26/08/2017

MY GOODNESS – MY GUINNESS

BEER MAT POSTCARD

Printed by

SANDERS PHILLIPS & Co., Ltd

London

Ref: GA. 891//10.

 

I have placed images of a few novelty ‘Beer Mat’ postcards on the webpage but this could be the most collectible. Guinness is a very popular topic and postcards related to this drink are still available to this day, in fact I posted a whole segment last year which depicted all the Guinness postcards I picked up in Dublin.

This beer matt is from the 1950’s and depicts the famous zoo keeper character which was used to promote the drinking of the drink. The artist was John Gilroy who drew many of the advertising posters of the 1930’s and 1940’s, although the posters themselves and the ideas were created by S.H. Benson. As far as I am aware the zookeeper was never named, despite numerous appearances.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

This particular copy was posted from Ireland in 1956, with a definitive stamp which was applied upside down. Other than the fact that the postcard is quite thick and designed as an advertising beer mat it was the cachet, probably printed, in red, on the card, which appears bottom left that caught my eye:

 

POSTED FROM

ST. JAMES’S GATE BREWERY

DUBLIN, IRELAND

The Home of Guinness Stout

 

So, this is also another postcard for my Dublin ‘Guinness’ collection. I was very fortunate and found this in a cheap box, but I would have expected to have had to pay around £2 to £4 for this otherwise.

 

26/08/2017

SOUTHEND

MULTI-VIEW POSTCARD

Published by unknown printer/publisher with initials A.J.?

Ref: 32

 

This is what I call a layered straight line boxed multi-view, one with no central box which expands in the corners out into the edges of images which are normal one to each corner (making five in all on the more traditional multi-view postcard).

This one here is again for my home town, Southend-on-Sea, although here just called Southend. Most of what can be seen here has dramatically changed. The Boating Pool has been filled in and is now an Adventure Park with roller-coasters etc. Interestingly, The Sunken Gardens were on the other side of the Pier from the Boating Pool and they have now been turned into, for many, many years now, the original first Adventure Park which was called Peter Pan’s. The previously mentioned Boating Pool I remember so this has changed in my lifetime.

The Pier head has fully changed after what you can see here was all destroyed and replaced. The pool to one side of the Pier head did for a long time hold a reproduction of the Golden Hind ship, it was originally a water slide ride, but the ship was taken down just a few years ago and an amusement arcade has been built here.

The Bandstand had to be moved after much of the area you can see in this image was lost through subsidence, when the whole area fell away down to the road that runs along the seafront underneath.

The Swimming Pool, or ‘Baths’ as they are called here, is now a Casino building, although this takes up exactly the same space as the previous pool did.

There is a lot of history contained in a postcard like this and I think that is why they appeal so much to local collectors but, thankfully, so many were issued over the years, and they would only be of interest to those living in, or have at any time lived in the town or city represented, that they are often only £1 or £2 each (better ones are only, at worse, up to £5).

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

As you can see this one cot me just £1.50

 

25/08/2017

STAR TREK

U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

Published by

CLASSICO SAN FRANCISCO

Ref: 105-156

 

There is little doubt that for modern Star Trek postcards ‘Classico San Francisco’ are by far the most extensive publishers. They have issued postcards for the original 1960’s television series, The Next Generation, Deep Space 9 and Voyager. They have also issued postcards for, and related to nearly all of the feature film versions as well, especially all the films from ‘Star Trek: Generations’.

This image here is the Starship U.S.S. Enterprise from the original television series. I can think of no better postcard to have received the stamp and handstamp that has been applied to the front.

The stamp is the 33c Starship Enterprise United States of America stamp from ‘The Twentieth Century (6th series) – The 1960’s (SG 3656), issued in 1999. In the lead- up to the year 2000 the US postal service issued a sheet of 15 different stamps for each of the decades of the twentieth century. The sheet for the 1960’s included this smashing Star Trek stamp. Someone, probably an American stamp dealer, applied a copy to the front of this postcard and then had it cancelled with the first day of issue handstamp (dated 17th September 1999). This has resulted in my mind, in a smashing philatelic item.

