tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63459498338760696062024-03-08T03:34:15.291-08:00old Ladybird BooksPlease note site is in retirement. It's now found here ladybirdflyawayhome.comHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-86300900340699889722020-08-02T13:37:00.001-07:002020-08-02T13:37:13.869-07:00Please note - this blog is no longer kept up-to-date on this platform. Instead, please go to: ladybirdflyawayhome.com<h1>PLEASE NOTE - this blog has now moved to:</h1><div><a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com">ladybirdflyawayhome.com</a></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-36378069885203198622018-11-02T09:55:00.003-07:002020-08-02T13:29:40.077-07:00My top-10 of Ladybird trivia<h1>PLEASE NOTE - this blog has now moved to:</h1><div><a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com">ladybirdflyawayhome.com</a></div><h1>
My top-10 of Ladybird book trivia</h1>
<h2>
Or 'ten things you have probably never wanted to know about Ladybird books'</h2>
<h1>
10</h1>
<h4>
The price of a Ladybird book (2 shillings and 6) stayed <strong>the same for 31 years </strong>-from 1940 until 1971 (decimilisation).</h4>
Over those thirty-one years, the increased book sales and lower production costs allowed the company to fulfill its commitment to produce good quality and affordable books. Even at the time of decimilisation, the director's strove to maintain the relative price of the books - but in the face of post-decimilisation inflation, they were forced to concede defeat. (The one positive side of this for collectors is that the price stamped on the back of many Ladybird books after 1970 helps identify the age of the book where other clues are lacking).<br />
<img alt="Price on book" class="wp-image-3457 size-medium" height="189" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-13-16.52.55-300x189.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<h1>
<img alt="The back of a book" class="wp-image-3459 size-medium" height="217" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-16-16.10.13-300x217.jpg" width="300" /> </h1>
<h1>
9</h1>
<h3>
The artist Frank Humphris was an honorary member of a native American tribe and was also temporary deputy sheriff of Bexar County, Texas.</h3>
<img alt="Frank Humphris" class="wp-image-3458 size-medium" height="225" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-15-11.44.42-300x225.jpg" width="300" /><br />
It was his passion for all things to do with 'The Wild West', led <a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/a-tribute-to-douglas-keen/">Douglas Keen</a> to create a series of books for him: series 707. He illustrated them all and also wrote the books 'Cowboys', 'Indians of the Western Plains' and ''Battle of the Little Big Horn'. Humphris' fascination for the subject earned him the nickname 'fast draw'. He was another of the artists who came to Ladybird after working on the Eagle comic, where his work included another western-themed comic strip 'Riders of the Range', which he drew until 1962. Perhaps because they both worked for Eagle before Ladybird, Frank Humphris is sometimes confused with <a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/frank-hampson-2/">Frank Hampson</a>.<br />
<img alt="Series 707" class="wp-image-3463 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-16_1743-213x300.png" width="213" /><br />
<h1>
8</h1>
<h4>
Writer Noel Barr was a woman.</h4>
<img alt="Series 497" class="wp-image-3464 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-16_1903-230x300.png" width="230" /><br />
Noel Barr wrote the ever popular Animal Tales such as 'Mick the Disobedient Puppy', 'The Wise Robin', 'Beaky the Greedy Duck', 'Ned the Lonely Donkey' and 'Tiptoes the Mischievous Kitten'. Perhaps not surprisingly, commentators all too often refer to Barr with the pronoun 'he'.<br />
<h1>
7</h1>
<h4>
Producing a Ladybird book was often a family affair.</h4>
<img alt="The Story of Metals" class="wp-image-3482 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/metals-207x300.jpg" width="207" /><br />
There are various examples of husband's illustrating books which had been written or conceived by their wives. Family members were also often drafted in to act as models for the illustrations. A case in point is the book 'The Story of Metals' which was written by the father, Lesley Aitchison, illustrated by son, <a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/martin-aitchison/">Martin Aitchison</a>, and modelled for by grandson Nick.<br />
<h1>
6</h1>
<h4>
After the WW2, Ladybird came close to stopping children's book publication for good - intending that their post-war core business would again be commercial printing.</h4>
<img alt="Wills & Hepworth car brochure" class="wp-image-3479 size-medium" height="111" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/File-22-02-2017-14-02-08-300x111.jpeg" width="300" /> Wills & Hepworth car brochure[/caption]<br />
Douglas Keen, the visionary employee who steered Ladybird to phenomenal success, was advised to concentrate on Motor Trade publishing when he returned to the company after war service because the directors saw no future in children's publishing.<br />
Fortunately, he didn't heed the advice, but instead set to work to convince the board that this was the area of the company to develop. His efforts finally bore fruit in the early 1950s. Today most people would be unaware that the company behind Ladybird ever printed anything else.<br />
<h1>
5</h1>
<h4>
Ladybird Books' commissioning editor Douglas Keen considered himself to be a Marxist.</h4>
<img alt="Public Services" class="wp-image-3484 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/public-services-256x300.jpg" width="256" /><br />
Although commercial considerations always had to come first, Keen's beliefs shine through nonetheless, for example in the emphasis placed on public services, especially free education, libraries and healthcare.<br />
<h1>
4</h1>
<h4>
Five different artists illustrated, and reillustrated, the Peter and Jane key word reader series over a period of 14 years.</h4>
<img alt="Peter and Jane in the early 1960s" class="wp-image-3483 size-medium" height="225" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PJ-walking-models-300x225.jpg" width="300" /><br />
They each used different models so there are lots of different 'real Peter and Janes' walking around today.<br />
<h1>
3</h1>
<h4>
<a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2016-04-12-07.45.05-225x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Title page" border="0" class="wp-image-3477 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2016-04-12-07.45.05-225x300.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="225" /></a>The Ladybird logo feels timeless - but the brand had no logo at all for the first 27 years of publishing.</h4>
<img alt="Earliest logo" class="wp-image-3481 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_2484-242x300.jpg" width="242" /><br />
Even when the first logo was devised (1941) it depicted a rather indistinctive ladybird in flight.<br />
<h1>
2</h1>
<h4>
Ladybird artist Martin Aitchison, who illustrated many of the Peter and Jane books, had worked with Barnes Wallis, producing illustrations to help Wallis 'sell' his idea of a bouncing bomb.</h4>
<img alt="Dam Busters illustration" class="wp-image-3478 size-full" height="210" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/dam-buster.jpg" width="236" /><br />
Aitchison's deafness barred him from active service but his war work was for Vickers Aircraft. Aitchison's father had been a friend of Wallis from university days.<br />
<h1>
1</h1>
<h4>
Until the 21st century, not one Ladybird book was ever branded 'For boys' or 'For girls'.</h4>
<img alt="Two Ladybird books" class="wp-image-3480 size-medium" height="249" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_2481-300x249.jpg" width="300" /><br />
This was an important tenet of the company over the Douglas Keen years. Nor were colours used to guide boys or girls more indirectly towards particular choices; in most cases the choice of book spine colour appears to have been a random one.<br />
<br />
(For more of such fun-facts, see <a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/">ladybirdflyawayhome.com</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-8665726649224045562018-10-15T06:00:00.001-07:002020-08-02T13:30:33.130-07:00An afternoon with John Kenney<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="John Kenney original artwork Robin Hood" class="wp-image-3330 size-full" height="908" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Robin_Hood.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="682" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Artwork from Robin Hood book The Silver Arrow. (Captain Scott is just for scale!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><h1>PLEASE NOTE - this blog has now moved to:</h1><div><a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com">ladybirdflyawayhome.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>
Last week I spent an afternoon surrounded by the artwork of the Ladybird artist John Kenney. I went to The MERL (<a href="https://merl.reading.ac.uk/">Museum of English Rural Life</a>) in Reading where the Special Collections are stored. I've talked about MERL and the <a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/new-ladybird-gallery/">Ladybird room</a> before on this blog but this time I went to see some of the original artwork of John Kenney which is not normally on display.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Eric Winter original artwork" class="wp-image-3325 size-thumbnail" height="150" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-09-18-12.04.39-150x150.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">This artwork was on display in the Ladybird room. Not, of course, by John Kenney but by Eric Winter</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Original Eric Winter artwork" class="wp-image-3326 size-thumbnail" height="150" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-09-18-12.04.47-150x150.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric Winter original artwork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Although the majority of the original Ladybird artwork housed in the Reading University special collection is relatively modern (from the 1980s onwards) there are some wonderful sets, or part-sets, of artwork by some of the best-loved artists stored there. But space is very limited and so very little is on display at any one time.<br />
<br />
Ladybird artist <a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/john-kenney/">John Kenney</a> died in 1972 so, of course, I never had a chance to meet him. But I have been friends with his family ever since I appeared <a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/antiques-roadshow/">on the Antiques Roadshow</a> many moons ago. They live in Leicestershire so we don't often get a chance to meet. But Clare, from the Univeristy of Reading Art Collections, invited the family to Reading to view the Kenney artwork stored there - and I was allowed to tag along.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Alfred the Great, John Kenney original" class="wp-image-3329 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Alfred_2-239x300.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="239" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The cover artwork for Alfred The Great</span></td></tr>
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<br />
John Kenney must have illustrated around 30 books for Ladybird and some or all of the artwork from around 17 of these books is kept at Reading. I myself have the artwork for one further Kenney Ladybird book - but it's a bit of a mystery what happened to the rest.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Queen Elizabeth John Kenney artwork" class="wp-image-3331 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Tilbury_1-223x300.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="223" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Cover artwork for Queen Elizabeth and the Tilbury Speech</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Clare had been very busy before we arrived, spreading the boxes of artwork out on a large table so we could peruse it in comfort. Now you may wonder why it is that someone as familiar with the Ladybird illustrations as I am should take so much pleasure in this.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="John Kenney's artwork for Queen Elizabeth" class="wp-image-3333 size-full" height="446" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Eliz_3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Artwork from The First Queen Elizabeth. (Florence is there just for scale)</span></td></tr>
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But the fact is that the original Ladybird artwork is always a treat to behold; the colours so much more vivid and the artistry so more more apparent. In the case of the Kenney artwork, the scale of some of the pieces was a revelation. Kenney mainly earned his crust as a painter of hunting scenes in the Leicestershire area and when he began his first commission for Ladybird (King Alfred the Great) he seems to have taken one of his pre-existing canvases, rotated it from landscape to portrait and made a start.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Alfred the Great - with another book for scale" class="wp-image-3328 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Alfred_1-223x300.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="223" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The book David Livingstone shows the large scale of the artwork</span></td></tr>
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I don't think original Ladybird artwork can ever have been produced on a larger scale. This picture should give you an idea of the relative size to the completed book.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="John Kenney's original cover art for Tootles the Taxi" class="wp-image-3332 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Tootles_1-231x300.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="231" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Cover art for Tootles the Taxi</span></td></tr>
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Tootles the Taxi is one of the best loved of all Ladybird books from the 1950s and 60s. Again the artwork is by Kenney, who also illustrated some of the original 'Thomas the Tank Engine' Railway series books for the Reverend Awdry. The similarities to the Railway Series books is clear. In addition, the story goes that Kenney based his Tootles characters on Dinky toys.<br />
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The artist John Kenney's family had previously shown me a charming couple of illustrations that he had Kenney produced as preparation for the Tootles commission. What made my visit to Reading unique on this occasion was that I was able to see the early preparatory painting alongside the final original artwork. Fear not: I took a photo so you can see them too.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Tootles the Taxi: the book, the artwork and the prototype" class="wp-image-3327 size-large" height="231" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-09-18-13.11.44-1024x742.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Tootles the Taxi: the book, the artwork and the prototype</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(For lots more about vintage Ladybird books, head to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/" target="_blank">ladybirdflyawayhome.com</a></span></td></tr>
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</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-46413763449592592292018-10-14T02:46:00.002-07:002020-08-02T13:34:24.115-07:00I learnt about flowers from Ladybird books<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3293" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-14.20.58-283x300.jpg" width="283" /><br /><br /><h1>PLEASE NOTE - this blog has now moved to:</h1><div>
<a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com">ladybirdflyawayhome.com</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Flowers didn’t feature much in my childhood. Our garden was tiny, my parents both worked and money was rather tight. We lived in a street of terraced houses, surrounded by similar streets – a perfectly pleasant environment in many ways – but floral decoration was sparse.<br />
But that’s not the whole story. Both my parents were teachers and my house was filled with books: many of them Ladybird Books. The imagery of my childhood is a strange collage of reality and book artwork. Even before I could read, I was reading the pictures of the books that surrounded me and these pictures were beautiful. I learnt about flowers from Ladybird Books.<br />
<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3279 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-11.35.18-e1534161787920-225x300.jpg" width="225" /><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3280 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-11.35.30-e1534161898128-225x300.jpg" width="225" /><br />
First there were garden flowers. In my <strong>Ladybird Book of Garden Flowers</strong>, gardens were a remote and alien place –striking and colourful but as far away from my life as Never Never Land. The vibrant colours of the plants contrasted with the grey splendour of the buildings in the background.<br />
The sky was often dark and stormy: it was the flowers that brought the optimism to the picture. Life was calm and stately and ordered. Nature, with its stormy skies, might threaten change, but as long as the gardener was in charge all would be managed and all would be well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="John Leigh-Pemberton illustrations" class="wp-image-3283 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-11.36.28-e1534161987365-225x300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Three John Leigh-Pemberton illustrations from ‘Garden Flowers</span></td></tr>
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Then there was the <strong>Ladybird Book of Wild Flowers</strong> and here the scenes were very different. Human activity was barely visible or was shown in decay: a ruined monastery, a broken bridge.<br />
<img alt="" class="wp-image-3286 size-medium alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-11.44.40-e1534162171256-225x300.jpg" width="225" /><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3285 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-11.44.33-e1534162104230-225x300.jpg" width="225" /> <img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3287 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-11.44.53-225x300.jpg" width="225" /><br />
The flowers were less bright and showy and had to battle harder on the page to gain my attention. The colours were more muted: lots of blues, palest pink with splashes of yellow. I wasn’t sure what I thought of wild flowers.<br />
Both books were produced by Ladybird with the idea that they would be simple field guides, to be used by the curious child for reference and to stimulate their curiosity. On the left-hand side of every page was the name and description of the plants pictured. I’m sure lots of children used them in this way, but I don’t think I ever did. For me, the attraction was pouring over the details in the background. Who was in that carriage, coming up the drive. What was through that arch? Why was the bridge falling down?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="British Wild Flowers" class="wp-image-3298 size-medium" height="231" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ladybird-flowers-8-720x553-300x231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> ‘British Wild Flowers’ illus. Rowland and Edith Hilder</span></td></tr>
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Then there was <strong>Indoor Gardening</strong> – a whole book dedicated to telling children like me that I too could be a gardener – as long as I had a window sill and an odd collection of containers: glass bottles, chipped pottery or an old teapot.<br />
]<img alt="Indoor Gardenting" class="wp-image-3296 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-14.31.11-199x300.jpg" width="199" /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3297 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-14.31.38-225x300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">‘Indoor Gardening’ illus. BH Robinson</span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Minature garden" class="wp-image-3299 size-medium" height="232" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_20161129_0001-300x232.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">‘Things to Make’, illus. G Robinson</span></td></tr>
