffenpuff etc. (Sp?), but they did have names as well as colours. The names came from local estates: Ditchley - Green Cornbury - Red Wychwood - Blue The latter of which was my house, and always had the best house assemblies. We know that to be true, because every now and again someone would sneak into the others!!! So, Hogwarts probably got its names from a similar connection. Sadly it closed in 1982. It was demolished some time later. Just a small bit remains as a sports pavilion. It was the music room of my day. I am still in touch with one of the teachers from there. I also reprinted a set of 5 school magazines in 2002 in three volumes called "Under Wychwood". The old Spendlove is still within us. It was very special indeed. Ian

There is an entire website concerned with Goldmining in Cornwall. Google will find it. There is even a ROOTSWEB site devoted to Cornish Gold Miners. Ian

I'm with you, Jill. And what about Comic Cuts featuring Weary Willie and Tired Tim? Len

Hello, Ian. I have been transcribing a Pioneer Cemetery in Ontario, Canada, where there are a number of HOWSE tombstones. Do any of your lines extend across the pond? :) Joe Ariss :) In a message dated 9/7/2004, 6:01:47 PM, Eastern Standard Time; ENG-BANBURY-AREA-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: > X-Message: #2 > Date: Tuesday, September 7, 2004, 07:04:51 EDT > From: IRHUCKIN@aol.com > To: ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Angela > Just to let you know Angela is fine, but xsnipx > Ian Huckin - Researching Huckin (and variations) Herbert and Howse.

Rockfist Rogan.. Flying Boss of Crossbones Island... ----------------------------------- Bet IAN liked *Noddy and Mr. PLOD.!! All the banned books. ??? *>) betty. ----- Original Message ----- From: <LenDenham@aol.com> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 7:48 PM Subject: Re: [BAN] Re: Memories of the 50s > Hi Smokey, Ian, Betty et al > > Your memories trigger off so many of mine, Smokey. Seems you do the same for > others. > > On the issue of the 'senior' comics to which all boys graduated, I was > fortunate to have an aunt that managed a newsagents and each week she produced > them all for me. So I read "Adventure", "Hotspur", "Rover", "Wizard" and > "Champion" (remember Rockfist Rogan?). > > On libraries, they provided such a wealth of adventure! I averaged two trips > a week at three books a time. But the library was the scene of my only brush > with the law! > > Our nearest public library was about a mile and a half from home and located > in the basement of a church (due to the war). Half way to the library was a > large water tank labelled 'EWS' (emergency water supply). If you remember > these you will recall that they were huge, about three feet deep and probably > fifteen or twenty feet across, and made of corrugated steel. Because of the > danger of somebody or something falling in, they were equipped with bamboo poles > with a hook on the end to fish them or it out. We (irresponsibly) played at > sending these poles skimming across the water, tiring when they became > marooned in the middle and proceeding to the library. > > One day we were chased by a policeman (in plain clothes and probably off > duty, but to us a DETECTIVE!). We hid behind the bookshelves when he entered the > library and had a word with the librarian. He then said, "I am not going to > chase you around the library because I know who you are." Then to our > amazement he read out all of our names! What a detective! > We were terrified. It was ages before I deduced that, having just hannded > our books in, he had been able to acquire the information from the librarian! > > I never touched one of those poles again. Honest! > > Len > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

And a bit later, Parade and Carnival! Still love the Dandy and Beano. Get a copy and I am sure you will see many you will remember. Tin Teacher, Billy Whizz, Korky, Biffo et al. Never did get into Noddy or Mickey Mouse. Three older brothers you see!! Nowadays Viz is probably the best around. Ian

Ian. TIGER TIM...??? with "Pat The Pirate" ???? memories of Aunt Nellies "Apple Gatherers" very handy when acting the part.. Kitchen table turned over.. Those were the days...!!! Have quite a few annuals.. plus a Hornby Train and some Dinkie Spitfires" on the Top Shelf... Better get out the step ladder. ?? No Lofts or Attics.. which probably is just as well.!!! betty ----- Original Message ----- From: <IRHUCKIN@aol.com> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 6:37 AM Subject: Re: [BAN] Re: Memories of the 50s > Oh how I miss the comics! I recently bought an old, much-loved (tatty) Tiger > annual. I packed it, but had a sneaky read first! > I look at the pristine ones for sale at outrageous prices. Do I wish I had > kept mine like that? NO WAY!!! How can you enjoy something if you don't actually > get to read it? Same with toys in their boxes. Was there any kid who didn't > get the enjoyment of running their dinky down a ramp and out the window onto > the grass outside? So, it got scratched, but you loved them. If they got really > bad, you gave them a paint job! > Thanks Smokey, for reminding me, > > Ian > > > ============================== > You can manage your RootsWeb-Review subscription from > http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ >

Hi Smokey, Ian, Betty et al Your memories trigger off so many of mine, Smokey. Seems you do the same for others. On the issue of the 'senior' comics to which all boys graduated, I was fortunate to have an aunt that managed a newsagents and each week she produced them all for me. So I read "Adventure", "Hotspur", "Rover", "Wizard" and "Champion" (remember Rockfist Rogan?). On libraries, they provided such a wealth of adventure! I averaged two trips a week at three books a time. But the library was the scene of my only brush with the law! Our nearest public library was about a mile and a half from home and located in the basement of a church (due to the war). Half way to the library was a large water tank labelled 'EWS' (emergency water supply). If you remember these you will recall that they were huge, about three feet deep and probably fifteen or twenty feet across, and made of corrugated steel. Because of the danger of somebody or something falling in, they were equipped with bamboo poles with a hook on the end to fish them or it out. We (irresponsibly) played at sending these poles skimming across the water, tiring when they became marooned in the middle and proceeding to the library. One day we were chased by a policeman (in plain clothes and probably off duty, but to us a DETECTIVE!). We hid behind the bookshelves when he entered the library and had a word with the librarian. He then said, "I am not going to chase you around the library because I know who you are." Then to our amazement he read out all of our names! What a detective! We were terrified. It was ages before I deduced that, having just hannded our books in, he had been able to acquire the information from the librarian! I never touched one of those poles again. Honest! Len