 

PHOTOGRAPH

BOOK COVER

As it happens the above postcard came to mind because of a book I have just finished called ‘Set Phasers to Stun – 50 years of Star Trek’ by Marcus Berkmann. If you fancy an interesting, and highly amusing look through the background stories of the creation, filming and internal arguments and disputes behind the scenes then I highly recommend this book. You don’t have to be a fan to enjoy this book although a little knowledge probably does help, but is not essential as the characters and actors are generally well known even by people who have not watched a single episode.     

 

24/08/2017

FRANCO – BRITISH EXHIBITION

LONDON

Published by

VALENTINE & SONS LTD, DUNDEE

Official Franco-British Exhibition Postcard Publisher

 

Exhibition postcards are highly collected and between the years of 1900 and 1914 there were many such exhibitions held in the UK and elsewhere around the world. Fortunately, many of these are reasonably cheap, mainly because large numbers were printed and bought by visitors to the events (there was after all 8 million visitors just to this 1908 Exhibition that the depicted postcard relates to).

This is a multi-view postcard for the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition. The President for the event is depicted in the centre and there are views of some of the exhibitions buildings in each corner. Top left is the ‘Court of Honour’, bottom left the ‘French Applied Art Palace’, top right the ‘Pavilion Louis XV’ and lastly, bottom right the ‘Palace of Music’. Although an interesting postcard, and an old one, this only cost me £1.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

The nice thing about this postcard is that the stamp has been cancelled with the special ‘FRANCO – BRITISH EXHIBITION, LONDON’ circular date stamp dated ‘9 JU 08’ (JU is for June as I believe they used JUL for July). The Exhibition ran from the 14th May to the 31st October which explains why there are so many cancelled postcards available, and so cheaply as well. But, they are interesting and they depict scenes from another era, one where fantastic and ornate structures were built for display and when these events ran for many months.   

 

23/08/2017

WONDERGROUND GALLERY

WALT DISNEY WORLD

FLORIDA

Original Artwork of

“PELE ABLAZE”

By Artist

Robert Jimenez

 

For those not in the know this is Pele Ablaze who can be found in the attraction show called ‘The Enchanted Tiki Room’ which is in The Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World, Florida (it is also at Disneyland as well). The attraction is a famous one although modern visitors are less amazed at the animatronic birds and plants, and moving talking totem, than the original visitors when the attraction opened in California in 1963. This is one of the more unusual Disney Wonderground art work pieces, and not one of its best sellers as copies ended up in the Disney Outlets shop at a reduced price, which is where I picked up my copy.

 

22/08/2017

MOSKWA’ 80

VIII MIEDZYNARODOWE BIENNALE PLAKATU – WARSZAWA 1980

Karol Sliwka, Polska

Published by

KRAJOWA AGENCJA WYDAWNICZA

 

MOSCOW’ 80

VIII INTERNATIONAL POSTER BIENNALE – WARSAW 1980

Karol Sliwka, Poland

NATIONAL PUBLISHING AGENCY

 

This is clearly a poster for the 1980 Olympics Games held in Moscow. The postcard seems to have been published and issued in Poland and seems to be attached to some sort of International poster event which is called a Biennale, which is an Italian word meaning “every other year” although it is most commonly used within the art world to describe some sort of large scale international contemporary art exhibition. So, it seems the word used here indicates that this postcard depicts a poster design from an international poster exhibition, I assume one connected to the Moscow Olympic Games. It is a lovely example of a design which does show the Olympic spirit and feel without the use of any words. A delightful poster.

 

22/08/2017

JESSICA ENNIS-HILL

Published by

THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Photograph by

Kate Peters

2012 C-type colour print

 

I have a collection of material, postcards included, relating to the 2012 London Olympics. I will be adding this postcard to that collection because the photograph depicted was taken in that year. If I am right this is Jessica’s starting position before she rocks back and forth and runs down towards the long jump pit. This is another superb example of how the exclusive postcards issued by this gallery fit into so many specialised collections. I have never failed to find something new in the galleries shop.

 

 

22/08/2017

BLACKPOOL FIRE ENGINE

Published by

MAYFAIR CARDS OF LONDON

Distributed by

The Postcard Warehouse

Ref: BB 812

(Copyright – The British Commercial Vehicle Museum)

“This ‘standard’ Leyland FE, new to Blackpool in 1918 was powered by a 4 cylinder engine and fitted with a 500 gpm Rees-Rototurbo pump”

(Text from reverse side of postcard)

 

I think these old fire engines are fantastic and I have always loved those gold coloured metal helmets that they used to wear, almost a military styled kind of headgear. This is a photograph which has been coloured, but I think colourised ‘really’ well. A nice postcard from a company that have been selling postcards in the London area for many years now.   