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But this looked too much like a school project to me – as did the helpful diagrams in <strong>Plants and How they Grow</strong>. I <em>did</em> have a go at making the ‘Minature Garden’ in <strong>The Ladybird Book of Things to Make</strong> – but like all the projects in that book, when I’d finished it didn’t look anything like the picture.<br />
Finally there was the magic of picking wild flowers. Yes, I know – and you must remember this, children – that we don’t pick wild flowers today. But in 1960s Ladybird Land it was fine to pick wild flowers. Goldilocks was filling her basket with bluebells when she discovered the Three Bears’ House. Little Red Riding Hood gathered an amazingly varied woodland bouquet to take to her grandmother.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Red Riding Hood" class="wp-image-3291 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-12.12.31-225x300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">‘Little Red Riding Hood’, illus. Eric Winter</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Goldilocks" class="wp-image-3300 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2017-01-01-11.13.24-225x300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">‘Goldilocks’, illus. Harry Wingfield</span></td></tr>
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Picking wildflowers was almost an emblem of childhood and freedom – a prelude to adventure and enjoyed equally by boys and girls. The sky was blue, there were no adults in sight, clothes never got dirty: and we never saw the miserable picked flowers in their vases and jam jars, wilting and withering only hours later.<br />
<br />
That just didn’t happen in Ladybird Land.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Lord's Prayer" class="wp-image-3294 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-14.29.03-225x300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Prayers through the Year" class="wp-image-3295 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tn_t_2016-11-27-14.29.40-225x300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> ‘Prayers through the Year’, illus. Clive Uptton. </span>‘The Lord’s Prayer’, illus. Harry Wingfield</span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></i><u style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></u><sub style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 8.86px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sub><sup style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 8.86px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><strike style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: line-through; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></strike></td></tr>
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<br />
I grew up and Ladybird Books grew up – and, for a time, I fared better than they did. I had a house with a garden and started to enjoy walks in the country and visits to garden-centres. Ladybird struggled with ever-increasing competition in the book market and, in the 1980s, swapped expertly-crafted artwork for much cheaper photography.<br />
<br />
Looking back, I realise I did everything backwards. The books I grew up with were intended to help children identify the plants they saw around them. I don’t remember seeing plants around me when I was growing up, but later found myself identifying well-remembered Ladybird imagery in the landscapes of my adult life.<br />
<br />
Perhaps on a walk in the country I’ll turn a corner and be confronted with a scene that transports me straight back to a page in <strong>What to Look for in Spring</strong> or <strong>Wild Flowers</strong>.<br />
The pictures came first, and the plants came second. But one way or another the books of my childhood taught me to enjoy and to appreciate flowers, and in the end I don’t suppose it matters which way round it happens.<br />
<br />
<pre>(This post was first published on <a href="https://blog.freddiesflowers.com/2017/01/10/ladybird-books-taught-flowers/">Freddie's Flowers</a> blog)
Learn more about vintage Ladybird books at <a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/" target="_blank">Ladybirdflyawayhome.com
</a></pre>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/" target="_blank">https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/</a></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-15574272707924923442018-10-10T03:26:00.005-07:002018-10-10T03:31:08.505-07:00So what's the story? The prototype Ladybird bookSo many of us will have grown up with Ladybird books at school in the 1960s and 70s that it's hard to remember that they weren't always a fixture on school shelves. The school market certainly wasn't in the minds of the company when the Loughborough printers, called Wills & Hepworth, first began publishing children's books. The first classic Ladybird books, which came out in the 1940s, were fiction and designed for pre-school children, with rhymes about animals, Nursery Rhymes, ABC picture books and re-tellings of traditional tales such as Dick Whittington.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Prototype books" class="wp-image-3118 size-medium" height="296" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/protobook1-300x296.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The large prototype book, with overlay down over Margaret's illustration. Also the small prototype and the final book</span></td></tr>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
What's more, in the 1940s, publishing children's books was seen as a sideline to the core business of Wills & Hepworth, who focused on local commercial printing, among a diverse range of other activites. There was even some talk in the late 1940s of ceasing children's book publication altogether, to concentrate on printing for the burgeoning Midlands car business. Yet within 15 years, everything had changed. Ladybird was firmly established as one of the biggest players in children's publishing and the books could be found in almost every school and library and a great many homes as well. So what was it that led to this abrupt change in direction and in fortunes?<br />
On his return to Wills & Hepworth after his war service, employee Douglas Keen was given the minor area of 'Ladybird books' to look after.<br />
<img alt="Douglas Keen" class="wp-image-3136 size-thumbnail" height="150" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/small-Keen-150x150.jpg" width="150" /><br />
Travelling the country as a salesman and speaking to many different wholesale book-buyers, Keen realised there was a gap in the book market for well-made, robust and colourful books in schools. He felt the Ladybird format could meet this market well and tried to convince the board that they should increase the age-range of publications and focus on non-fiction. But his ideas fell on deaf ears. Children's book publishing was still seen as a sideshow, Keen as enthusiastic but misguided, and the company went on as before. Keen persisted - motivated not only by his vision and belief in the importance of good educational materials for all, but by the pragmatic requirement to secure and further his career.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="A family affair" class="wp-image-3120 size-medium" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/protobook3-274x300.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="274" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Keen wrote the text, his mother-in-law produced the illustrations and his wife produced the vignettes</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3116 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_3579-229x300.jpg" width="229" /><br />
<br />
He chose a topic that interested him - British Birds - and wrote the sort of book he had in mind, with each page devoted to a different bird.<br />
His mother-in-law, Margaret Jones, was a talented amateur water-colour artist and she created the plates for the facing page. His wife, also Margaret, shared the artistic talent and she created the small vignettes for the text page using ink and scraper-board. This book was much larger than a standard-sized Ladybird so a separate version was produced in the the classic small size.<br />
<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3119 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/protobook2-293x300.png" width="293" /><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3117 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_3582-228x300.jpg" width="228" /><br />
The resulting book was shown to the board - and this time it convinced them. British Birds and Their Nests was commissioned, written by Vesey-Fitzgerald and illustrated by Allen Seaby. It was a huge success. More nature books and non-fiction books swiftly followed. Ladybird's commercial success began to take off in spectacular fashion. Quickly other aspects to the business were dropped and Keen's own star also rose sharply. He was soon appointed to the board and within a short time was responsible for commissioning all titles from then until the sale of the company at his retirement in the mid-1970s.<br />
<br />
So an inconspicuous item at first glance - but with quite a story to tell.<br />
<b></b><br />
<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3121 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/protobook4-222x300.png" width="222" /><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3131 alignleft" height="300" src="https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/prototype5-199x300.png" width="199" /><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-49045442498734421122018-05-03T05:56:00.001-07:002018-05-03T12:28:53.939-07:00A new Home for Ladybird Fly Away <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1okMgm3Dc2gJnJJZysZPDX3S-qzwQY9jmgZFlM9VPGaNi52hAUhU7WkGKRjCwHOSJ6m3OTZPwgG-RIaNrgCaxxE460LC7QHx6ihIuyeeCJqi64ZbwNNtooW40JOrQDMp4KpWE9PfYpaZF/s1600/IMG_0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1okMgm3Dc2gJnJJZysZPDX3S-qzwQY9jmgZFlM9VPGaNi52hAUhU7WkGKRjCwHOSJ6m3OTZPwgG-RIaNrgCaxxE460LC7QHx6ihIuyeeCJqi64ZbwNNtooW40JOrQDMp4KpWE9PfYpaZF/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
I've decided to move my blog and to merge it with my website to make everything easier to maintain.<br />
You should find all the old content still - but you'll find it here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/">http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/</a><br />
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Hope you enjoy the new lookHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-1245100313271795612018-04-16T06:27:00.001-07:002018-04-24T08:46:17.911-07:00The Ladybird Artists - 1940 to 1975<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Here are more details about the Ladybird Artists exhibition, which will be taking place in Canterbury over the summer months (2018).<br />
<br />
It will be held at <a href="https://canterburymuseums.co.uk/beaney/" target="_blank">The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge</a>, in the centre of Canterbury.<br />
<br />
Entry is free: it's a council-run gallery. Here it is one their website:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://canterburymuseums.co.uk/events/the-story-of-the-ladybird-artists-1940-75/">https://canterburymuseums.co.uk/events/the-story-of-the-ladybird-artists-1940-75/</a><br />
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It opens on 9th June and will run until 22nd of September so will be the main annual exhibition.<br />
<br />
What will be covered:<br />
<br />
A brief intro to the background of the company but then a longer look at a number of the artists whose amazing artwork was such a big part of Ladybird's success, focusing on the years between 1940 and 1975 - just after the sale of the company.<br />
<br />
I'll be showing lots of original artwork - much from Ladybird books but also a look at the other work that these artists produced. There will, of course, be masses of books (many which you can browse through) and ephemera and some of the hundreds of quirky bits of information that I've picked up over the years.<br />
<br />
95% of the exhibition will be from my own collection, which I've never exhibited before. Some of the artists' families have also kindly loaned me some lovely items, to help bring the exhibition to life.<br />
<br />
So I really hope you can make it.<br />
<br />
<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-80177484851137373682018-03-31T11:28:00.000-07:002018-04-04T06:33:30.858-07:00Artist Ronald Lampitt - and why I love his work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Of all the 'golden age' Ladybird artists, it could be argued that Ronald Lampitt has the most distinctive style. He never received formal art training and it is interesting to speculate whether, had he attended art college, something of this individuality would have been lost. Born in March 1906, Ronald was the oldest of the three boys born to Roland Edward Lampitt and Florence (nee Pope). The family were comfortably off but, when young Ronald was offered a place to study at The Slade, his father refused to let him go, advising him to "get a proper job".<br />
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Ronald never got that 'proper job'. Self-taught as an artist, he began to take on work as a commercial illustrator. Shortly before the war, in 1938, he married Mona Deverson, six years his junior.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A study of Mona by Lampitt</td></tr>
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During the war he worked in Intelligence and although (perhaps inevitably) the nature of this work is unknown, it is possible that his wartime work helped develop his exceptional topographical accuracy and the ability to animate technical drawings into something visually rich and appealing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_IMR2wltiQgJqzChyphenhyphenPjEPYHsFyQOnCuRAqOH3rUXuhBc3P0pjoSUencMQO_Ws9ApFEztdjGgFCHFySJ-Y5D4HuaaSsNPDHJhGzAjCNGGYLx77RTGTIL3xInGk_9LXZU5rdol-Juo4rVf/s1600/lampitt_4b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="659" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_IMR2wltiQgJqzChyphenhyphenPjEPYHsFyQOnCuRAqOH3rUXuhBc3P0pjoSUencMQO_Ws9ApFEztdjGgFCHFySJ-Y5D4HuaaSsNPDHJhGzAjCNGGYLx77RTGTIL3xInGk_9LXZU5rdol-Juo4rVf/s400/lampitt_4b.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81DGYJi2xtJFwo83L_skvjKWLgHyv8GApCclXpIlNSMHpZMutcGbyQUQd6D9HEUh-7rWEfIRM3RHkpzthrvhvNtD0JYmrF21qODGDM9o__lfvyYz1XR2cEwJbdg5nJCfk6vQJDq6_kJ0G/s1600/Remove+Spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81DGYJi2xtJFwo83L_skvjKWLgHyv8GApCclXpIlNSMHpZMutcGbyQUQd6D9HEUh-7rWEfIRM3RHkpzthrvhvNtD0JYmrF21qODGDM9o__lfvyYz1XR2cEwJbdg5nJCfk6vQJDq6_kJ0G/s320/Remove+Spot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Illustrated' magazine, April 1950</td></tr>
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After the war he regularly found work with the popular weekly magazine 'John Bull'. In this he was very much assisted by his brother-in-law <a href="https://bearalley.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/harry-deverson.html">Harry Deverson</a>, a successful Fleet Street journalist with a bulging book of contacts. The work for John Bull became a staple for Lampitt over the period when the magazine was published by Odhams - from the 1940s to its closure in the early 60s. The magazine was known to employ some of the best contemporary commercial artists and prided itself on its appealing, distinctive cover pictures so it is quite some achievment that Lampitt's commissions so often included these covers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf4cFoA8_g_EwNnsuwx-D45yQ3JTJwXA38pG-sb7s1EaasZYSMxNFIkipuKkQgcp__hYHTegHuTDWcN2WNZk3M3TZSbPiH23__xx8URgaCfO44yzIUjs6jCF-4u6RxUu08KAAngxJkQyK/s1600/lampitt_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="787" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf4cFoA8_g_EwNnsuwx-D45yQ3JTJwXA38pG-sb7s1EaasZYSMxNFIkipuKkQgcp__hYHTegHuTDWcN2WNZk3M3TZSbPiH23__xx8URgaCfO44yzIUjs6jCF-4u6RxUu08KAAngxJkQyK/s400/lampitt_2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some John Bull covers</td></tr>
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A weekly magazine, each John Bull cover illustration took several weeks to complete and provided a steady income stream at a time where commercial illustration was more perilous employment than most. However, Lampitt enjoyed other successful relationships with other companies, including for Medici cards, Readers Digest, Look and Learn magazine and the Whitbread calendar.<br />
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A book that many will remember from school, The Map that Came to Life was produced in 1948, with friend and brother-in-law Harry Deverson. This book, which introduces map reading to children via the story of two children going for a walk, was followed some years later by The Open Road - in which the same two children explore the countryside with Uncle George, in his Hillman Minx Convertible Coupe.<br />
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Presumably it was these books which drew Lampitt to the attention of Ladybird's Editorial Director, Douglas Keen. Over a 7 year period, Lampitt produced the artwork for 9 Ladybird books - all of which were to prove something of a fixture on school bookshelves over the period and beyond. These titles were:<br />
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'Animals and How They Live' written by Frank Newing and Richard Bowood, 1965.<br />
'Plants and How They Grow' by Frank Newing and Richard Bowood,1965.<br />
'Birds and How They Live' by Frank Newing and Richard Bowood, 1966.<br />
'A Ladybird Book of Our Land in the Making: Book 1: Earliest Times to the Norman Conquest' by Richard Bowood, 1966.<br />
'A Ladybird Book of Our Land in the Making: Book 2: Norman Conquest to Present Day' by Richard Bowood, 1966.<br />
'Understanding Maps' by Nancy Scott. Loughborough, 1967.<br />
'Learning About Insects and Small Animals' by Romola Showell, 1972.<br />
'What to Look for Inside a Church' by P. J. Hunt, 1972<br />
and<br />
'What to Look for Outside a Church' by P. J. Hunt, 1972<br />
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These last books were published at a time of great change for Ladybird. Douglas Keen was looking to retire and, together with his co-directors, the decision was made to sell the company to a large publishing conglomerate. Perhaps somewhere in this upheaval lies the reason why Lampitt illustrated nothing more for Ladybird.<br />
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Although born in the West Country, Lampitt lived most of his life in Sidcup and loved the Kent countryside. He was a good friend of Roland and Edith Hilder, who had previously illustrated 'Wild Flowers' for Ladybird, and together they formed a sketching club, going out for long walks in the countryside around Shoreham, armed with sketch pads.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbConZtuJt9c5F847CD1x1_uiYuRwj0URJg1b32yToHjVo0Qo85thjNrqYeK0VUzNXCM0V7NleVwX-mjiQovs6SSpmgE1vVo2n2jyMDJguz96jxnrC5A9eYMS3ViuXOjx_BdkkliXioF8b/s1600/2018-03-03+09.11.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbConZtuJt9c5F847CD1x1_uiYuRwj0URJg1b32yToHjVo0Qo85thjNrqYeK0VUzNXCM0V7NleVwX-mjiQovs6SSpmgE1vVo2n2jyMDJguz96jxnrC5A9eYMS3ViuXOjx_BdkkliXioF8b/s200/2018-03-03+09.11.11.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Kentish scene is by artist and friend Roland Hilder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzF-sFtKPDPpP3ozDDxQzimD7ZUG7e3EaE6_X5QOcfX2Ht0SHjphFGS7iX-IkHWQgrPTL3R9lT107lg_3AdP72GXdkWsHwF_4795xIhweE3Dvuiim4iAAqhC3Y2T5dRVJdhI7knoSaaf7/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzF-sFtKPDPpP3ozDDxQzimD7ZUG7e3EaE6_X5QOcfX2Ht0SHjphFGS7iX-IkHWQgrPTL3R9lT107lg_3AdP72GXdkWsHwF_4795xIhweE3Dvuiim4iAAqhC3Y2T5dRVJdhI7knoSaaf7/s320/IMG_0486.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmyard at Dusk</td></tr>
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Lampitt was a private man: sociable when among a small group of friends and family (the Deversons in particular) but with little interest in seeking entertainment further afield. When engaged on a project he spent long hours in his 'studio' - a room at the top of the family home, coming down only for meals. He died in 1988, aged 82, after a long fight with Parkinson's disease.<br />
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Growing up in the 1970s, I have long-standing memories of Lampitt's artwork, mainly from using 'Our Land in the Making' and 'Plants and How they Grow' for school projects. I wasn't interested in maps and associated his work with school and with the muted, muddy colours which are a characteristic of those books. It wasn't until years later, when I came across other work that he produced, for Readers Digest, Look and Learn, the Whitbread Calendar and John Bull, that I fell in love with the wistful, nostalgic appeal of his landscapes, with expansive views dotted with the elm-trees, small lanes and oast house and tiny figures engaged in daily activity.<br />
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While generally favouring a muted palette range, the colour and vibrancy of this 'Look and Learn' cover, for example, show how comfortable he was with a colour range in marked contrast to the grey-green hues of most of his Ladybird artwork.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hQTMquowItis-i542yB9N5bMQnee_Ikn-4H7BZD4n-q2W4WNasWNxTpaZhF-kaKK1D-eEpk6WMQtxne2gX9BlF1Cb4jqIvVcxEH18Qerimp6yvwlUXVO0vnMDXd13L9EY0QDfp6_6ert/s1600/harvest+time.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1022" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hQTMquowItis-i542yB9N5bMQnee_Ikn-4H7BZD4n-q2W4WNasWNxTpaZhF-kaKK1D-eEpk6WMQtxne2gX9BlF1Cb4jqIvVcxEH18Qerimp6yvwlUXVO0vnMDXd13L9EY0QDfp6_6ert/s320/harvest+time.jpeg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Look and Learn cover illustration</td></tr>
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I would love to own a Lampitt original and I feel that if I were lucky enough to have the painting 'Skating by Moonlight' on my own wall, I would have no excuse for ever feeling sad again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DuCn7HXbBIPsPQh_2EtGzmcnJWrVFiRj0F2MRs58g3E6ymhwodxIa8h0cv3-4ez3wuIfaOW-cFkff9g4BOgIgINWu5XxXHZAdh6K9CPjfGhe7u35Tg4gOeMj1akMuyutHcb4zgqXFxmD/s1600/skating+by+moonlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="1444" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DuCn7HXbBIPsPQh_2EtGzmcnJWrVFiRj0F2MRs58g3E6ymhwodxIa8h0cv3-4ez3wuIfaOW-cFkff9g4BOgIgINWu5XxXHZAdh6K9CPjfGhe7u35Tg4gOeMj1akMuyutHcb4zgqXFxmD/s320/skating+by+moonlight.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skating by moonlight</td></tr>
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Having learnt more about his other work and then coming back to his work for Ladybird I found a renewed appreciate for his style and for his distinctive, off-beat charm even in the books with which I was most familiar. Now I am in awe of his breathtakingly detailed cityscapes and of his quirky, minutely observed crowd scenes. And one his railway posters, a view of Harlech castle, is one of my most treasured possessions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOEg0AkkRoTXVlG-A1o_u2jWGjpzpNvCZcxVUiebze9OnMXmLw1aP4HzPrNKpn-a4rd7qTO5pY36WR8ASK5fAsBCoINX8ZoZ59K9G28XhaKZMOQJCxUdeXO0eWsdR2AikUIQd6o71aNf-/s1600/harlech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOEg0AkkRoTXVlG-A1o_u2jWGjpzpNvCZcxVUiebze9OnMXmLw1aP4HzPrNKpn-a4rd7qTO5pY36WR8ASK5fAsBCoINX8ZoZ59K9G28XhaKZMOQJCxUdeXO0eWsdR2AikUIQd6o71aNf-/s320/harlech.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harlech Castle - Railway poster</td></tr>
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<strong>There will be an exhibition featuring Ronald Lampitt’s work, along with </strong>other Ladybird book<strong> ‘golden-age’ artists, at <a href="https://canterburymuseums.co.uk/beaney/">The Beaney</a> in Canterbury, 9th June – 23rd Sept 2018</strong></div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-30737587867426875982018-03-03T08:20:00.000-08:002018-04-02T11:17:29.990-07:00My first proper Ladybird exhibition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you remember at school, on Monday morning - especially after a holiday - when they got you to write 'your news'? <br />
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Well, I'm very pleased to share with you my news here. <br />
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This summer I'm going to be putting on my first ever Ladybird exhibition. It will be called: <b>Ladybird Books: the artists' story 1940-75</b><br />
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Although focusing on the artists who made Ladybird what it was, the exhibition will mainly consist of books, artwork and artifacts from my own very big collection. I have been longing for a chance to share some of my "wonderful things", other than on my website, on Twitter etc so I'm very excited about it.<br />
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I'm brimming with ideas, but I'd like the exhibition to tell the story of the 'golden age' Ladybird artists whose work I find so fascinating. I hope it will be colourful, informative and interesting - no matter how mild your interest in the books. And, of course, a nostalgia-fest. And will be free entry.<br />
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For those of you who have long been calling for a decent LB exhibition actually north of Watford, I'm afraid this is not it. It will take place in Canterbury over the summer months (June to September)<br />
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But I'm working on it ...<br />
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More information coming soonHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-65724226707717496502017-09-29T06:24:00.002-07:002017-10-08T14:55:08.633-07:00How it works: the special stampLet's be honest, in this sad and sorry world, there's not a lot of work out there for a Ladybird book consultant. But they say every dog has its day. Sometimes a commission comes along that matches a niche interest as niche as mine.<br />
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It was in June last year (2016) that I received an email, telling me of the plans to issue a Ladybird Books set of stamps and asking if I would be consultant on the project.<br />
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Of course I said "Yes please". <br />
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A long-list had already been drawn up of the categories that were to be featured on the stamps. I was asked to suggest books that would fit those categories: favouring the most popular books but also representing titles from different periods. They were also keen that the most well-known artists should each be represented. Initially it hadn't been decided whether to feature only book covers or also inside pages. Eventually the decision was made to use cover pictures only - I think because the covers would have a greater resonance with a greater number of people. At this point I suggested that more use be made of the spines of the books - and not only because of their uniform size and vivid colours. Ladybird books are herd creatures - at their best when grouped together and it is sometimes the spines on the shelves of schools, libraries and shops that have made the deepest (if subconsious) impression on our memories.<br />
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As at every stage of this project, the painful bit was deciding what to leave out. The other challenge was keeping quiet about it all; I had been sworn to absolute secrecy from the very first email, and this was sometimes frustrating.<br />
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A couple of months later, when a shortlist of contenders had been decided upon, (after numerous emails back-and-forth) I was asked to provide the books to be photographed and invited to attend the photoshoot. So on the day in question I packed up smart copies of the selected books (and decided to add a few more, just-in-case) put them in a small case and followed the instructions to get to a photography studio in South London.<br />
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A man was there, setting everything up for the shoot. I've forgotten his name - I've forgotten the names of almost everyone I dealt with - but he was nice and friendly and might have been John and I'm sure there was a Dean. The design company was called 'True North'.<br />
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From my recent experience, it seems that a photography shoot requires a man (my experience suggests only men) to set up a lot of equipment, arrange things and light things, make coffee, walk round and peer on screens and down cameras, nudge things and then make more coffee. After about half an hour of this, another man will appear, introduce himself, make coffee, peer down cameras, give things a nudge, look at a screen or two, give things another nudge and then make more coffee. The same interval will elapse before the third man appears and repeats exactly the same procedure as with the second man. By the time there are four men, the photoshoot appears to be quorate - but the procedure remains the same. After all four men have peered and nudged and drunk enough coffee it is lunchtime.<br />
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I had a very enjoyable morning learning how a photoshoot is conducted. I also offered the occasional bit of advice (and was kindly told that my suggestions were 'invaluable') about the relative popularity of a book or an artist and what should be prominent - but for the most part I drank coffee.<br />
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Whether the procedure continued the same after lunch I can't honestly say (although I suspect it did) because I didn't think I could contribute any more and so I went home, leaving my books behind. <br />
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I was then sent proofs of what I thought would be the final stamps - and liked them very much. The 'casual' arrangement of books - achieved through an inordinate number of nudges - (see picture below) had been tidied up to feature 4 stamps in each picture which spilled out beyond the stamp borders. However, it turned out that there were still a number of other stages to be undergone and reviews by another couple of committees led to the decision to re-shoot in my absence. If anyone doesn't like the final stamps (and I much preferred the more imaginative earlier version) this is where I have an opportunity to abnegate responsibility for the choices made.<br />
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From each 'stamp' at least one book was dropped, which rather undid the painstaking balance of artists and eras but with the intention of achieving a much more simple, less cluttered look. Personally I preferred the cluttered look, but there you go. If you like the final stamps best, forget I said that.<br />
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A couple of months later, in February this year, my books came home to me, packed up in my suitcase and travelling by courier. I can confirm that no Ladybird books were harmed in the shooting of these stamps. But since then I've kept them in isolation from the rest of my books, thinking that I could auction off one or two of them for charity.<br />
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My next commission was to write the copy for the presentation packs that accompany the first-day covers and general background bumf. It had been decided to create a Ladybird ABC of snippets of information about the history, vintage books and artists. This immediately struck me as a very clever and appropriate idea and take my hat off to whoever suggested it. My first task with this stage of was enjoyable - to try to think of a suitable topic A-Z, giving a flavour of the vintage Ladybird story. If coming up with a category for each letter was a pleasure, trying to say what I wanted to say within a super-strict word-count was extremely frustrating. The attention to detail shown by the project editor was impressive. Clearly you would need to be exceedingly punctilious when you're dealing with experts and with stamp collectors and when publishing something with this sort of reach - but Helen (another one) was both meticulous and flexible. <br />
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A final piece of copy was required for the Royal Mail Yearbook - a publication I didn't previously know about. This book (published, as you might have guessed, annually) contains a chapter of further information about each topic featured on that year's stamp issue. After all the limitations and restrictions of the previous tasks, a bit of free-flowing prose - a chapter on the history of Ladybird Books - was again a pleasure to write.<br />
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But the best bit for me was probably the photoshoot for the Yearbook chapter. The initial 'place-holder' idea was to feature a large shot of a shelf of books perhaps in black and white - with some elements from the Ladybird story featured in colour. Because my collection is unusually extensive and because I have a good idea of what features of the Ladybird story are worth highlighting, I had offered to let the photographers take pictures of particular books or artifacts at my house. But when the designer saw a picture of my book-shed, they asked if they could photograph there.<br />
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By now I was experienced in Royal Mail photoshoots and was prepared for the men who arrived in stages, for the screens, the peering, the nudging and the need for regular refreshments; the Yearbook team, did not disappoint.<br />
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On arrival they all admired my book-shed and then decided to dismantle almost everything. Together we pulled most of the contents into the garden (it was a hot dry day and again no books were harmed in the creative process) gave it all a stir and then put it all back again in almost exactly the same position as it had been to start with. Then the photoshoot got underway, following the now-familiar process.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkSuB0PEGs-TA01WXj0RdF-F1g-Y3736wLkOob15pO0aPw_5KnpkCtWfnAuitwIX0dEjD7462_Dql7KT59fytZVEosdhBWcZKMefNMpi6ahPjC1l09oUThnzpGtgc0YpdONSZM1U-5dNj/s1600/2017-05-10+10.24.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkSuB0PEGs-TA01WXj0RdF-F1g-Y3736wLkOob15pO0aPw_5KnpkCtWfnAuitwIX0dEjD7462_Dql7KT59fytZVEosdhBWcZKMefNMpi6ahPjC1l09oUThnzpGtgc0YpdONSZM1U-5dNj/s200/2017-05-10+10.24.11.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK51lUMWOPPUxsHq1EC4-4FPHaGBno96AZ6gt12o6JZe8hggybhFN-YOixKtu7jtl-h9awsL8FNpJj34JbG-sm9P86e9xnh_T4G0R1RWOLIuc0LGfbbcGkvUuUjnabMCJHO2I0CbuSmaAK/s1600/2017-05-10+10.24.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK51lUMWOPPUxsHq1EC4-4FPHaGBno96AZ6gt12o6JZe8hggybhFN-YOixKtu7jtl-h9awsL8FNpJj34JbG-sm9P86e9xnh_T4G0R1RWOLIuc0LGfbbcGkvUuUjnabMCJHO2I0CbuSmaAK/s200/2017-05-10+10.24.16.jpg" width="150" /></a>Everyone involved was very nice and friendly and the fact that I've forgotten everyone's name (there was a Gary) is no reflection on them or my enjoyment of the whole day.<br />
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This time, however, there was a clear end to the photoshoot. They packed up the equipment and we went to the pub and then they went home.<br />
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After that, it was just a question of dealing with questions by email or phone. This went on over an extended period and even required me to do a bit of research when on holiday in China - quite a challenge on a mobile phone, with limited wi-fi and the Great Firewall of China preventing access to Google.<br />
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I know there is a small mistake in the graphics of the presentation pack that I picked up but that was never corrected. I say no more.<br />
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The stamps came out on Thursday 14th September 2017. The yearbook (with the shed-shoot) won't be out for a little while yet.<br />
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Every dog has its day - but the 14th of September was not one of unalloyed joy.<br />
Disappointingly, the press release - disseminated widely online and in the national papers - made extensive use of my copy but no use at all of my name. I received no acknowledgement for the loan of my resources or involvement beyond the 'words'. <br />
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It turns out that this was an oversight. Now forgive me for this, but I would like to put it in writing, if only on my own blog, these words from an email I have just received from a manager at the Royal Mail, regretting that the stamps and ephemera do not include "<i>a reference to your invaluable contribution to the stamp designs</i>." The message ends "<i>All I can do is to offer my apologies.</i>"<br />
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Pazienza. It was a pleaure and a privilege to be involved.<br />
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And now you know How-it-Works, I hope you'll go out and buy some of this lovely collection:<br />
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<a href="http://shop.royalmail.com/issue-by-issue/ladybird-books/icat/ladybirdbooks" target="_blank">http://shop.royalmail.com/icat/ladybird-books/icat/ladybirdbooks</a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-69586360019655902052017-07-29T05:57:00.002-07:002017-07-29T06:58:01.285-07:00Top ten mistakes that booksellers make when selling Ladybird Books<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">This post is probably a bit niche - it's intended for people who ever buy or sell vintage Ladybird books</span></span><br />
<br />
There are lots of traps that make the buying and selling of Ladybird books a bit different from other children's books, and which can lead even experienced sellers to describe their wares incorrectly. I'm writing this post from my experience over the years of buying books and talking to sellers. I hope it will help some small-time traders, collectors and charities get it right. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 10</span></b><br />
<h3>
Assuming that old Ladybird books are the most valuable.</h3>
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There are lots of Ladybird book collectors out there - but the vast majority of those who buy have only a mild case of nostalgia and the wish to recapture a bit of childhood (perhaps to share with the next generation or two). The books that seem to have had the biggest impact in this way tend to be fiction rather than non-fiction. Also the non-fiction met the school market -so perhaps there are more around today? Anyway, that's why a beautiful early edition of British Birds and their Nests from 1953 may be much harder to sell than a 1980s reprint of Little Red Riding Hood.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 9</span></b><br />
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<h3>
Assuming that a loft-find of vintage Ladybird books will make a small fortune. </h3>
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Between the late 50s and 1980s the company was phenomenally successful - which means that print runs were huge. In turn this means that there are still lots of copies around of most books of this era. The Bible stories of series 522 and 606x, for example, were printed with schools and Sunday Schools in mind, were often given as prizes for good conduct and consequently are often found in large numbers and in pristine condition today. They don't seem to have got much use! <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 8</span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
Assuming books with an author's signature have been signed by the author</h3>
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In some series of Ladybird books it was the custom to reproduce the artist's signature on the dust-wrapper or preliminary pages. This was a style feature - not intended to fool anyone. But so often that's what happens. Look out for printed signature on books by:<br />
Gilda Lund<br />
Vesey-Fitzgerald<br />
Max Kester<br />
Auntie Muriel (Muriel Levy) <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 7</span></b><br />
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<h3>
The sticky price label. </h3>
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Sticky price labels are a massive NO for Ladybird dust-wrappers and matt covers which simply aren't as robust as later laminated covers or later dust-wrappers found on children's books today. Stickers are likely to scar the book.. Light pencil or a post-it-note-type sticker on the preliminaries work best.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 6</span></b><br />
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<h3>
Assuming misprinted or misbound books are valuable.</h3>
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Re the massive print-runs mentioned above, lots of mistakes seem to have been made. If you find a misbound book, it may be of mild interest as a curiosity to a collector but more often it will disappoint the buyer. There are lots of such books out there.<br />