 

21/08/2017

CARENCY (P.- de-C)

GUERRE 1914 – 1915

Ce qui reste village

(Un canon pris a l’ennemi)

Vise a Paris No. 221.

Huret, editor, 15 Rue de St-Quentin, Paris  

 

CARENCY (Pas-de-Calais)

1914 – 1915 War

What Remains of the Village

(A Cannon captured by the Enemy)

 

First World War postcard depicting the village of Carency which was heavily damaged by shelling during the early years of the war. Carency is a farming village located eight miles northwest of that better-known WW1 battle area of Arras. Depicted on this card is what is referred to as a captured cannon, so from this I assume this was a German cannon, but I am no expert.

 

21/08/2017

UNTITLED

 

TOP THAT! KIDS

Published by

TOP THAT! PUBLISHING PLC

Copyright 2004

 

I admit to knowing nothing more about the source of this postcard as I bought it for 50p from a box at the Book Fair attended a couple of weekends ago. It takes me back to my younger days when I only collected wildlife postcards. Dolphins are intelligent animals and I think that is one of the reasons why we are so attracted to them.

 

 

21/08/2017

JERRY LEWIS ….. RIP

Joseph (or possibly Jerome) Levitch

16th March 1926 – 20th August 2017

American actor who is best remembered for his comedic roles, slapstick style, either on his own in such films as ‘The Bellboy’, ‘Cinderfella’ and ‘The Nutty Professor’, or alongside Dean Martin with whom he appeared in at  least 17 films.

 

NON-POSTCARD ITEM

WHEN YOU’RE SMILING…”

GHANA STAMP SHEET

 

Jerry Lewis

Appears in the centre stamp

 

I don’t ‘move house’ now for a couple of weeks yet, but much of my collection is now in storage awaiting this move. So, getting a hold of specific items is currently a bit difficult. I could have waited for the weekend and dug out a basic film related card but then I remembered this stamp sheet (I know, it’s not a postcard, but then I do also have a television related stamp collection as well and this is an ideal one for today’s posting). As Jerry Lewis appears front and centre, in the middle of this sheet I did think I would divert away from postcards for a day and post this lovely stamp sheet instead.

 

19/08/2017

COLIN MEADS ….. RIP

 

Sir Colin Earl Meads

 

3RD June 1936 – 20TH August 2017

 

New Zealand rugby union player who played 66 test matches (133 total games) for the New Zealand national team the All Blacks from 1957 to 1971

 

 

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP

7TH - 28TH October 1995

Published by

RUGBY POSTCARDS

180 Whitehorse Road, Croydon, Surrey

Ref: RLWC 3

Limited Edition Postcard

Poster – Stuart Smith

 

A Rugby Union postcard would have been better but most of my cards are in storage currently and a Rugby League card will have to suffice on this occasion. At least New Zealand is mentioned in the list of countries across the top of the design. I bought this card in 1995 when it was issued.    

 

19/08/2017

1995 SOUTH AFRICA RUGBY WORLD CUP

RUGBY FUN – SOUTH AFRICA 1995

Published by

ART PUBLISHERS (PTY) LTD

Ref: 649

 

After a quick re-look it would seem I do have a Rugby Union pair of postcards available. These two were cartoon cards issued in South Africa for the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup. I bought these from a dealer who had obtained them from South Africa.

 

1995 SOUTH AFRICA RUGBY WORLD CUP

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?

Published by

ART PUBLISHERS (PTY) LTD

Ref: 554

 

The second card I obtained from the same dealer

 

19/08/2017

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SECOND CLASS POST

THE WORLD AWAITS GREAT BRITAIN’S GREATEST GAFF

1840 – 1968

SECOND CLASS POST

 

In 1968 the Post Office introduced the Second Class Postage system. It was not received with joy by all and there were a number of campaigns designed to show disapproval. A number of cards were produced by individuals and small organisations which people could use to show their disdain.

This is one which I bought from a dealer many years later. At the time first class postage was 5d but the second class introduced a cheaper rate of 4d. If I am right then this occurred in September 1968. Mr H.B Smith was a collector from my local area, he was a member of my stamp club when I first joined but he passed away many years ago now. He applied the new 4d second class stamp to this item and had it postmarked in Basildon (this was a few months later on the 6 Nov 68).

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE CARD

 

One could argue, possibly, that this is the front of the card as the stamp and address is on the other side, but I have decided to show them as the other way around. Details are given here about how the reader could obtain more cards like this, and from whom (useful for future seekers of information)

 

19/08/2017

POLAND

Postal Stationery Post Card

90 LAT ZAKLADOW MECHANICZNYCH URSUS

(‘ 90 Years of Mechanical Machines [Mechanisms] of Ursus ‘)

Tractor Stamp

 

A nice postal stationery card with a stamp which I am fairly sure can only be found printed on this postal stationery card as I have checked through the Stanley Gibbons stamp catalogue that I have (the 2004 simplified Stamps of the World) and I cannot find this stamp image. This is not too surprising as this is often the case with the stamps on these cards. It does mean that if you collect the theme in which the printed stamp would fit then you need to find these cards. I suspect there must be ‘Tractor’ collectors out there, and if so then this would be a great card for them.

 The Ursus Factory, or company, is a Polish producer of agricultural machinery, including and most importantly, Tractors. The company appears to have commenced in 1893 and their initial location was in Lublin. The company have had some ups and downs over the years, by the look of it, but in 2014 they had a 10 million dollar order to deliver 3000 tractors to Ethiopia, so I hope they manage to keep going

 

19/08/2017

WELCOME TO DORCHESTER BITTER

“View of High West Street, Dorchester. Home of Eldridge, Pope, & Co. Ltd., brewers of fine traditional Huntsman Ales since 1833”

(Text from reverse side of postcard)

 

NOVELTY BEER MAT POSTCARD

 

This is not the first ‘Beer Mat’ postcard I have depicted. I have a few of these in my collection and they can be quite attractive. This is a very good one with what I consider to be an excellent design on the front. Beer Mat postcards, as previously stated on this webpage, are proper beer mats first, i.e. they are printed on the usual thicker board that is used to make beer mats and which is used because it absorbs the liquid that often runs down the side of beer glasses, what beer mats were designed to do originally. The fact that these have a postcard back, rather than a plain or advertising reverse side, just means they are of interest to me for my collection.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE BEER MAT POSTCARD

 

I would probably have bought this postcard whatever, but when I found that it had been postal used, and not in a collectible deliberate philatelic way, but genuinely as a postcard in the normal manner, then I had to have it. Normal posted copies like this are not common and I was pleased for a couple of reasons, the unusualness of it being posted and the fact that this gives us a date which allows us to know roughly when the card was first around. Because it was used normally this alone would indicate that it could have been issued around the time it was sent, but here the sender has also written about the postcard in her message so we know that they had recently come across it in a pub. So, we know this beer mat postcard is from 1987 as the cancellation is dated 1987, but the rest of the dating area is off card so it is also good that the sender also hand dated her message – 3. 11. 87 (it is useful when people did this).

The stamp used is the 18p Studio Pottery (Pot by Bernard Leach) Royal Mail stamp issued on 13th October 1987 (SG 1371). Although only this one stamp, from the four issued in the set, depicts a pot by Bernard Leach the set did mark the birth centenary of Bernard Leach. The fact that the used stamp was also from the most recently issued commemorative royal mail stamp issue also allows you to assume that the date is correct and the card was from this period.

 

18/08/2017

THE POSTAL MUSEUM

 

On Sunday, I paid a visit to the recently opened ‘THE POSTAL MUSEUM’ in London, which actually opened on the 25th July this year. I had a great day and bought some fantastic postcards and other philatelic collectibles and took loads of photographs. So, here is my visual review:

I will first show you all the exclusive individual single postcards which were on sale in the attached shop.

 

PORTRAIT OF A POSTMAN

Thomas Patterson, 1900 – 1912

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC008

 

The first postcard depicted shows an old painting of a traditional postman in the days when there were many deliveries, each, and every day (except Sunday of course back then). To be honest this is a painting that I had not seen before.