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(That said, I'm rather fond of this particularly bonkers example and keep it in my collection: it's a mash-up of Peter and Jane, Rapunzel, Arms and Armour)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 5</span></b><br />
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Assuming that any book marked 'First Edition' must be more sought-after. This may well be true if the book is pre-1960s and the information looks like this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8m2id3yj6iTTR3egqTcacAXUmG9h9fXqjrKOB9nzIV-8sJdDIjJ7q-HIZ4MpO0oUpY2ZehVCcbkmRqYeN1Di1nlOwsCf_zcSPlpY2BdWUIQ8p_l1eKZ5CTRePRyJNiPrgc4oUnfVTqTi/s1600/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+10+06.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8m2id3yj6iTTR3egqTcacAXUmG9h9fXqjrKOB9nzIV-8sJdDIjJ7q-HIZ4MpO0oUpY2ZehVCcbkmRqYeN1Di1nlOwsCf_zcSPlpY2BdWUIQ8p_l1eKZ5CTRePRyJNiPrgc4oUnfVTqTi/s200/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+10+06.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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But if the book dates from the 80s or later and the information looks like this: then the words are pretty well meaningless.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 4</span></b><br />
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<h3>
Apologising for a missing DJ on a vintage Ladybird Book</h3>
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If the book was first published after 1965 it would never have had a dust wrapper. Nothing to excuse.<br />
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But then, conversely ... <br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Number 4b</span></b><br />
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<h3>
Assuming that a book with full-page colour boards never had a dustwrapper. </h3>
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Some early series books originally had colour boards underneath a dust-wrapper. These series include Uncle Mac, Series 413, series 474 and The Impatient Horse. It's quite simple: any book that was issued before 1964 will originally have had a dust-wrapper.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEHjxEmfghMXbDwwrflZvObS69tk5CH86MtrtWTGnRJYIoMVZocvJtdJACJe8xc_IRV2kp1MVxEsSxWG8EEzJhGnddgafnsmWFnRkS-1Yo3WWiL044AYtWhplfjYLocjC6P34mAYxvAdy/s1600/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+11+08.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEHjxEmfghMXbDwwrflZvObS69tk5CH86MtrtWTGnRJYIoMVZocvJtdJACJe8xc_IRV2kp1MVxEsSxWG8EEzJhGnddgafnsmWFnRkS-1Yo3WWiL044AYtWhplfjYLocjC6P34mAYxvAdy/s320/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+11+08.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This copy of Rapunzel dates from 1968 so never had a dj. In the Wilderness dates from 1948 so it has lots its original dj</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 3</span></b><br />
<h3>
Assuming that books with the same name will essentially be the same book.</h3>
<br />
Even when the book has the same title and is published in the same series, it might be a very different book from the one a buyer is expecting. The safest things is to cite both artist and illustrator (but see Number 1 below). Pictured is an example of the sort or thing that regularly catches buyers out - but there are lots more. <a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/pages/diff_versions.htm" target="_blank">More information here</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIrxYfT8hi_sdBHNmGLHPtsSEziKbUjlo8yHsrZ8J9nf-U4g1-CRMsVl8ZuOeLu342BeervBxx5gtP6OGemNNmDUT4wxcUXXAYcaeFh4le2WrqiRZe9CE_314Fvr9zgHwc5WbuO9xWWQ2/s1600/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+11+23.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="1600" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIrxYfT8hi_sdBHNmGLHPtsSEziKbUjlo8yHsrZ8J9nf-U4g1-CRMsVl8ZuOeLu342BeervBxx5gtP6OGemNNmDUT4wxcUXXAYcaeFh4le2WrqiRZe9CE_314Fvr9zgHwc5WbuO9xWWQ2/s320/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+11+23.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same title, same series - but someone hoping to buy the book on the left would probably be unhappy to receive the one on the right.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 2</span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
Overlooking obvious clues as to the publication date. </h3>
<br />
Any book with an original price on the back in decimal currency must post-date decimilisation (1971). Any book with a bar code will be from 1982 onwards etc. Why would an experienced seller overlook such obvious clues? Because of 'Number 1' ...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Number 1</span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
Assuming that the date printed in the front of a Ladybird Book is the date it was issued. </h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB8B3_rxvqmkvSx92nERq0VTJut_HjA0dQODuASCmojE6KPyfERh9uB1omfnkj5fluhQ9XLQ8yeSYXEMF30qMSGQ2oFC1Njollb-HRq9NlFbQb1_BzBoMI_OUeURDJwnSiI_Byu6PGk9o/s1600/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+11+33.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1559" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB8B3_rxvqmkvSx92nERq0VTJut_HjA0dQODuASCmojE6KPyfERh9uB1omfnkj5fluhQ9XLQ8yeSYXEMF30qMSGQ2oFC1Njollb-HRq9NlFbQb1_BzBoMI_OUeURDJwnSiI_Byu6PGk9o/s320/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+11+33.jpeg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although this book is dated 1964, it was printed over 12 years later</td></tr>
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Who knows how many buyers have bought books online only to find that a book is a later edition and not the 'first edition' it was described as? Whilst for most books, the latest date mentioned on the preliminary pages indicates the date of that particular edition, this is rarely true for Ladybird Books from the late 1950s onwards. Instead the routine was to put on the title page <i>the date of the first edition</i>, regardless how long ago it was that that first edition appeared; regardless even of the fact that the book might have been revised extensively in the the intervening years.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDItTQ-AYdKBiHgIxikAZYKBdOH3z7YpD3XIKo6CUwSRy9oZx_yx7v3gFV_F8qZCgxn0Td_9QKBhY8MbhE6rGwlkh2HWqm_mL91Hu5tV8pdr5IdJ-DYNp-rSfVJ1I5oQeWi9avkKU1gyuJ/s1600/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+09+21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDItTQ-AYdKBiHgIxikAZYKBdOH3z7YpD3XIKo6CUwSRy9oZx_yx7v3gFV_F8qZCgxn0Td_9QKBhY8MbhE6rGwlkh2HWqm_mL91Hu5tV8pdr5IdJ-DYNp-rSfVJ1I5oQeWi9avkKU1gyuJ/s320/File+29-07-2017%252C+12+09+21.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both versions contain only one date: 1962 - but were issued a decade apart</td></tr>
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There are a few more I could add - but 10 is such a neat number. Hope this is some help. <br />
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-54109814936741353472017-06-03T01:34:00.000-07:002017-06-03T02:22:02.845-07:00Ladybird Experts: Battle of Britain and ShackletonIn common with Basil Fawlty, golden-age Ladybird books try not to mention the war.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4t3IFbN-pQRk9lgosv1pSwF5IVIaoY6dj17SbElRe7Qk6YcexCGmJVX6mbHjxCk2d6NvNcjtS_EXEL-n6zS_llcZkvs_uq16x9C9jTmmvO55sqYodNODKp5m1eB4abx8VjwkPKnC45ba/s1600/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+54+01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4t3IFbN-pQRk9lgosv1pSwF5IVIaoY6dj17SbElRe7Qk6YcexCGmJVX6mbHjxCk2d6NvNcjtS_EXEL-n6zS_llcZkvs_uq16x9C9jTmmvO55sqYodNODKp5m1eB4abx8VjwkPKnC45ba/s320/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+54+01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in 1941 Puffin Picture Books published a book on the Battle of Britain. It also contained beautifully stylish and evocative illustrations</td></tr>
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This to some extent reflects the spirit of the age - of the 1950s to 70s - to look forward, not backwards, towards a constructive, technology-driven future. But probably a bigger influence was the perspective of Ladybird's editorial director, Douglas Keen. As a humanist and a pacifist he was reluctant for the books he commissioned to dwell on 20th century warfare - and certainly not to glorify it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5YecDYdFRul6aGVE5CTMRNAGGHfZ1EAsFZIiSf8BrhdWMHKsECGJOjhj2znumbPmd3WUJC2RrM_D-j-wIFANFvGJF7MHmdqd8oNfvfeX-fUmV2_KfbgWOIJRhioALEglBEnwDDxQJ5P5/s1600/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+30+18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5YecDYdFRul6aGVE5CTMRNAGGHfZ1EAsFZIiSf8BrhdWMHKsECGJOjhj2znumbPmd3WUJC2RrM_D-j-wIFANFvGJF7MHmdqd8oNfvfeX-fUmV2_KfbgWOIJRhioALEglBEnwDDxQJ5P5/s320/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+30+18.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new Ladybird Expert books</td></tr>
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This is a matter I discussed in a post I wrote three years ago: "<a href="http://oldladybirdbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/what-to-look-for-in-vain.html" target="_blank">What to Look for in Vain</a>"<br />
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In the post I discuss the topics that Ladybird, rather surprisingly, never covered. Now that Penguin-Random House have bought out their new Ladybird Expert series, it will be interesting to see how many of these gaps are eventually closed. For these reasons I was particularly looking forward to reading the latest Penguin-RH publications: <i>The Battle of Britain</i>, by James Holland, illustrated by Keith Burns; and <i>Shackleton</i> by Ben Saunders, illustrated by Rowan Clifford.<br />
<br />
I read them both this weekend - and I was not disappointed.<br />
<br />
Let me start with The Battle of Britain. The premise of these new Expert books is to take topics that adults will be interested in finding out a little more about and to present the content 'old-school'. The small size and traditional layout of a Ladybird doesn't just lend itself to children's reading material but also for all of us who want more than bite-size information but less than a traditional book or densely packed website. For me the format works really well (and I talk a lot more about <a href="http://oldladybirdbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/facts-thoughts-and-experts.html" target="_blank">the format and concept here</a>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjDzPeQ4mggCAK6rFIKYuraofrk5gTGbaSBpiBOKV5iqCDBtu_L8jXONkDpsxnzPOpT8EH_o9U4uFhWHmx5I-L6JhqwqVGaEl2EmADKmSSpnTj4by31B219RjFH4bL5bzulsgCxFf497H/s1600/comparison.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="549" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjDzPeQ4mggCAK6rFIKYuraofrk5gTGbaSBpiBOKV5iqCDBtu_L8jXONkDpsxnzPOpT8EH_o9U4uFhWHmx5I-L6JhqwqVGaEl2EmADKmSSpnTj4by31B219RjFH4bL5bzulsgCxFf497H/s400/comparison.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: new artwork by Keith Burns. Right: a rare WW2 illustration by Frank Hampson, 1968</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Battle of Britain is a topic I felt I didn't know enough about. I've picked up bits from school, from old films, from Biggles (!) and from the odd documentary. This book collated the odds-and-ends in my head, sorted them out, added new stuff, gave the whole lot a context and then sent me on my way. It was an excellent read. Really very good. For different reasons it stands with 'Quantum Mechanics' as my favourite so far.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTV0jSNYfGGCovhXofAbzwUDR75t_eD74L5wLdt3ZPIsfPVlccevUxIBZY8fUXaFDxImt_oa_exbci-usmVwBqj_50a1j7O-HnMKbJOHejXPhAfAUDBF2cIYNSaz-LMKp9Kl7iLPwF_OS/s1600/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+35+09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTV0jSNYfGGCovhXofAbzwUDR75t_eD74L5wLdt3ZPIsfPVlccevUxIBZY8fUXaFDxImt_oa_exbci-usmVwBqj_50a1j7O-HnMKbJOHejXPhAfAUDBF2cIYNSaz-LMKp9Kl7iLPwF_OS/s200/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+35+09.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGAXPvat0sm8GlSZ-74_JBJkM5gY6EeMHoyFsjlpMLPRp7WRpJmkcTTwZbgNwRZFCIMv1xeLY1RrGhOIcdp4QbvYxv1hbVtYU39_xTIPKF2LR0bferX4fkHG2tSW5hASoypROsyZPNoG6/s1600/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+33+25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGAXPvat0sm8GlSZ-74_JBJkM5gY6EeMHoyFsjlpMLPRp7WRpJmkcTTwZbgNwRZFCIMv1xeLY1RrGhOIcdp4QbvYxv1hbVtYU39_xTIPKF2LR0bferX4fkHG2tSW5hASoypROsyZPNoG6/s200/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+33+25.jpeg" width="150" /></a>The first thing I have to single out is the artwork. Keith Burns' artwork is simply wonderful. Although not exactly vintage Ladybird in brush-stroke, it is vintage Ladybird in spirit. It does what the best LB artwork always did: it takes at least its fair share of the story-telling.<br />
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<br />
I'm not a historian - except perhaps of Ladybird - so I can't really comment much on the accuracy and originality of the content. But it seems to me that writer James Holland manages well the need to spin a thrilling yarn with the need to give a balanced account. Now when golden-age Ladybird history writer L. du Garde Peach was recounting most of the original 'History series' books he was writing at a time when history for children was more closely related to story-telling than it was to history for adults. It was thought that engaging a child's imagination was more important than absolute historical accuracy (and thinking of all the 'proper' historians today who ascribe early inspiration to this series of books, I feel this may be a good point).<br />
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Be that as it may, I can imagine that when writing for children or adults today there is pressure to represent a balance of view-points - an imperative which rarely got in the way of Capt. WE Johns or L du Garde Peach. One of the ways that Holland does this is by weaving in extracts of testimony from pilots on both sides of the conflict. He also sacrifices the (surely tempting) 'plot device' of stressing how close Britian came to losing the conflict. Indeed, it seems to me that he makes a point of the difficulties inherent in the German offensive and reminds the reader to see beyond the idea of the plucky little island holding out against overwhelming odds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTV0jSNYfGGCovhXofAbzwUDR75t_eD74L5wLdt3ZPIsfPVlccevUxIBZY8fUXaFDxImt_oa_exbci-usmVwBqj_50a1j7O-HnMKbJOHejXPhAfAUDBF2cIYNSaz-LMKp9Kl7iLPwF_OS/s1600/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+35+09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTV0jSNYfGGCovhXofAbzwUDR75t_eD74L5wLdt3ZPIsfPVlccevUxIBZY8fUXaFDxImt_oa_exbci-usmVwBqj_50a1j7O-HnMKbJOHejXPhAfAUDBF2cIYNSaz-LMKp9Kl7iLPwF_OS/s320/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+35+09.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And this is where I come back to the artwork sharing the story-telling. Whilst the writer restrains from over-playing the drama, the artist brings all the thrills and exhilaration and colour he can to animate the tale. The writer quotes first-hand testimony from pilots; the artist sweeps you up in the air, sends you soaring and then drops you in a spin, makes you almost sea-sick on the high seas and scorches you in the fires. Whilst writer Holland avoids a glib ending to the conflict and reminds us that the war, at this point, was only just beginning, it's left to the artist to tell the story of a homecoming, a grateful people and, if you like, a happy ending, all in one last stirring picture:<br />
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<br />
As I've sometimes remarked before, Douglas Keen possessed a remarkable skill in matching writer and artist to commission. On his occasion Penguin-Random House have done the same thing very well indeed.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinseyIBe3LUUEuJMHhHsAJNDR9K10NkCcOT7ez7qohfLiTAElnbzLjCVZUKmHLM9IeNFGITvkkPXws1tj7nQ7YFHAJIvg3D3YdAmceXwXbN_keszoWw04CpVmmVyKHhqadHKyeXQ5ERVpQ/s1600/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+48+16.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinseyIBe3LUUEuJMHhHsAJNDR9K10NkCcOT7ez7qohfLiTAElnbzLjCVZUKmHLM9IeNFGITvkkPXws1tj7nQ7YFHAJIvg3D3YdAmceXwXbN_keszoWw04CpVmmVyKHhqadHKyeXQ5ERVpQ/s200/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+48+16.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rowan Clifford, Shackleton, 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPHOrsAdseO4lAXrinL0FsKNqcFwrIMx_xAl0zdb7kIDaJWQWnqlmTRspcLt5JR4pCvULwdHjm2LXNS4Wjp6AauDBWc85svOJqghn0JsPS-Q9L6djrWXWBqowFgNmtII-0qYloO9VFKUy/s1600/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+52+02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPHOrsAdseO4lAXrinL0FsKNqcFwrIMx_xAl0zdb7kIDaJWQWnqlmTRspcLt5JR4pCvULwdHjm2LXNS4Wjp6AauDBWc85svOJqghn0JsPS-Q9L6djrWXWBqowFgNmtII-0qYloO9VFKUy/s200/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+52+02.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Kenney, Captain Scott, 1963</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have less to say about Shackleton, by Ben Saunders, illustrated by Rowan Clifford. I enjoyed it. It filled in the details on an episode about which I didn't really know much. But I didn't love it. Why not? The story is well told, with the Ladybird touch to the prose - simple but intelligent.<br />
The artwork is skillful but I think the problem is that the artwork doesn't pull its weight in the story-telling. The pictures often seem to be there to take up their allocated space, not to advance or add depth to the story. The whole book, probably unfairly, suffers by direct comparison with the vintage Ladybird classic Captain Scott. In 'Shackleton' I miss the light and energy of Kenney's original artwork. As Shackleton's party were often short of light and energy themselves in the Antarctic winter, you might say that the artist captured a truth - but this doesn't enhance the pleasure of the reader.<br />
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<br />
Where the artwork is most successful, as in the following pictures, it draws you into the scene and adds depth to the text.<br />
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Sometimes, however, it did less than it could have done to help me empathise with the characters' ordeal or to add structure to the story-telling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1BBcrbK5CJ7ssjWaOERZk0I7dGRtwuFzM4Ux64tTj9jFl7vYGpuSgQ8qPSg_woinlZTJjG2hd6tM3-P3Oezaw8CUtN33LWijqNndCXqLwxIEXGNjYRwjc_UuFyY_z7UzbiB_Jy_y5d-F/s1600/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+47+50.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1BBcrbK5CJ7ssjWaOERZk0I7dGRtwuFzM4Ux64tTj9jFl7vYGpuSgQ8qPSg_woinlZTJjG2hd6tM3-P3Oezaw8CUtN33LWijqNndCXqLwxIEXGNjYRwjc_UuFyY_z7UzbiB_Jy_y5d-F/s320/File+28-05-2017%252C+21+47+50.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
A few final points<br />
1) I started this post talking about the gaps in the topics covered by vintage Ladybird. One of the biggest gaps in the history books particularly is the lack of coverage of women: female figures and women's achievements get very little coverage. Times have changed a lot since Keen was commissioning new books but I'm surprised Penguin-Random House chose not to ring these changes from the start but instead reached for the safest of Boys Own topics. Ok. It's not a problem, as long as they get their act together quickly. With this in mind, my top suggestions for history books would be:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Ada Lovelace</li>
<li>Life and times of Jane Austen - yes a quiet domestic life but what
turbulent times she lived in! most of which find echos in her books.
Plus the bicentenary of her death is coming up fast. </li>
<li>Female aviation pioneers </li>
<li>The Suffragettes</li>
<li>The Brontes </li>
<li>The Empire - perhaps an attempt at an honest look at Britain's imperial past </li>
</ul>
Other ideas for books? Perhaps you could suggest them below.<br />
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2) I hope, going forward, Penguin RH think hard about matching artist with commission. When they find the right artist, one capable of sharing the story-telling with the writer, I feel they should give that artist equal billing. Although the names of the creators are never on the cover of a vintage Ladybird Book, on the title page artist and writer, quite rightly, share the credit equally.<br />
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Artwork was at the heart of vintage Ladybird success and for this new project to flourish longer term the same needs to be true today.<br />