 

PHOTOGRAPH

This is the front of the museum

13/08/2017

 

WORK WELL DONE MEANS LESS WORK

INTERNAL STAFF POSTER

Hans Unger, 1953

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC010

Again, this is something I had not seen on postcard before. It is an unusual poster, perhaps not one of the most attractive of their designs but then it was a practical design rather than one for the general public.

 

POSTER ADVERTISING A SET OF SPECIAL STAMPS

Artist Not Known

From 1961

“CONCORDE”

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC021

 

As you will have guessed from previous postings I am a big ‘Concorde’ collector and any opportunity I have to add a brand-new postcard to my collection is a good day. This image here is from the poster which was put up in post offices to advertise the release of the Royal Mail three stamp ‘Concorde’ set from 1969. I am a little confused by the date on the reverse side which states that this design is from 1961, but then I suppose this will give me something to look into.

 

ALL DEPEND ON YOU!

INTERNAL STAFF POSTER

August 1954

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC005

 

Another internal poster, and one which I think is a real cracker. Yet again this is a design I had not seen before on postcard, although I have seen it in a book. If anyone collects anything telephone related this one could be a nice addition to their collection.

 

NON-POSTCARD ITEM

Limited edition first day cover (400 issued) which bares one each of the five different versions of the Post & Go stamps which are available from the machines in the museums shop. Here they have been cancelled with the museums special hand stamp and they are overprinted with –

The Postal Museum

Official Opening 2017

They are considered first day covers as the overprinted stamps were first available with this special limited period use overprint on the day the museum opened – 25th July 2017

 

 

NON-POSTCARD ITEMS

Here are two Post & Go stamp strips which I obtained from the Post & Go machines located in the museum shop. They are overprinted the same as the stamps applied to the above first day cover. Although not postcards these items make nice souvenirs of a visit here to the museums shop, and, the overprint will change soon and as these change other overprints will become available and will be equally collectible, but these will always be the first ones from this new location.

 

INLAND POSTCARDS NEED A 2d STAMP

Derrick Hass, 1954

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC011

 

The Concorde postcard is perhaps the most interesting but this crab poster is without a doubt my favourite of the selection currently available. It is bright and eye-catching and it has the added bonus of being postcard related in content as well. I really like this one.

 

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

 

An enlargement of this poster can be seen on one of the walls in the museum. This is a close up of the mounted poster.

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

Here the poster can be seen within the poster display in the museum

 

REMEMBER INLAND POSTCARDS NEED A 2d STAMP

Barbara Jones, 1956

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC019

 

This is another postcard which fits nicely into one of my other thematic collections – Mermaids. I have mentioned before my interest in mermaid postcards, and how this came about, but I cannot resist new ones. It does help that this is a really nice design as well, and yet another that I had not previously seen

 

LONDON TO GLASGOW ROYAL MAIL ON THE OPEN ROAD

19TH Century

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC009

 

Postal history collectors have always been fascinated by the Royal Mail coaches and the museum has a whole carriage on display. They are also a regular feature on philatelic postcards but yet again the museum has managed to dig out a painting image that I have not previously seen.

 

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

This is one of my photographs and it depicts a blue coloured Air Mail post box and a Royal Mail delivery van. This is one of the displays within the museum and shows the quality and interest beyond just items of mail that the museum manages to capture.

 

LOADING THE TRANSATLANTIC MAIL AT FALMOUTH 1833

Harold Sandys Williamson, 1936

“MAILS FOR THE PACKETS ARRIVING AT FALMOUTH, 1833”

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC016

 

Now, this image has appeared on postcard before, and one issued by the old National Postcard Museum in their NPM numbered series (this has been depicted before here on the webpage – check out the Freddie Mercury NPM display posting I did around the last STAMPEX time). But, it has been a popular image so why shouldn’t they re-release it here for the opening of the brand-new museum.

 

REMEMBER INLAND POSTCARDS NEED A 2d STAMP

Alick Knight, 1955

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC013

 

This poster has appeared on postcard before as it was depicted on one the free STAMPEX postcards in their ongoing series. But, again, I can see no reason why it cannot be issued again, especially as not everyone could have picked up the free STAMPEX version. With its seaside theme, it does appeal to me as I reside beside the seaside myself.