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3) Quibbles aside, the books are excellent. Hope you enjoy them too.<br />
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-82426409580458432522017-03-13T08:46:00.002-07:002017-03-14T09:41:59.616-07:00New Ladybird gallery<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Last Friday
(10<sup>th</sup> March) saw the official opening of the Museum of English Rural
Life, (MERL for short) Ladybird Books gallery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was my second visit to the museum but I thought I should wait until
after the official opening to offer readers of this blog a review.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKqqBr-fXX2yBbql5rJg77a9Koom4IIHtJnPhyphenhyphen_PyPDcrJPiuvzx8qYffUiU0nDLEEymB0jt15saVVltDeqJvmX9-tohXSTjeIip9kAyDJ87Ti5LrG1D9-ZEXiFtO4I1Oti_QV8rnDfVF/s1600/MERL_guide_cover_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKqqBr-fXX2yBbql5rJg77a9Koom4IIHtJnPhyphenhyphen_PyPDcrJPiuvzx8qYffUiU0nDLEEymB0jt15saVVltDeqJvmX9-tohXSTjeIip9kAyDJ87Ti5LrG1D9-ZEXiFtO4I1Oti_QV8rnDfVF/s1600/MERL_guide_cover_small.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What is the
MERL and what has it got to do with Ladybird Books?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When the
Ladybird Books factory and offices in Loughborough were closed down in 1999, numerous boxes of
original Ladybird artwork were moved to London where they sat neglected in a
dark corner for a number of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
all of the Ladybird artwork was in those boxes – but a great deal was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually staff at Penguin sought a new home
for this artwork and the University of Reading agreed to take it as one of
their ‘Special Collections’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The artwork
was still tucked away from general view in an archive - but now in Reading rather
than London – and now at least it could be viewed on request.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However,
from time to time items from the archive would be loaned to exhibitions and
recent extremely successful such exhibitions (notably the one at Bexhill and
The House of Illustration in London 2015) made apparent the ‘pulling-power’ of
Ladybird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Space was found for a
dedicated and permanent Ladybird gallery within the MERL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so it is this permanent Ladybird space
that is being opened and celebrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsXfgSu1KxBGexmyWwjD6Bni-lIlQFHArl64sWoWhpJz4rRdr-NOgNzoGeCTcywTv1Vp_Gp8IbIBoEs8xYXei-ZucASWA0wrDb3e0FdBlM91ZC9pc62GGxI9DaOOcMfTEFUWaMWDaqU0j/s1600/2017-03-10+18.25.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsXfgSu1KxBGexmyWwjD6Bni-lIlQFHArl64sWoWhpJz4rRdr-NOgNzoGeCTcywTv1Vp_Gp8IbIBoEs8xYXei-ZucASWA0wrDb3e0FdBlM91ZC9pc62GGxI9DaOOcMfTEFUWaMWDaqU0j/s320/2017-03-10+18.25.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So
what will you see if you decide to visit?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Ladybird
gallery is small and awkwardly shaped so the organisers have had to be quite
creative in planning how best to use the space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are two walls of dedicated space and currently a large proportion
of this is taken up with a cabinet featuring the brand new Penguin Random House
‘Ladybird Expert” artwork.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are
perhaps 10 more pieces of original vintage Ladybird artwork on the walls, a
small number of other artefacts including an uncut sheet and a couple of information plaques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most dominant feature
of the gallery is the colourful “Wall of Books” – which to anyone who didn’t
get to see the exhibition at Bexhill or the House of Illustration will certainly
enjoy viewing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUDrJiCPyjiAgLE7B-f6SMrt1Yz3dAYkGd4lKhr48wnKhyphenhyphenz06SANuRPtAyyJJmlH26z6-8BZOkRCiWRxMSFBsWGzX6Du9Rd4rl0_LKyc2RCRAay7dkXorlhNhtbTqwNf6swD0yNxZ4qGQ/s1600/2017-03-10+18.25.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUDrJiCPyjiAgLE7B-f6SMrt1Yz3dAYkGd4lKhr48wnKhyphenhyphenz06SANuRPtAyyJJmlH26z6-8BZOkRCiWRxMSFBsWGzX6Du9Rd4rl0_LKyc2RCRAay7dkXorlhNhtbTqwNf6swD0yNxZ4qGQ/s320/2017-03-10+18.25.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you have a
cursory interest in Ladybird Books then this gallery will add to your enjoyment
of a very interesting museum.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now if you
are aware of this event at all it may be because of the recent publicity that
the Museum has successfully generated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my
opinion the not-so-good thing is the tendency towards exaggeration that
characterises a number of the reports about the gallery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Earlier this
month <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/feb/23/the-ladybird-book-illustrations-artwork-gallery-museum-english-rural-life" target="_blank">The Guardian declared</a> in a headline that an:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Entire art
gallery of Ladybird book covers is world first”</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“You can view an entire art gallery
of Ladybird Book covers at a museum in the UK”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
University of Reading’s own press release tells us that this will be: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“the first and only permanent exhibition of
Ladybird Books artwork”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now I am
sure the MERL is blameless in all this reporting but some of this is a little
misleading and unhelpful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1) This is
not the first permanent exhibition of Ladybird Books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Charnwoood Musum in Loughborough, home of
Ladybird, established a nice little permanent exhibition back in 2015.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe too that their collection includes
at least one piece of original Ladybird artwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I phoned recently to check that the
exhibition was indeed ‘permanent’ and it is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2) The
Guardian has got confused between artwork and book covers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3) The term ‘an
entire art gallery’ implies a dedicated building or wing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not what you’ll find.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for my thoughts on what I saw.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCQdcZKsWrZHYw51H1L0zp21bXpsxGljpX658fmVlFoMxGLj8sOdFF_TJErVLAyc2iTj4T3YoqK_gSt4XcDGnln_7pNSIq9zxNbXtZ8ylXVd-UjuMxAfPY5E7G-HaYM8jrZ7RJvf_Wf2A/s1600/MERL-002-Introduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCQdcZKsWrZHYw51H1L0zp21bXpsxGljpX658fmVlFoMxGLj8sOdFF_TJErVLAyc2iTj4T3YoqK_gSt4XcDGnln_7pNSIq9zxNbXtZ8ylXVd-UjuMxAfPY5E7G-HaYM8jrZ7RJvf_Wf2A/s320/MERL-002-Introduction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">a) The MERL
makes a great visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rural life
museum has something for everyone – even if old ploughs aren’t your thing then
something else will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is bright and
airy and well-displayed and not too big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also has those indispensable assets: a café and a shop.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">b) All the
people that I have met at the MERL are friendly, helpful and dedicated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">c) The
Ladybird gallery has lots of potential and is a good start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will add to the enjoyment of many museum visitors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">d) It needs
to articulate a little better to the casual visitor quite why there is a
Ladybird Books gallery nestling among the ploughs and butter churns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">e) It needs,
in my opinion, to make MUCH more use of the original artwork, and in the future I hope it will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With thousands of pieces being kept in
storage it is more than a shame to have so few on display.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are quite a few poster-sized reproductions
of the artwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why use precious space
with a few reproductions when your USP is that you have access to masses of
original artwork?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even allowing for the
challenges of space there are countless other ways to exploit the archive that
is the raison d'être of this gallery and to put on public view material that
will bring pleasure to the many people who remember the books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So all in all, a promising start. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you visit Reading I'd recommend you visit the MERL and I hope you drop in to the Ladybird gallery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to hear what you think.</span></div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-62165448098363969572017-02-06T07:37:00.001-08:002017-02-06T13:39:01.688-08:00Facts, thoughts and Experts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7QBDpt5vLP_D6Q2HwC-ENuttiEBa8dj3yXTrJ7lyori_Uzjd7bjqgg1KwInBxRFAdSub9KotkPMAQlXoMFqVLCBbRdAJZWonMnHS5b-7IFjtd54cDy9Nl3PlY80Yiv7zPdEkgaD5TGNM/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+47+29.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7QBDpt5vLP_D6Q2HwC-ENuttiEBa8dj3yXTrJ7lyori_Uzjd7bjqgg1KwInBxRFAdSub9KotkPMAQlXoMFqVLCBbRdAJZWonMnHS5b-7IFjtd54cDy9Nl3PlY80Yiv7zPdEkgaD5TGNM/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+47+29.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
In some ways, the timing couldn't have been better.<br />
<br />
Just as everyone was talking about facts and alternative facts and the state of the world 'post-fact' - just when Trump draws our attention to climate change and the extent of creationist belief - Ladybird brings us The Expert Series:<br />
<br />
<br />
These three titles are intended as the first in a new venture for the company Penguin Random House, which owns the Ladybird brand name. This is to be a series of books aimed at adults rather than children, "written by some of the leading lights and outstanding communicators in their field and published by one of the most trusted and and well-loved names in books", according to the preface.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPN_hiJsgcmj5ZwfwEBojhc6sI2BDUD5Emie-k74H6sifWlTzQn7J5blR9dV_lEvWODd9I3EKDQsrygv4DworCdTQnYnWQuUd8c1U94wk0FpWyp3Yn4u6gFKprz-MCBszjgrfzMqtWG9P/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+45+16.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPN_hiJsgcmj5ZwfwEBojhc6sI2BDUD5Emie-k74H6sifWlTzQn7J5blR9dV_lEvWODd9I3EKDQsrygv4DworCdTQnYnWQuUd8c1U94wk0FpWyp3Yn4u6gFKprz-MCBszjgrfzMqtWG9P/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+45+16.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
In some ways, however, the timing could hardly have been worse.<br />
<br />
This Christmas in particular there has been a veritable torrent of comedic vintage pastiche books in shops of different types, usually positioned near the till and jostling for our attention. Front of the queue has usually been the 'Ladybird Books for Grown Ups' whose success last year has been so remarkable.<br />
<br />
Not many of us got through Christmas, I expect, without being a least witness to a Ladybird pastiche book being purchased or received. But no sooner has this flood begun to ebbb away, than (to continue my mixture of metaphors) more vintage-styled Ladybird Books appear near the till of bookshops, nudging at our elbows, asking to be picked up.<br />
<br />
The danger for the publisher is that customers are likely to get a bit confused and/or a bit jaded with the vintage-pastiche concept, however well-realised.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsE3Q3GlclOQLpQNrfI53mM67DMht5-CWWxP9LY-zR_UsHJq7Jjxyd06BvpZtNgOAWf_QTBv4w2TDItII9GVAQHYPDo65zf5LjtriP7tq0hWEac3LnD82jiEQlyOkx5Jqq-D4dPy0VGQHc/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+47+50.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsE3Q3GlclOQLpQNrfI53mM67DMht5-CWWxP9LY-zR_UsHJq7Jjxyd06BvpZtNgOAWf_QTBv4w2TDItII9GVAQHYPDo65zf5LjtriP7tq0hWEac3LnD82jiEQlyOkx5Jqq-D4dPy0VGQHc/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+47+50.jpeg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some of the Ladybird pastiche books on sale</td></tr>
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So why did the publisher choose to embark on this venture now, especially given the fact that when these books were being prepared for publication there could have been no way of knowing how apposite would be the promotion of 'facts' and 'experts', of climate change, evolution and 'fake news'?<br />
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Why not let the dust of comedic pastiche settle a bit first before launching something new?<br />
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The children's book publisher that I celebrate on this blog was sold to a large conglomerate in the mid 1970s and the UK print works, with its offices and its history, were closed down at the end of last century. The Ladybird brand struggled for years for a decent market and a new identity, but with limited success. In recent years I would imagine that much of the brand's income has been derived from the intensive merchandising of 'vintage Ladybird' - tying in as it does with the popularity whole retro Cath Kidston-esque thing.<br />
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When the Ladybird Books for Grown Ups came along, their success took everyone by surprise. The books use irony and self-deprecating humour but the language, although updated for a 'grown-up' audience, generally stays true to the tone and language of the original children's books. Furthermore the writers by and large stuck to their decision only to re-purposing original Ladybird artwork in each book and not to edit or adapt it. And in doing so they made Ladybird cool again.<br />
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They made it ok for an adult to pick up a book that looks and feels like an old Ladybird Book and do something other than sigh and reminisce. Today the adult can pick the book up and smile or laugh or nod (or sneer or get a bit cross and put it down quickly). The name Ladybird on a book can now evoke curiosity, opinion or any grown-up response - and it's OK.<br />
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But the joke can't last forever. So now that Ladybird is relevant again, how best to use this momentum? The publisher has come to the only conclusion I think they could have done: take the idea of Ladybird Books for Grown Ups and make new books designed to educate and inform.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEfAkbaNtElsvB-E6_txzJdNYg162_sMOZMDTM1AxF68qpb2uJeHVPBpqa8Hi2zbW6VomyDt5PpBnKR7akipWZztv0al0sF7im60GXOoBRw0nRDBXYz_LpPO7iHgFX0tEEDPBl6NriaI5/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+44+52.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEfAkbaNtElsvB-E6_txzJdNYg162_sMOZMDTM1AxF68qpb2uJeHVPBpqa8Hi2zbW6VomyDt5PpBnKR7akipWZztv0al0sF7im60GXOoBRw0nRDBXYz_LpPO7iHgFX0tEEDPBl6NriaI5/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+44+52.jpeg" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lot of the illustrations have a rather faded, washed out look</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Choose properly grown-up, substantial topics and combine them with the format and brand-familiarity of a vintage Ladybird. The original format of a Ladybird Book requires 50 pages with the text starting on page 4 and each text page faced with a full-page, original colour illustration. Give a matt finish to the cover and a 1960s-style Ladybird logo and you should be able to combine the retro-appeal that first induced customers to pick up and flick through the pastiche books with a limitless list of possible future titles.<br />
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I don't know if these books will be successful but I hope they are and I've glad the company has tried this.<br />
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What about the problems? Well the first one is a bit paradoxical. The pastiche books did a very good job of aping the look of a late-60s early-70s Ladybird in every detail. They look and feel like the originals. So how do the Expert books capitalise on the success of the pastiche yet clearly distinguish themselves? How do the Expert books look like Ladybird Books without looking like the pastiche books, which have done a very good job of looking like Ladybird Books?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QQBiB8ZbJQ0_kTx1TfHqSnqxBHZXk4UJK8yJmvkEGZ5x9eceueM18tqo_UqonXKE3YpMyOkBE5UloE0eTnxKYlPpAreC0GtFL_7v43cv9ImlDDHHN0iLfW-1aUo-GTCdPjwmJQSczpHX/s1600/spotdifference.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QQBiB8ZbJQ0_kTx1TfHqSnqxBHZXk4UJK8yJmvkEGZ5x9eceueM18tqo_UqonXKE3YpMyOkBE5UloE0eTnxKYlPpAreC0GtFL_7v43cv9ImlDDHHN0iLfW-1aUo-GTCdPjwmJQSczpHX/s200/spotdifference.png" width="181" /></a></div>
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The conclusion the company has come to is to give the Expert books a white cover with a picture inset; to use coloured spines but using different colours to traditional Ladybird books; to use a 1960s style logo - but in monochrome. Will the books look sufficiently different that customers won't be disappointed by the lack of belly-laughs in the Quantum Mechanics one? I'm not sure. Are they sufficiently similar that customers will respond to the original vintage appeal? Again I'm not sure. But full-marks for thinking it all through.<br />
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Now what about the first three titles?<br />
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Firstly the format<br />
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The three books stay true to the classic Ladybird format of using one page of text faced by a full-page illustration and I'm glad that they have eschewed photography in favour of original illustrations. The illustrations aren't of the quality of Ladybird's 'golden age' but this would be a pretty tough ask as technology has moved on; in a world photography and digital design are at the centre of commercial illustration there isn't the large bank of graphic artists able to ply and hone their skills day-in-day-out. How could a Wingfield, a Berry or a Robinson thrive commercially today? Furthermore, traditional illustration is the more expensive option and there has to be a balance between quality and affordability. In short, the artists have done a pretty good job. What exactly is that job? In all the comment I have so far read on these books, the emphasis is very heavily on the 'expert' writers. But just as much space is occupied by the illustrations. In the traditional Ladybird Book the picture worked just as hard as the text in attracting, engaging and explaining information.<br />
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But in a book for adults, rather than for children, isn't all the space dedicated to illustrations just a waste? No, I don't think it is. If you want a book to be in the format of a vintage Ladybird Book then then illustration format isn't up for debate. Choose a different format and you might as well choose a different brand. Or not bother. The pictures, with a greater or lesser degree of success in these first 3 titles, still serve to engage the reader and to explain concepts. More importantly, I think, they break up the text into manageable chunks - all the more important for the eye of the modern reader who has become more accustomed to digesting content on-screen - and hence reading text broken up into small chunks with many graphics. <br />
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Next the content. This is what I think - for what it's worth.<br />
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The three books are actually very dissimilar. <br />
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I most enjoyed the Quantum Physics book. I like Jim Al Khalili as a presenter and it was the book I was most interested to read - perhaps because it was the subject I knew least about. The illustrations work well at time to clarify the text, at times to engage the attention before reading. I started to feel daunted by page 8 (ie the 3rd text page). I nearly gave up on page 14. For me this was not light reading. I ploughed on. It required all my attention and I often had to re-read passages several times. By the end I felt I'd had a mental workout but learnt a lot. It was well worth the effort and will help any future reading or (much more likely) viewing.<br />
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Evolution is a book by Steve Jones in Ladybird form. It is not a Ladybird Book, written by Steve Jones. By this I mean it has a very distinctive authorial tone, and is written in the first person, which is very 'unLadybird'. He is a lively and entertaining writer but I'm not sure why anyone would choose to buy <i>this</i> Steve Jones book, rather than another which would give him more room to do his thing. The fundamental concepts aren't hard to get your head round and if you choose not to believe in evolution, you would never buy this book anyway.<br />
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The same goes for the third book in the trio: Climate Change. Because it has been fronted by HRH it has attracted the most publicity. Much has been made of HRH's involvement and the rigorous process of peer review that it underwent pre-publication. The illustrator, Ruth Palmer, gets closest in this book to matching the 'golden-age' style of illustration (indeed illustrations in this book seem actually to be based more closely on vintage Ladybird original artwork, a fact acknowledged in the preface). But, pictures aside, I enjoyed this book the least. It was too bitty, too fragmented and, for all the right reasons, in tone it was trying too hard. I wonder if this was partly due to said same process of peer review. The book may have passed through too many hands and taken on-board too many comments. It didn't have a sense of progression and development. The most successful part was towards the end when positive initiatives were discussed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj182KZm9iPo64UkDdtu1r4jJxmUBpz423KXo_Ca9kPUONNkWOoAGy57WSaJ9Pmg8SmXAlaUzvxo7KAunpqtHhJNXdr0ohg7PL0bpLB1Q9zFxCmn9k8pk60nTq4YsEmKFArFUeWwO9YHDf9/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+42+07.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj182KZm9iPo64UkDdtu1r4jJxmUBpz423KXo_Ca9kPUONNkWOoAGy57WSaJ9Pmg8SmXAlaUzvxo7KAunpqtHhJNXdr0ohg7PL0bpLB1Q9zFxCmn9k8pk60nTq4YsEmKFArFUeWwO9YHDf9/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+42+07.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1GN4lft9qdpSosDLtH9e_TXbw19BIx9Z-Gs5JOBhYVcrE2lMAZFJhuF0r91W1KndnAAUd1M_6om02ZQmhMD0UmudfSFnnG6fykI_AADHl3Hnap2g0y44biVSiiKCHmFSi7QuGyv0j42z/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+41+52.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1GN4lft9qdpSosDLtH9e_TXbw19BIx9Z-Gs5JOBhYVcrE2lMAZFJhuF0r91W1KndnAAUd1M_6om02ZQmhMD0UmudfSFnnG6fykI_AADHl3Hnap2g0y44biVSiiKCHmFSi7QuGyv0j42z/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+41+52.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above: Ruth Palmer's new artwork based on Tunnicliffe's original</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAljHiIaemHsLoAREiVGjhBXR0Mmvvypwk_UFhrUlMNmr3933hePyYe3cpLQKzMGbpCDMA0OwtuaduxzoxfgF9YFDuggnzSjhCp_4YmmP_rp3Nif1UJln9HsNaBmGz4Cg8DVtP3N8Iq-W/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+42+24.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAljHiIaemHsLoAREiVGjhBXR0Mmvvypwk_UFhrUlMNmr3933hePyYe3cpLQKzMGbpCDMA0OwtuaduxzoxfgF9YFDuggnzSjhCp_4YmmP_rp3Nif1UJln9HsNaBmGz4Cg8DVtP3N8Iq-W/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+42+24.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzwl0DDOLSpHx3QZdgTJq6M4tMIVWAeKdXRAeUaJOrWJxkwzWrgAvgDoblFlSWHb5lHMypfbPL-blqg7D6-fgSkY9IEN847W97yk-8TAcBLTQp8hHWSjBak9s3pADigiZ_0JbxdJq2EEk/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+42+41.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzwl0DDOLSpHx3QZdgTJq6M4tMIVWAeKdXRAeUaJOrWJxkwzWrgAvgDoblFlSWHb5lHMypfbPL-blqg7D6-fgSkY9IEN847W97yk-8TAcBLTQp8hHWSjBak9s3pADigiZ_0JbxdJq2EEk/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+42+41.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new artwork above the Frank Humpris original</td></tr>
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Will this new venture be a success for the publisher? I hope so. I think the Jim Al Khalili book in particular shows the potential for future titles - taking the 'trusted brand' of Ladybird Book and combining it with a very challenging subject. I think the move away in our lifetime from activities dependent on propositional thought has left something of a gap. The strict discipline of the Ladybird format means that concepts have to be pared down to their very essence without patronising. The pictures can help clarify these concepts for an adult readership becoming ever more graphically literate.<br />
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When I showed these books to some of my friends and asked if Climate Change and Evolution were such good topics, a couple of people insisted those topics <i>would</i> sell. <i> "Schools will buy them - or parents will buy them for children"</i>. But ... but ... aren't these meant to be books for adults? Wouldn't it be ironic if it turns out that the main market is indeed the school market? This would be a strange reversal of the situation whereby vintage Ladybird Books in the 60s and 70s were often read on the sly by adults, looking for a basic introduction to a topic.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUKWnJvwYQphjgOdC6sdLotp0EEqkDSev_c3ByCJMiUE6m3hR8EGwaKH7O4BqELkWGsNguYjfDSUeRx09o3THiMeU5z4tE4xYg3KefGvWDOagY8Sr60Z5TIoTgFbidFIdXgif9BGLJ4Qc/s1600/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+44+05.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUKWnJvwYQphjgOdC6sdLotp0EEqkDSev_c3ByCJMiUE6m3hR8EGwaKH7O4BqELkWGsNguYjfDSUeRx09o3THiMeU5z4tE4xYg3KefGvWDOagY8Sr60Z5TIoTgFbidFIdXgif9BGLJ4Qc/s200/File+06-02-2017%252C+14+44+05.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybird Books of the 60s and 70s were often read by adults looking for an introduction to a topic</td></tr>
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As I finished this blog post (the longest I've ever written - sorry about that) I checked to see if any of these books had made it into the bestseller list. <br />
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One was there - the one that had attracted the most publicity was at number 11 in the hardback chart.<br />
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And one place ahead, at number 10? Comedic pastiche: 'Five on Brexit Island'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1Jnzl3__2WMUiMD-E3NZ0bdTGls1AB_ahNhq0QSgTyVAZDkOy2DkGjgSFaSo_6TwDyfmWs4uMbs2BYr9jLb9F-DMoIARLAtPzdEs6Be9l77tmiPRifXF3iBOjqaEhVhR9hpfuNzWctnL/s1600/bestseller.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1Jnzl3__2WMUiMD-E3NZ0bdTGls1AB_ahNhq0QSgTyVAZDkOy2DkGjgSFaSo_6TwDyfmWs4uMbs2BYr9jLb9F-DMoIARLAtPzdEs6Be9l77tmiPRifXF3iBOjqaEhVhR9hpfuNzWctnL/s320/bestseller.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-18795415524834853962017-01-08T06:53:00.003-08:002017-01-08T06:53:50.150-08:00October's Conway Hall talk - 'Constructing the Future Past ...'Myself, John Grindrod and Tim Dunn gave a talk in October 2016 at the Conway Hall. The talk, chaired by Samira Ahmed, had a long and complicated title but was about ideas of modernism and the future in the 'golden age' of Ladybird Books.<br />
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It was recorded by The Conway Hall and the video has now been released. Here it is:<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/re5xfabAXMU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/re5xfabAXMU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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If you couldn't make the evening, hope you find it interesting.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-16632890203152456762017-01-01T06:13:00.000-08:002017-01-01T06:13:49.033-08:00The Ladybird Caption contest: a review of past winners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As we're at that time of the year for looking back, it seemed a good time to share with you (or remind you) of<i> some </i>of the past winners of my Ladybird caption contest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK7i4BZAR17hCa-ujJG-qXyBZPwo5DAiZoS1p566kcy2WND1BsqC2hZeD39LtYzMU7p9fEgLz221lIF3VNSflwFdL3nJovaFIunEFO61TEi9mYRc7zUBFBGc9chVnrB1kTfjBBFu-eO0R/s400/File+30-12-2016%252C+16+07+36.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="315" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@distracteddan</td></tr>
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This contest takes place every two months on Twitter - the first Saturday of the month. After I post the pictures, the Twitterati suggest captions and vote for the best answers.The next contest will take place next Saturday 7th Jan - so it's also a timely reminder for those of you who are good with captions (which I most certainly am not). Just one big rule: all entries must be clean and unlikely to cause offense.<br />
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Below: some of my picks from the gallery of glory. If I have missed out your entry - apologies; I don't keep great records so my selection here is a bit random. If I have wrongly ascribed winners, please let me know and I will make changes.<br />
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Most successful entries are gloriously daft:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOA2hlLjWInDpMTQI_usG4AEhFfJ716-D_gvZJ52rK5PJDsW5_jxFBG5asjd7h29s6xsPNptJ6hd-ePXoYQQxaSJput3mJ92HTcbKUsLkJ4eBASogw24GfbMpp0mqGHwTiH0uDJRVipr8/s1600/File+30-12-2016%252C+15+41+44.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOA2hlLjWInDpMTQI_usG4AEhFfJ716-D_gvZJ52rK5PJDsW5_jxFBG5asjd7h29s6xsPNptJ6hd-ePXoYQQxaSJput3mJ92HTcbKUsLkJ4eBASogw24GfbMpp0mqGHwTiH0uDJRVipr8/s640/File+30-12-2016%252C+15+41+44.png" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@funknittedhats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmFNXJc7FJsmMjhA-NxbNH98jAu5d7-ztmAQrGl8SeQGXhVTqaFeYv-aHWvAAUID8xHNUrgeegzUXReGMN6JQKeN78oT72RV4NDBiBIApG1zbRN5vQkS8N0G0fdDpH-fctxSYFJgXbZgI/s1600/2016-05-08+18.28.53.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmFNXJc7FJsmMjhA-NxbNH98jAu5d7-ztmAQrGl8SeQGXhVTqaFeYv-aHWvAAUID8xHNUrgeegzUXReGMN6JQKeN78oT72RV4NDBiBIApG1zbRN5vQkS8N0G0fdDpH-fctxSYFJgXbZgI/s640/2016-05-08+18.28.53.png" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@maidbloke</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvXRXIKuxretG70U0L1GkaKBpdbdYZeTq7s8m_X7SfR9zhxSnZfZfavHeZ2-L-l1BBPzWv-mvr9W_255rKnJl44OtedDZ8ycuhKp_FcwZig-qGCNf_I8PefBoe5WJmhniBwsQH4AivqCe/s1600/December_15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvXRXIKuxretG70U0L1GkaKBpdbdYZeTq7s8m_X7SfR9zhxSnZfZfavHeZ2-L-l1BBPzWv-mvr9W_255rKnJl44OtedDZ8ycuhKp_FcwZig-qGCNf_I8PefBoe5WJmhniBwsQH4AivqCe/s640/December_15.png" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@gardener_the</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy-kC1w0l_2kyqBAP6E5ep_Cw97fLfYy5rnnD0O9EG7g3AY1dar4DH-0gOf8iZpLHDOjXFUIC6RR57DcWMnRBrwI1xOdNwKmpZ-t8iinPZc6VitS9GsrvEwCc8YkFgvmtIRIfRAnXEhcp/s1600/December_15_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy-kC1w0l_2kyqBAP6E5ep_Cw97fLfYy5rnnD0O9EG7g3AY1dar4DH-0gOf8iZpLHDOjXFUIC6RR57DcWMnRBrwI1xOdNwKmpZ-t8iinPZc6VitS9GsrvEwCc8YkFgvmtIRIfRAnXEhcp/s640/December_15_2.png" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@IanMcDougall1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fVWRK6NRqtbQMguzI64C_ZP5-tReCmKw9WcYJ9hNqmMe7X_sebgWklOgYgRnzU7LzkfdxmLkwSdyCnfdWjU0TMHt40UMVZyGCTv1HmSYJuvVgrEStAwsM-6K_tchhdNEAShQQAHxdASz/s1600/Nov_15_2+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fVWRK6NRqtbQMguzI64C_ZP5-tReCmKw9WcYJ9hNqmMe7X_sebgWklOgYgRnzU7LzkfdxmLkwSdyCnfdWjU0TMHt40UMVZyGCTv1HmSYJuvVgrEStAwsM-6K_tchhdNEAShQQAHxdASz/s640/Nov_15_2+%25282%2529.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@teardropxmode66</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3IUmdufDD-HydT9OMf5ZpbCFXeqRRK7S27NlIeX7WPAx_sdHzhDXrxWL7fZ98_zqQHsgSIV_8TodmU09rc0cVtosyIkI3Jd2PKRfVWd-Ih3Z2-NhM4MZPEbTkw0U-Y0SKexxBXCQba6x/s1600/2016-09-04+16.16.33-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3IUmdufDD-HydT9OMf5ZpbCFXeqRRK7S27NlIeX7WPAx_sdHzhDXrxWL7fZ98_zqQHsgSIV_8TodmU09rc0cVtosyIkI3Jd2PKRfVWd-Ih3Z2-NhM4MZPEbTkw0U-Y0SKexxBXCQba6x/s640/2016-09-04+16.16.33-2.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@No1Gruff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJqRW3h2rsY9Io-Y4So8B1yuQrlC6pHZ9dO1Yub6AGUA2APVSDO0XO3ZzRUYHtw2pyjqDPTeuvTDOjSo2wGuAthLVe4AsWrck37QMa6tDCx4EY9VVuvuwMsEUoseX5HsOU19O0hi0JqNq/s1600/March15b+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJqRW3h2rsY9Io-Y4So8B1yuQrlC6pHZ9dO1Yub6AGUA2APVSDO0XO3ZzRUYHtw2pyjqDPTeuvTDOjSo2wGuAthLVe4AsWrck37QMa6tDCx4EY9VVuvuwMsEUoseX5HsOU19O0hi0JqNq/s640/March15b+%25282%2529.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@Stevedarstardly</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBXgjrww8sWO6G6vICtLuONTvfPUYNshcgDTVsV_AHlrkePvNHzOM0pyZIEHWxypCmO5anzK0A31QEXNcLZsO6jIyrXl3KMoU1cKxYdIywgCVBmp75esQQNXTvrYu0tlL39hpRuKII-CU/s1600/Nov_2015+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBXgjrww8sWO6G6vICtLuONTvfPUYNshcgDTVsV_AHlrkePvNHzOM0pyZIEHWxypCmO5anzK0A31QEXNcLZsO6jIyrXl3KMoU1cKxYdIywgCVBmp75esQQNXTvrYu0tlL39hpRuKII-CU/s640/Nov_2015+%25282%2529.png" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@LittleRedHen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9r2Hwjs3KL0otZMyQgMYyVqudJ7iGlE3gkP6Z99Vkydeot9jo5ulaEIEsXjc3sMXYt3yUGCz7ScPsSnR_q5DG7gEsmIIawSh3KRwlIvMH_IzGC4jVV4u_-ppTOBSbaGfvcNqJ2WSRKB8/s1600/July_15_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9r2Hwjs3KL0otZMyQgMYyVqudJ7iGlE3gkP6Z99Vkydeot9jo5ulaEIEsXjc3sMXYt3yUGCz7ScPsSnR_q5DG7gEsmIIawSh3KRwlIvMH_IzGC4jVV4u_-ppTOBSbaGfvcNqJ2WSRKB8/s640/July_15_2.png" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry - I've lost track of whose entry this was. Let me know if it was yours</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAY_8nyMOwMFnawGoqyjxD7-Q9gXV89EpF_TzsQc5c23cSQNCRD-SxG33a4zsr7Voqv3aquY2ZRR3zZ6oSfyORs3vFr3Err2-g5YJif45mreJJOLX0OV68wKPNNUtbspD9U1jVcR5dHLDE/s1600/File+30-12-2016%252C+15+42+45.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAY_8nyMOwMFnawGoqyjxD7-Q9gXV89EpF_TzsQc5c23cSQNCRD-SxG33a4zsr7Voqv3aquY2ZRR3zZ6oSfyORs3vFr3Err2-g5YJif45mreJJOLX0OV68wKPNNUtbspD9U1jVcR5dHLDE/s640/File+30-12-2016%252C+15+42+45.png" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@mitchsteve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXWM2fUV0fFFXN6b-PM2Jt7Pdnheb52GZgoabdVWJgDmAAQOjR43xN_rJgLzEtmqxjSLGP9UqElLt9K35qnKU5J2gKY2jhGUx1HjvPwv2kWtGrmFoKLLOTKga3_118rqxmBob4uADT7Pn/s1600/File+31-12-2016%252C+12+43+09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXWM2fUV0fFFXN6b-PM2Jt7Pdnheb52GZgoabdVWJgDmAAQOjR43xN_rJgLzEtmqxjSLGP9UqElLt9K35qnKU5J2gKY2jhGUx1HjvPwv2kWtGrmFoKLLOTKga3_118rqxmBob4uADT7Pn/s640/File+31-12-2016%252C+12+43+09.jpeg" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="2782137901" href="https://twitter.com/neil_finnweevil"><span class="username js-action-profile-name" data-aria-label-part="">@<b>neil_finnweevil</b></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodZ1yS1E6Sc7Jc3dP-8T2hnbq7D4gPFd0sUW0AuYRHqT9o1IeE-mqGb_lKgeGtAwX91FaiuuKuwapyzRrrhM9oV16hCmJ-Ae2h15hT_BwvWnR-jKOQVFiTKrCc7cVUMp0bUAk8CoIjlG0/s1600/Jan_16+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodZ1yS1E6Sc7Jc3dP-8T2hnbq7D4gPFd0sUW0AuYRHqT9o1IeE-mqGb_lKgeGtAwX91FaiuuKuwapyzRrrhM9oV16hCmJ-Ae2h15hT_BwvWnR-jKOQVFiTKrCc7cVUMp0bUAk8CoIjlG0/s640/Jan_16+%25282%2529.png" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@gawuffy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I usually put up two pictures in each contest - and occasionally someone finds a way to caption them both in one go:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqASNWHozoHWmlxeSNgXfwOoJ-XnHKQtoM5om0gaePmDjM5rh_O2ZJeo15qB2H9Nhrqbn5lNvBopelF1RWfa9jOnRGcqDFUkXqPIEVV0rBmaZpge8lwV_KX-0Os59ziPUpn5Et7ZWP8kLs/s1600/June_15_winner+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqASNWHozoHWmlxeSNgXfwOoJ-XnHKQtoM5om0gaePmDjM5rh_O2ZJeo15qB2H9Nhrqbn5lNvBopelF1RWfa9jOnRGcqDFUkXqPIEVV0rBmaZpge8lwV_KX-0Os59ziPUpn5Et7ZWP8kLs/s640/June_15_winner+%25282%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Some entries were were more topical:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARw-_qGXSRo1N1KIJIzUoKPf6Q9DbNEos8mZPpotKXcP-3g7TTdzHILDg_aT-cbivPtzZN-7OToL_qqskVitYqNl-KRCEdhOpBJyBSS1UtiukSLp2ENQ5Y2D5D2cthAgjVeleH_JTPPU_/s1600/File+30-12-2016%252C+16+07+04.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARw-_qGXSRo1N1KIJIzUoKPf6Q9DbNEos8mZPpotKXcP-3g7TTdzHILDg_aT-cbivPtzZN-7OToL_qqskVitYqNl-KRCEdhOpBJyBSS1UtiukSLp2ENQ5Y2D5D2cthAgjVeleH_JTPPU_/s640/File+30-12-2016%252C+16+07+04.jpeg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@JonathanLHoward</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXfMMPQ_FrDX7VP_G_5ng9BAGbU2Q65P2jBZXRVHhPDT5MLfLqzoHS9IbRlZaWvKNHsUD0lKkG40dMEpNvofX_Uq1Ly3J6nYBuhnFuMaL8gr8z8MuJBx8BCh3lAfv53wMHd4idr0JgkOH/s1600/2016-05-08+18.23.24+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXfMMPQ_FrDX7VP_G_5ng9BAGbU2Q65P2jBZXRVHhPDT5MLfLqzoHS9IbRlZaWvKNHsUD0lKkG40dMEpNvofX_Uq1Ly3J6nYBuhnFuMaL8gr8z8MuJBx8BCh3lAfv53wMHd4idr0JgkOH/s640/2016-05-08+18.23.24+%25282%2529.png" width="481" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@Mildthing99</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDKpBqHpzTwAsHoLTYpFniyNjfOmC_Sybh7ccOyAb-I_ryNXsL5T2H1R0ErzcYeZ3GNm_PGD3mcoE965k845yABwkmClVELlAuO0nRGkgVIhhwi7BX2RpRH3tObk3IPlI21HmD3HfZIN1/s1600/Article_50.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDKpBqHpzTwAsHoLTYpFniyNjfOmC_Sybh7ccOyAb-I_ryNXsL5T2H1R0ErzcYeZ3GNm_PGD3mcoE965k845yABwkmClVELlAuO0nRGkgVIhhwi7BX2RpRH3tObk3IPlI21HmD3HfZIN1/s640/Article_50.png" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">@cornwallchar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And who could forget this entry, shortly after press 'revelations' about the university activities of David Cameron:<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaltjH8Jlbxpl6OAy2DTInLBK3IafB1cJkxHrUbOgNqNgdLBUB94qEXT3Yuugymo9jZpkpM4fzW0N3E8WY1M3HMcDSLnsyWLOFGS-3AGEt3dinTjiu00bviICvfgijMmCXeV6_m1t74LOu/s1600/Oct_15+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaltjH8Jlbxpl6OAy2DTInLBK3IafB1cJkxHrUbOgNqNgdLBUB94qEXT3Yuugymo9jZpkpM4fzW0N3E8WY1M3HMcDSLnsyWLOFGS-3AGEt3dinTjiu00bviICvfgijMmCXeV6_m1t74LOu/s640/Oct_15+%25282%2529.png" width="502" /></a></div>
<br />
Well done to all not just the winners (I'm full of admiration - just can't do it myself) but to all who entered or voted. I look forward to more great entries in the months to come.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Year</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-1323699115443588992016-11-25T14:36:00.000-08:002016-11-25T14:42:43.509-08:00'Pond Life' : an abridged short story - by writer David Gladwin <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahofyrPBxbdo8ukzP_0zSri_-oQ2vbDUqQ9w7g-U7MLC9j6VoxrHWdKmDknIeCT7IhoPrYGCYk4FWtVKP6Gw-7uaqQFvnIdi86fQbFSJmwe1ADP60H2TF_3vfLn2u0OPy9tTRi3S3AjPb/s1600/t_2016-11-14+15.03.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahofyrPBxbdo8ukzP_0zSri_-oQ2vbDUqQ9w7g-U7MLC9j6VoxrHWdKmDknIeCT7IhoPrYGCYk4FWtVKP6Gw-7uaqQFvnIdi86fQbFSJmwe1ADP60H2TF_3vfLn2u0OPy9tTRi3S3AjPb/s320/t_2016-11-14+15.03.19.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKH-IluHtNeAS_8HDUaEZlaYjdkSt69w3r-pQ16p0xDzv1P1HT0k2HNnZO38GaRZ3lDQoKEpqyU4oOt1xFCjGxt3061RZNPL_wIZEmISR36HRKSC0FKI9552Yv1jZ4-BkeEXHhdpEvROY/s1600/2016-11-14+15.14.25.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKH-IluHtNeAS_8HDUaEZlaYjdkSt69w3r-pQ16p0xDzv1P1HT0k2HNnZO38GaRZ3lDQoKEpqyU4oOt1xFCjGxt3061RZNPL_wIZEmISR36HRKSC0FKI9552Yv1jZ4-BkeEXHhdpEvROY/s200/2016-11-14+15.14.25.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I
couldn’t say how many childhood hours I spent on my stretch of the Cromford
Canal in Ambergate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably fewer than
I remember, but as time passes the important experiences seem to choose
themselves, and they’re hardly ever the ones that took the longest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FFWtzI0huvcQwHzwSK9lLkzQhuriEIlHSKnFZLaIbxHnpYAODQk6dFgCtyi5KrvKJXxT3sMLA3gRi367cOX464qo7JQrduO9ElD6AYcO_ll9ndeS0o1qfDIRnT9uKQYCjFAZ0oh2qJpG/s1600/t_2016-11-14+15.03.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FFWtzI0huvcQwHzwSK9lLkzQhuriEIlHSKnFZLaIbxHnpYAODQk6dFgCtyi5KrvKJXxT3sMLA3gRi367cOX464qo7JQrduO9ElD6AYcO_ll9ndeS0o1qfDIRnT9uKQYCjFAZ0oh2qJpG/s200/t_2016-11-14+15.03.32.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to my memory, most afternoons I
could be found under one of the two bridges nearest to Chase Road where my
parents lived, or somewhere between the far one and the end of the canal,
messing with nets and jars, looking for water snails and caddis fly larvae or