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

This is a display in the museum which shows a number of postcards, and letters, from the First World War period. If you look closely you can see that the postcards have red censor markings. I have mentioned and depicted some of these censor cachets before. It was nice to see that some of the military postal history was on display.   

 

POSTMAN JOHN ROONEY ROWING ACROSS LOUGH ERNE IN ULSTER

Official Postal Museum Postcard

Ref: TPMPC006

 

This one is for those who like something different in the world of postal history. For me, it is the cycle that can be seen behind John at the prow of his rowing boat. It looks like he really needed to be fit to do his round.

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

This display is immediately above the one depicted above. It shows some more postcards from WW1 but here they are from, or related to, the ‘Post Office Rifles’ battalion. The army poster design that can be seen in the centre at the back has previously been issued as a modern postcard image in the old museums postcard series and is worth looking out for (I have a copy somewhere in my collection).  

 

SENDING SOFT FRUITS BY POST?

George Karo, 1952

 

The last of the 11 postcards which were available on my visit. A simple poster design but one which is highly unlikely to be available at any other location. If the museum continues to issue postcards of the lesser known poster designs like this then they will be issuing a postcard series which should be worth seeking out and which makes any visit here worthwhile.

 

NON-POSTCARD ITEM

Limited edition first day cover (500 issued) which bares one of the Post & Go stamps which are available from the machines in the museums shop. This is the Post & Go stamp which features the ‘Mail Rail’ underground train. Here the stamp has been cancelled with the museums special hand stamp which is overprinted with –

The Postal Museum

Official Opening 2017

They are considered first day covers as the overprinted stamp was first available with this special limited period use overprint on the day the museum opened – 25th July 2017. The cover artwork also depicts the Mail Rail underground train and this is another attraction which is a two-minute walk down the same road that the museum is located on.  

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

The entrance to the MAIL RAIL experience

(this officially opens later in September)

 

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

Because I sponsored a sleeper here at the Mail Rail I got to have an exclusive early train ride through the Royal Mail tunnels and an exclusive walk through of the tunnels (an experience not available outside of sponsorship). Here you can see the small red trains that the trip is made in.

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

One of the trains parked up in one of the underground stations

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

One of the trains parked up in one of the underground stations

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

One of the underground tunnels through which I took a walk on a guided tour

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

One of the underground tunnels through which I took a walk on a guided tour

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

This is me inside one of the underground stations through which the small trains pass on their rail journey. I had previously travelled through here in the red train depicted above.

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

My sponsored sleeper plaque

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

The tall person holding the camera behind his back is my oldest son James who has always been fascinated by trains and who I took, much to his delight, as my +1. We both really enjoyed the whole experience but the walkthrough was an exceptional experience which will be hard to repeat.

 

PHOTOGRAPH

13/08/2017

MAIL RAIL

This is me inside one of the tunnels on the guided walk-through

(my son took this and it is my favourite photograph from the day)

 

18/08/2017

BRUCE FORSYTH ….. RIP

Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson

22nd February 1928 – 18th August 2017

Actor in film and television, dancer, presenter and all-round entertainer with a career of over 75 years. The Guinness Book of Records has him down has having the longest television career of any male entertainer. Brucey, as he was fondly known, will always be remembered for such programmes as Sunday Night at the Palladium (1958 – 1964), The Generation Game (1971 – 1977 and other periods without Bruce), Play Your Cards Right (1980 – 2002) and of course, last but by no means least, Strictly Come Dancing.

BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS

Wal Disney Classics

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY

I bought this postcard at the weekend at the ‘Military & Fighting Machines’ show, which I have previously mentioned. As a kid I loved this movie at the cinema and I have very fond memories of it, but it does not really hold up to modern adult viewing (a shame, but I watch anyway when it’s on).

But, I hear you ask, what has this got to do with Bruce Forsyth? Well, you may be interested and even surprised to hear that Bruce Forsyth appears in this film in a small part linked into the London segment (a London only Disney could dream off with singing and dancing market stall holders, and there was a war on as well!!). Although he plays a baddie I was still surprised when I last watched it to see his on the screen in a Disney film. It just goes to show what a varied and fascinating career he had. Bruce will be genuinely missed as he was one of the UK's most famous television faces.   

 

PHOTOGRAPH

Bruce Forsyth in

BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS

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