fascinated with a ram’s horn snail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Ladybird Book of Pond Life was my guide in this important work, and with the
willow tree’s shade on my bedroom window I would study the text and
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi-3cP4FCFjg3Nua2D4Fqn8ayj7960AWznUvKJ-yOh_WPoDexDVPIel0KHrHtpF8Uj4H3eCSYrFymnOKzCK-8nghhTpIGepMljf3W3stXa72mtMuIj5Y6EyFNdtmbgTSnfawGI-7GFkQ3/s1600/t_2016-11-14+15.04.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi-3cP4FCFjg3Nua2D4Fqn8ayj7960AWznUvKJ-yOh_WPoDexDVPIel0KHrHtpF8Uj4H3eCSYrFymnOKzCK-8nghhTpIGepMljf3W3stXa72mtMuIj5Y6EyFNdtmbgTSnfawGI-7GFkQ3/s400/t_2016-11-14+15.04.04.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">illustrations, checking off the plants and animals I had seen, staring into the
pictures of those I hadn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuu9a9M_7g6ChAPa8vvnQg4NdVLMiqShMga4YSqlEwFMxpXjBixSbLk_6RUN7Lo3pCl3PZeGvRnI_UhuF0j1p6zNK-g_CFrhskaJdcfQu4iJnsK_IAxH9w3tPSuaDIh6_vNtrBD735aWu/s1600/t_2016-11-14+15.04.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuu9a9M_7g6ChAPa8vvnQg4NdVLMiqShMga4YSqlEwFMxpXjBixSbLk_6RUN7Lo3pCl3PZeGvRnI_UhuF0j1p6zNK-g_CFrhskaJdcfQu4iJnsK_IAxH9w3tPSuaDIh6_vNtrBD735aWu/s320/t_2016-11-14+15.04.36.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Oh, to
have found a hydra, that spindly green freshwater anemone near the back of the
book!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I could find anything in
the canal, it being just a long narrow pond, bigger than any other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything ought to be in there somewhere,
surely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were lots of dragonflies,
but although they must have been there I never found a dragonfly nymph down in
the water, such a scary thing it looked in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO5RZ9WDnMeoVlalOGQNZKDYKyNcFNzhNWGg2OUtvdwNhzbeVmCfp4tlIkXrh4Fj1N2ACCEP6V7lgq1P_p136yeqsbPhMmRLVQxXzvFTup_anq1S7ciyrNtJqcyyB7U2z0jsHTwLKdUvD/s1600/t_2016-11-14+15.03.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO5RZ9WDnMeoVlalOGQNZKDYKyNcFNzhNWGg2OUtvdwNhzbeVmCfp4tlIkXrh4Fj1N2ACCEP6V7lgq1P_p136yeqsbPhMmRLVQxXzvFTup_anq1S7ciyrNtJqcyyB7U2z0jsHTwLKdUvD/s320/t_2016-11-14+15.03.47.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There were innumerable frogs and toads,
plenty of spawn in spring, a few newts, whirligig beetles and hover flies, as
well as some good-sized beetles in the pastures along the banks, but they were
in <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">a </span>different book from Series 536.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those were my favourites.</span></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the local boys went fishing, but I
didn’t like the dark Amber water or the eddies where it joined the Derwent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose I was younger than my years, as
well as shorter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I started to go
there on the bus, the lads at school in Belper were interested in music, in
clothes and girls and football more than all the dreamy pleasures I would take
in my surroundings, the beautiful valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I couldn’t see it then, that I was different and rural, but now it’s all
over my memories of Belper and school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So instead I think of the countryside, the holidays, the sunshine and
the herby smell of hay from the fields around our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the Chase Road bridge over the canal
you can walk for a little way along the towpath, looking over the broken walls
and fields to the River Amber and the viaduct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then you reach the place where the water just pours away, or at least
what overflows does, the canal itself isn’t flowing at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can walk around it, the path carries on
but the canal’s gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They cut it all
away for the gas plant, my dad said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was where they used to put the smell in the stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody ever believes me when I tell them
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Halfway there a black metal bridge
over the water carries a great thick pipe from which a big drip would fall
every few seconds, washing the towpath back to its pebbled stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a lad I ran under it, or waited for the
drip and timed my walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the pipe
takes water from the underground reservoir up beside</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span>the
woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I loved the woods, the smell and sound and sight of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like stepping into another of my
Ladybird books, or something by Enid Blyton.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IyaLIfmEW_36MzxTjXsFgEwVMBlHGEQEevKbVtFmlyAFcfcdEu9m9Wo4hIhSSp1guWL7NC6Sz3weAh6sig17ZrXpkfK05oOXomBRSTxbN8mRO2yZ3nrIwJVFNMGZXKDHIcB-cJrbMAFz/s1600/t_2015-04-12+10.45.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IyaLIfmEW_36MzxTjXsFgEwVMBlHGEQEevKbVtFmlyAFcfcdEu9m9Wo4hIhSSp1guWL7NC6Sz3weAh6sig17ZrXpkfK05oOXomBRSTxbN8mRO2yZ3nrIwJVFNMGZXKDHIcB-cJrbMAFz/s320/t_2015-04-12+10.45.58.jpg" width="209" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met Suzanne at the Poly, where she was doing
Art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lived in Nottingham and seemed
impossibly worldly to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t
believe she wanted anything to do with me, but I’m very happy that she
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those days seem a long time ago
now, but they made a difference, made me confident enough to get through life
pretty well.</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living back here feels right, although I
waited until Mum was on her last legs before suggesting it to Suzanne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was what she wanted too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The picture I’d painted of growing up in this
countryside, by the canal, had been so fond and rich that she’d started to feel
as I did, missing something she’d never had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now she paints it herself and sells a lot of her work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s better than I ever dreamed, and I only
wish our children had been able to grow up here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I’m here
again, the canal’s still here, and we’ll both be waiting for any grandchildren
who might come along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps one of
them will be like me, a quiet little thing interested in the margins and what
goes on away from the crash and clatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Between us, we might even find that hydra.</span><br />
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<i>(This is an abridged version of the story. You can read <a href="https://dlgladwin.wordpress.com/2016/11/25/pond-life/" target="_blank">the full version here on David's website</a>)</i>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-92129103530369047932016-10-28T02:33:00.000-07:002016-10-29T08:18:52.736-07:00Martin Aitchison, rememberedMartin Aitchison, died this week at the age of 96. You might not know his name, but if you are reading this post, there’s a good chance you remember some of his illustrations for Ladybird Books.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVU-gaolnicexS9WVrPoYht1klEKbyF00yYOp31hNabxdEPSP3q5ETrxHAickKdcHWuVWWFzD3mnAk2n7oCy6P4W6BQGFVVevlHm1eBXH5U-M8B2Bva0lpY7OonrZ4HDYWJY2EtNJ5U32/s1600/2016-05-10+14.23.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVU-gaolnicexS9WVrPoYht1klEKbyF00yYOp31hNabxdEPSP3q5ETrxHAickKdcHWuVWWFzD3mnAk2n7oCy6P4W6BQGFVVevlHm1eBXH5U-M8B2Bva0lpY7OonrZ4HDYWJY2EtNJ5U32/s400/2016-05-10+14.23.22.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Ladybird Books Martin illustrated for Ladybird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Until this week I used to describe him as “the last of the great, golden-age Ladybird artists still with us”. I knew him personally and called him a friend.
You can read <a href="http://martinaitchison.co.uk/biog.htm" target="_blank">biographical details about him</a> here and other people will be better able than I am to comment on the man that he was or to talk about other work that he produced in his lifetime. But here I would like to put down my personal thoughts about Martin Aitchison, the Ladybird artist.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqovbvtZmP3S9dIM-WVlEitwqFtE08UoRZXUOCa89yKSMIFUkWZ0Kg_6yFTjcGWGV6yfwX5iCQ9aVx6Hn2OwtGJs6GRHlZSDtZtLQ1Hr_frQzYY4jm9UUZn3somMc8paKka-O34TLz1hLH/s1600/2016-10-26+17.02.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqovbvtZmP3S9dIM-WVlEitwqFtE08UoRZXUOCa89yKSMIFUkWZ0Kg_6yFTjcGWGV6yfwX5iCQ9aVx6Hn2OwtGJs6GRHlZSDtZtLQ1Hr_frQzYY4jm9UUZn3somMc8paKka-O34TLz1hLH/s200/2016-10-26+17.02.10.jpg" width="150" /></a>I would estimate that Martin illustrated, or part-illustrated around 100 books for Ladybird from the early 1960s until the 1980s. In the 1960s Ladybird were reaching the height of their popularity and the commissioning editor, Douglas Keen, made extensive use of a fairly small, hand-picked and trusted group of artists to illustrate the wide range of books that were then being published. At this time, every Ladybird Book contained at least 24 full page illustrations – and these pictures were almost always colourful and crammed with detail. There was a wide range of topics to be covered - from history and biography to inventions, technical explanation, nature and domestic scenes of daily activity. The quantity of work and the tight time-scales meant that this was relatively well-paying but very demanding work. Douglas Keen had high expectations of the quality of artwork and took pride in matching artist to commission. John Berry, for example, had an amazing gift for photorealism and for portrait. Robert Ayton was a story-teller in paint. Harry Wingfield was second-to-none in his ability to capture wistful tableaux of early childhood.<br />
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But in Martin Aitchison, Keen had an artist who could do it all.<br />
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His first book for Ladybird was ‘A First Book of Saints’.
Shortly after this he was commissioned to work with Harry Wingfield on a new range of reading-scheme books.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1960s Key Word reading scheme</td></tr>
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This was a very big, important and risky new venture for Ladybird, and it was very close to the heart of Douglas Keen. Harry Wingfield produced the artwork for the first book, which introduced the characters of Peter and Jane. To make their identities clear to young children, Peter was to have dark hair and to wear grey shorts and a red jumper. Jane was to wear a white dress with a yellow cardigan and to have blonde hair. They were to own a dog, an Irish setter, called ‘Pat’.
(It was decided that young children would enjoy the joke of saying ‘Pat the dog’).<br />
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There was too much work for one artist. It was Martin’s job to match his style to that of Harry’s and to continue the illustration through the 36 books of the Key Word reading scheme. Of these books Martin and Harry shared most of the workload between them, with a few other artists engaged only when the tight timescales demanded it. But society was changing fast in the late 1960s and very swiftly these books, immensely popular though they proved to be, were deemed to need updating. Again, the workload for the re-illustration was shared equally between Martin and Harry. These books then remained in print for decades. I'm not sure - they may still be in print today. <br />
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Learning to read, altering as it does the most basic ways in which we process and interpret information about the world, is a powerful stage in the life of any child. And in the 1960s, when there were fewer distractions for children - when many did not have a television and when children’s programming was only for a few hours in the day - the visual imagery of these books made a particularly powerful impression. Although Ladybird published hundreds of titles on all sorts of different subjects, it is these images of early reading in early childhood that are often etched most deeply on our memory.<br />
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In later life, I think Martin was a little baffled why it was that, for all the wonderful and creative illustrations he produced in his working life, it was these 1960s pictures of everyday suburban life that people wanted to talk about. He did not feel it was his greatest work and he felt constrained by the limitations of the brief. Previously he had worked for many happy years as an illustrator for The Eagle (his main comic strip was based on the Foreign Legion and was called “Luck of the Legion” – written by Geoffrey Bond. In this work his imagination and lively humour had free reign; it didn’t matter than he had never laid eyes on most of the things that he was portraying in the strip – desert outposts, sandstorms etc – probably no one else reading the stories had either.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A page from the 'Luck of the Legion' strip</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZsLJnL_KVT1-cseqhymnEjhtoBF3aRvzvbZaz_Yy6jKb5F_gSXjrwSxBQYcHXomN52ZW48cO_pyc8Aw_T-7d2Lk993m76OOvPPfdnEt9VIPmiFpu8u9QVydqffL9hPSJk_1jl4j5V2v5/s1600/2016-10-26+16.46.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZsLJnL_KVT1-cseqhymnEjhtoBF3aRvzvbZaz_Yy6jKb5F_gSXjrwSxBQYcHXomN52ZW48cO_pyc8Aw_T-7d2Lk993m76OOvPPfdnEt9VIPmiFpu8u9QVydqffL9hPSJk_1jl4j5V2v5/s320/2016-10-26+16.46.38.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
This was not the case with the tame domesticity of Peter and Jane’s world,<br />
where the highlight of the narrative might be a trip to a sweet shop or a visit to the grandparents.<br />
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Back in the 1960s, I was part of the target readership of these books. As a young child learning to read shortly after they were first published, I <i>loved</i> the illustrations. It didn’t matter to me that the ‘plot’ of the books was flimsy or non-existent; the richness of the pictures hinted at depths to the story that always remained just out of my understanding. There must be a lot more going on in every scene than the text stated, because the pictures, in some undefined way, hinted that that was so. For me, artist Jon Bentley summed this up perfectly in the introduction to his 2013 work: 'The Lost Episodes: a homage'.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“As I struggled with the unfamiliar letters, my child’s eyes were inexorably drawn to the pictures on the opposite page. Paintings full of strange details that drew you in and seemed to suggest a richer, more mysterious narrative than the prosaic stories and dialogue on the written page.”
</i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-FZ9jtaKJbPkvR7Q8ueD6szz_K2N9fWVKq_JUSHJzz_T7FSBJggaEAeaE65jAQCDaSUicHxucnvw1undByzZEHvJgOsBI4yX-nHvAbLu0so-4h3i_q-1GxWQ4Ijj5Nu9KTxY2ToWI7_i/s1600/2016-10-26+16.45.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-FZ9jtaKJbPkvR7Q8ueD6szz_K2N9fWVKq_JUSHJzz_T7FSBJggaEAeaE65jAQCDaSUicHxucnvw1undByzZEHvJgOsBI4yX-nHvAbLu0so-4h3i_q-1GxWQ4Ijj5Nu9KTxY2ToWI7_i/s200/2016-10-26+16.45.49.jpg" width="150" /></a>Martin and Harry Wingfield made the ‘Peter-and-Jane’1960s artwork look effortless, but in fact it was a style that was very hard to do well - a note that was hard to strike. No other of the highly-skilled Ladybirds artist managed to achieve the tricky blend of tidy, domestic, softened realism with the imaginative detail of a fictitious family.<br />
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But even so, when he was commissioned to re-illustrated the books in the 1970s, Martin was a lot more comfortable. Not only were the children to be brought up-to-date in terms of clothing and activity but the illustration style was to be more sketchy and fluid.<br />
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Life was a little messier and more chaotic in these depictions and in them Martin found more of an outlet for his humour.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZd6V4PMrsVxopf4CmgGs5q4PvO4r9n12MLHkl147PLO_Zo5wfMjOQiEOII5OiykK-6uInt9CyzQx1Zep-xZtIifYmXl47IO9pA0xN6mu4nVXHh3IGFE2xAh9r5O9c8NtyEDcex9VnkguB/s1600/2016-10-26+16.39.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h_11WG8Vw_v7PtWThwKsouICKgiEMJA9xpwWRjB8ZbTYHU-nfMf_Tp4TBSj6Kz2RlZHI_b610efpOJiNQIcqRfmnBevWhfbmgFYMGo1NzxxYTFT7oMuqMf1ZFkfkGkWY7842NxLcdDha/s1600/2016-10-26+16.43.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h_11WG8Vw_v7PtWThwKsouICKgiEMJA9xpwWRjB8ZbTYHU-nfMf_Tp4TBSj6Kz2RlZHI_b610efpOJiNQIcqRfmnBevWhfbmgFYMGo1NzxxYTFT7oMuqMf1ZFkfkGkWY7842NxLcdDha/s200/2016-10-26+16.43.25.jpg" width="177" /></a><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZd6V4PMrsVxopf4CmgGs5q4PvO4r9n12MLHkl147PLO_Zo5wfMjOQiEOII5OiykK-6uInt9CyzQx1Zep-xZtIifYmXl47IO9pA0xN6mu4nVXHh3IGFE2xAh9r5O9c8NtyEDcex9VnkguB/s200/2016-10-26+16.39.27.jpg" width="150" /><br />
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A couple of years ago I showed Martin a copy of a Peter and Jane book he’d illustrated in the 1960s along with one of the 1970s updated versions and I asked him which he was most proud of. He first replied, with modesty and some dry humour, “Neither”. But when I persisted, he chose, without further hesitation, the sketchier, lighter style.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA5KNFoiBPSy-gi53Fe3hJUSRR0Oue9Ose0u-hhBAR6q226KvajepxTAxWrtm7acjYStDOozu26umyz2tANUY_xUzfYuPQjnI_IKsgpKxkxbNGlmNv4Dp71OrPJJu6wYvOEXKKCCvfvE8/s1600/2015-09-29+08.58.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA5KNFoiBPSy-gi53Fe3hJUSRR0Oue9Ose0u-hhBAR6q226KvajepxTAxWrtm7acjYStDOozu26umyz2tANUY_xUzfYuPQjnI_IKsgpKxkxbNGlmNv4Dp71OrPJJu6wYvOEXKKCCvfvE8/s200/2015-09-29+08.58.26.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the 'Sunstart' series, the Key Word Reader scheme for the Caribbean market </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_fMsV_cuS3ixLVwlf2YFy-wd6XeCYCd8jnm2UUFFia71-zTk45gLPRejxlnBgS7MPUuPwi8Nd_xlm9HpIUn9DcDixKv_Gbx3PIgZE44hd4TWICvtBUWf0bP3_siSokxSeL6Q_-diOEs7/s1600/2016-10-26+16.55.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_fMsV_cuS3ixLVwlf2YFy-wd6XeCYCd8jnm2UUFFia71-zTk45gLPRejxlnBgS7MPUuPwi8Nd_xlm9HpIUn9DcDixKv_Gbx3PIgZE44hd4TWICvtBUWf0bP3_siSokxSeL6Q_-diOEs7/s200/2016-10-26+16.55.16.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Story of Ballet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_LNjsibcYreP5A6M6B2bPoFCqH-EHWYjEtOEW8B1tguhXarv7PSKmfp_chcvC6mTEJmiRW77Mz9EQK-Oo_c9NYlnkl61nt0fjXrV2YpwWNKxZFVzKDvJqRK6nXKOuB4kuCWQvKwqzm2L/s200/2016-10-26+16.50.47.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Story of Theatre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HltqFI40TdB_DBYAobXWk7c2ZacgykYGHaPOZaqYw7FHluo0w0l3dZL3wGFfC_twnODCrBnnFU8svqQgD2ZECiRQUKU7tyze8R6e_LgaHJgM0c-90a5GK0SaIW47e7KMcAnS105y1vgL/s1600/2016-10-26+16.49.11.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HltqFI40TdB_DBYAobXWk7c2ZacgykYGHaPOZaqYw7FHluo0w0l3dZL3wGFfC_twnODCrBnnFU8svqQgD2ZECiRQUKU7tyze8R6e_LgaHJgM0c-90a5GK0SaIW47e7KMcAnS105y1vgL/s200/2016-10-26+16.49.11.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_LNjsibcYreP5A6M6B2bPoFCqH-EHWYjEtOEW8B1tguhXarv7PSKmfp_chcvC6mTEJmiRW77Mz9EQK-Oo_c9NYlnkl61nt0fjXrV2YpwWNKxZFVzKDvJqRK6nXKOuB4kuCWQvKwqzm2L/s1600/2016-10-26+16.50.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60w6lmuIoky4coJ9pr1jPCy1HvF13hbo3XQG_ENKvtYgqLgwqL3XX-R7O7ZoMUWPNVggvnSf3CDOT1Y2KExJfXlpp8RHOmzKdrWrODFQIJgazJgMcN1dRvbi3Gopp48z8-mObdkCI7hyphenhypheni/s1600/2016-10-26+16.54.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60w6lmuIoky4coJ9pr1jPCy1HvF13hbo3XQG_ENKvtYgqLgwqL3XX-R7O7ZoMUWPNVggvnSf3CDOT1Y2KExJfXlpp8RHOmzKdrWrODFQIJgazJgMcN1dRvbi3Gopp48z8-mObdkCI7hyphenhypheni/s200/2016-10-26+16.54.49.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
After
the Key Word Reader books, Martin illustrated many other books – some
in the ‘traditional’ 1960s Ladybird style, such as “How to Swim and
Dive”, The Story of Ballet, The Story of Theatre, and The Story of
Music,others in the later more ‘cartoony’ style preferred in the early 70s
onwards.
In general, it was the fiction that gave him the freedom he felt suited
him best. You can see in his illustrations of the revised fairy-tales,
for example, that he relished the creativity of these commissions.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47rRa7GDfizLhGc1Bi0PMY3RMV7wFMyDcq3nf0Ht2Me2W5kRUFWKP-jMzZWYSqRpkTn4GWC6e4KDenNh1sl9gQlb2yq0sqADSo4_V5L5_H2CrWol2FJVewuWU0rntBzUDoZKDke3aC1le/s1600/2016-10-26+17.05.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47rRa7GDfizLhGc1Bi0PMY3RMV7wFMyDcq3nf0Ht2Me2W5kRUFWKP-jMzZWYSqRpkTn4GWC6e4KDenNh1sl9gQlb2yq0sqADSo4_V5L5_H2CrWol2FJVewuWU0rntBzUDoZKDke3aC1le/s320/2016-10-26+17.05.26.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsEeidhxGFWJI9bE9wpAO18IeOPxThZoyfzLXwpNo5TqQjILH_TOS6b_epbkp1z304GAI8eRrqnARM8cgmrNzBgw9S4OQHbih5p4XaoXaqYAoaoFGS9BKzPDITrA2Z2yZ0giNaUnOyy9G/s1600/2016-10-26+17.05.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsEeidhxGFWJI9bE9wpAO18IeOPxThZoyfzLXwpNo5TqQjILH_TOS6b_epbkp1z304GAI8eRrqnARM8cgmrNzBgw9S4OQHbih5p4XaoXaqYAoaoFGS9BKzPDITrA2Z2yZ0giNaUnOyy9G/s320/2016-10-26+17.05.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Princess and the Frog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl95qnsh2adFLtG8xJfSg7PFAhJruWsR3RxwaUfo1Vs1iPo6rRUiqzHk2yk8Ob4nOvRRs0pyHzV9p6g22e7pqARIU2Hd1FUesyM0KoXIAJYPtvhHjhpx0BPPZ5ncnu6jgt8uRHzjtKgHHY/s1600/2016-10-26+17.06.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl95qnsh2adFLtG8xJfSg7PFAhJruWsR3RxwaUfo1Vs1iPo6rRUiqzHk2yk8Ob4nOvRRs0pyHzV9p6g22e7pqARIU2Hd1FUesyM0KoXIAJYPtvhHjhpx0BPPZ5ncnu6jgt8uRHzjtKgHHY/s320/2016-10-26+17.06.14.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Firebird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64Zju5oG5fkJwpYXbymH1QPny4VVN1n6XK8QigSsNc9suAxgIDEc9QtgOihm4WXK6in4-9xzksalUNJVt6t-o-cj_cDMvq5S7WsB8qHHbU71dbLFIDCecltz0MLl-2-64EeEW0moFDQVH/s1600/2016-10-26+17.06.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64Zju5oG5fkJwpYXbymH1QPny4VVN1n6XK8QigSsNc9suAxgIDEc9QtgOihm4WXK6in4-9xzksalUNJVt6t-o-cj_cDMvq5S7WsB8qHHbU71dbLFIDCecltz0MLl-2-64EeEW0moFDQVH/s320/2016-10-26+17.06.57.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinocchio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But even within the traditional style, he found opportunities to express his wit and the humour of the story-teller. I think this is best seen in the series of books Great Composers and Great Artists.
In the Great Artists books Martin took pleasure from engaging with the artistic style of given artist and referencing it, often with comic touches, as he brought a scene to life.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWH6DD6dwcUz7ztTXbT-9et19aho-FsL66MVEYNu2f5Kt6PE3R8k0GxrsU3OxPJj4LKB23mqiEorp9FwznZpCBRw7YvTa5qN83v6WAczwwRyqDmNeVzSSoETyam0XejBUltCSYoV3AaeO/s1600/2016-10-26+16.49.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWH6DD6dwcUz7ztTXbT-9et19aho-FsL66MVEYNu2f5Kt6PE3R8k0GxrsU3OxPJj4LKB23mqiEorp9FwznZpCBRw7YvTa5qN83v6WAczwwRyqDmNeVzSSoETyam0XejBUltCSYoV3AaeO/s320/2016-10-26+16.49.25.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Artists, book 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZrW0e4DkD_QxWWIqKllDhMXQfdZzV0_0nS849m7uiLj7PzEDdQCDGOPkTkdguxrSUOdYTvFcB96cmwHqIBU6OwbOGqBA0Z72MlyQmjq-gX6yTz_m1YlQSlHwIYDZkj5iKuS2wKo_6uVx/s1600/2016-10-26+16.49.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZrW0e4DkD_QxWWIqKllDhMXQfdZzV0_0nS849m7uiLj7PzEDdQCDGOPkTkdguxrSUOdYTvFcB96cmwHqIBU6OwbOGqBA0Z72MlyQmjq-gX6yTz_m1YlQSlHwIYDZkj5iKuS2wKo_6uVx/s320/2016-10-26+16.49.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Artists, book 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Although all his life Martin’s enjoyment of music was inevitably affected by his severe hearing impairment, there is a similar exuberance to his illustrations for the Great Composers books. Here we have the young Haydn beating on a home-made drum, flour flying from the spoons he has taken from the kitchen.
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xP-RX5KkFtuUHflQ82sT9wPdWFNOUFm77mGB221nOAeXjng1K1wmkoKcxBa__0CyVpS-FdxF36Y_uwzqQbKTjERXu8n2U7yTeKHAwxvWVmYKqte0Ix_PO8SBMFlYxQikH8OZsnY3YX7L/s1600/2016-10-26+16.53.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xP-RX5KkFtuUHflQ82sT9wPdWFNOUFm77mGB221nOAeXjng1K1wmkoKcxBa__0CyVpS-FdxF36Y_uwzqQbKTjERXu8n2U7yTeKHAwxvWVmYKqte0Ix_PO8SBMFlYxQikH8OZsnY3YX7L/s320/2016-10-26+16.53.57.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Composers, book 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here we have Schubert caught at the very moment he realises he has taken up the ink bottle instead of the sand box and has poured ink on his latest composition <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_MIdJCwGIT_6fnu2Qbo-_UMdTCBFlTRGR_KzV8fVKrqcQOz6kU4jA3akyuW9kYfmQdYOrUjTCxMtidRS0Fo5A0A1xoaxzNhlBL0yJVn14JJmH01-MSKOtG3UPo67DIcP9HEvbkxS_L4d/s1600/2016-10-26+16.53.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_MIdJCwGIT_6fnu2Qbo-_UMdTCBFlTRGR_KzV8fVKrqcQOz6kU4jA3akyuW9kYfmQdYOrUjTCxMtidRS0Fo5A0A1xoaxzNhlBL0yJVn14JJmH01-MSKOtG3UPo67DIcP9HEvbkxS_L4d/s320/2016-10-26+16.53.27.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Composers, book 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
– and here, fleeing the room when seized with acute shyness at the prospect of meeting Beethoven.
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9tIFn1LYFupCa39sVLrgIHdZYMJQMfH2L0SkBdxcrgL_uP72fRIQrbNWF-Zm2ez52mlwqAAQ9CDrhAdHiqeZteLVHhEWHdB6FMFnaeDVWYomlQQicTlTpq2116WSRzFuIs4ilfLrhotQ/s1600/2016-10-26+16.53.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9tIFn1LYFupCa39sVLrgIHdZYMJQMfH2L0SkBdxcrgL_uP72fRIQrbNWF-Zm2ez52mlwqAAQ9CDrhAdHiqeZteLVHhEWHdB6FMFnaeDVWYomlQQicTlTpq2116WSRzFuIs4ilfLrhotQ/s320/2016-10-26+16.53.07.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Composers, book 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaIUHFbxwPD9c8ZEBe8TcV5bxbmiBtYLiYCxYWHOjx-AV_WkaI7STOeULLpQoWjCr3h0cO52IMtNmfDmcuEGkcnvXs0fAjJ8oTFNbkn7Vta3t7HOLPqGOGIVjuG_rtmIOVxrPinayM_Lr/s1600/2016-10-26+16.47.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaIUHFbxwPD9c8ZEBe8TcV5bxbmiBtYLiYCxYWHOjx-AV_WkaI7STOeULLpQoWjCr3h0cO52IMtNmfDmcuEGkcnvXs0fAjJ8oTFNbkn7Vta3t7HOLPqGOGIVjuG_rtmIOVxrPinayM_Lr/s200/2016-10-26+16.47.33.jpg" width="141" /></a><br />
<br />
What other commissions did Martin particularly enjoy? I know that he had fun illustrating the comic poems about Dennis the Dragon and his illustrations for the Puddle Lane series have his wonted vivacity. He also enjoyed his collaboration with scientist Fred Hoyle and son Geoffrey Hoyle: the Science Fiction series in the 1980s.It’s a shame the Science Fiction series isn’t better known but in the mid-70s the directorship old-guard had retired, the Loughborough-based company had been sold to a large publishing conglomerate and the brand began to struggle for identity.<br />
<br />
<br />
But when asked to select his favourite commission for Ladybird Martin would always choose “Gulliver’s travels”. If you ever get a chance to see the original artwork that he produced for this book then do. The reproduction in the books does not do it justice. The artwork combines humour, imagination, colour and verve – whilst respecting the traditions of a classic.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCFaQqcDYIDLyO8EKzb4ro6cx3BSz9psCg2ZugkaLYjvnLl_DZuGiSORPa4VhVc9VWutytgavHCgJCVd0mMMiPQStC_51G7_hJ4xVnknAO8oGlc8WfrO8vlqY3naSkHbIm-6G0a0X6szo/s1600/2016-10-26+16.56.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCFaQqcDYIDLyO8EKzb4ro6cx3BSz9psCg2ZugkaLYjvnLl_DZuGiSORPa4VhVc9VWutytgavHCgJCVd0mMMiPQStC_51G7_hJ4xVnknAO8oGlc8WfrO8vlqY3naSkHbIm-6G0a0X6szo/s320/2016-10-26+16.56.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulliver's Travels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRmVAcOheY3YZMMUickzeayRzDJRWCBxT-foFQ3bAhckF44xFqJcDacE4GLfG73ViAB0pA9gFKOEd_2uS-BV9y-4yTtfN5FTjSevbY1zwnxD-rup8WOPFZyTPdiiXKB740B-zBOADCjcr/s1600/2016-10-26+16.56.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRmVAcOheY3YZMMUickzeayRzDJRWCBxT-foFQ3bAhckF44xFqJcDacE4GLfG73ViAB0pA9gFKOEd_2uS-BV9y-4yTtfN5FTjSevbY1zwnxD-rup8WOPFZyTPdiiXKB740B-zBOADCjcr/s320/2016-10-26+16.56.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIWOaEIUTScA1G4y5QCdt7szi8YXCIvBlrwCMOqpUq6Tpymh-o-0DDTFpTcfrbK8TYLOYCjWUeeFRhBhmpnZwFmEoTo8jkcNcVkNbCaeOJ1AWxsHm8tWmAc-ZO7j2KBGD3RPvaBUErL6s/s1600/2016-10-26+16.57.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIWOaEIUTScA1G4y5QCdt7szi8YXCIvBlrwCMOqpUq6Tpymh-o-0DDTFpTcfrbK8TYLOYCjWUeeFRhBhmpnZwFmEoTo8jkcNcVkNbCaeOJ1AWxsHm8tWmAc-ZO7j2KBGD3RPvaBUErL6s/s320/2016-10-26+16.57.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This was Ladybird artwork of which he was justly proud, produced in 1976 – shortly after the retirement of his old friend Douglas Keen and as the company began to lose its way in the publishing world.<br />
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<br />
I first met Martin Aitchison over 10 years ago. I met him because he was a great Ladybird illustrator; we became friends because he was a lovely, gentle, funny, engaging man.
You could not fail to be struck by his lively, active mind and mischievous sense of humour. I really shall treasure my memories of our meetings; of talking over the past, of hearing his views of other artists, of giggling together like school-children over some trivial domestic incident.<br />
<br />
He loved and was loved and died peacefully. Over the years I have heard from many artists and illustrators who say that his work was an inspiration. But for many, many more of us who grew up with Ladybird, he added colour, warmth and humour to the pictures of our childhood.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfapXg099fTn35-4Qe8_gyQCkzQ7RrtIeJyFeI9vFERTZH3iIwlbBFtdOiGmN0MZ4K5H3Oevw7AIARm-UwDh2y8E8B184Gmm1IMi8qkpAKVMfdniQVquNJxjKO3yqD4aRGqAviZ9mVUM8/s1600/2016-03-31+15.36.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfapXg099fTn35-4Qe8_gyQCkzQ7RrtIeJyFeI9vFERTZH3iIwlbBFtdOiGmN0MZ4K5H3Oevw7AIARm-UwDh2y8E8B184Gmm1IMi8qkpAKVMfdniQVquNJxjKO3yqD4aRGqAviZ9mVUM8/s320/2016-03-31+15.36.22.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Story of Metals (written by his father)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQtJK6JAmJ6dMPDLnTGt3E_Qv8gB1oKyxgOlc1xaD0iHJWbtAEcDy7Qe_Ykp-BKkDeoCGZQ0Oce4aBVK0vJk8kzjCE69h_y_VTQzuaZmlJhtyoFR9dWUCcrUa1-z4EQPS0LT_SkyCirge/s1600/2016-10-05+09.27.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQtJK6JAmJ6dMPDLnTGt3E_Qv8gB1oKyxgOlc1xaD0iHJWbtAEcDy7Qe_Ykp-BKkDeoCGZQ0Oce4aBVK0vJk8kzjCE69h_y_VTQzuaZmlJhtyoFR9dWUCcrUa1-z4EQPS0LT_SkyCirge/s320/2016-10-05+09.27.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter and Jane's teacher was posed for by Martin's wife, Dorothy</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPgr1Ov7rQpwdPTT4Sl7SN4Ki30FQCoO4xQQa9Uxt2to-4Ncy7O1TKywuiNRSk2HucvxQCbqQmI5dhZoAX-knYzv4Wh-h78iX15FoLk9hK9r2pD2IcYQLvioJFB-pmNG4xRf2xLjmD5LX/s1600/2016-10-26+17.08.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPgr1Ov7rQpwdPTT4Sl7SN4Ki30FQCoO4xQQa9Uxt2to-4Ncy7O1TKywuiNRSk2HucvxQCbqQmI5dhZoAX-knYzv4Wh-h78iX15FoLk9hK9r2pD2IcYQLvioJFB-pmNG4xRf2xLjmD5LX/s320/2016-10-26+17.08.38.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzEq2WmewzeGBMZbMCmqkA8SI8iK5e3PFZs2u8iZgXj_BOFcGdyBh6KqsBShfeJGLE-11QhWv_HSuqesJMs8gyrYKZK6oVNu5mwHpsePsMk2R8Lt9pI7zH7knyGAYZifK6mDNET_7N0nc/s1600/2016-10-26+17.09.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzEq2WmewzeGBMZbMCmqkA8SI8iK5e3PFZs2u8iZgXj_BOFcGdyBh6KqsBShfeJGLE-11QhWv_HSuqesJMs8gyrYKZK6oVNu5mwHpsePsMk2R8Lt9pI7zH7knyGAYZifK6mDNET_7N0nc/s320/2016-10-26+17.09.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The Magic Paintbrush and The Magic Stone (Stone Soup) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWQjoLWZQy1Wht1V80uMUUVnjZk-vOddtz1YwqUMAbLjvRKvJwd66AZL62slRzY-JUogDWZBypMvJP2pNidklFya3-Hqyk6LHEkwY0_ejntlE3VTajyfEjPVz09YHtbPj5Qig74M7lcHv/s1600/2016-10-26+12.47.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWQjoLWZQy1Wht1V80uMUUVnjZk-vOddtz1YwqUMAbLjvRKvJwd66AZL62slRzY-JUogDWZBypMvJP2pNidklFya3-Hqyk6LHEkwY0_ejntlE3VTajyfEjPVz09YHtbPj5Qig74M7lcHv/s400/2016-10-26+12.47.16.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-4949429835250385752016-06-29T06:57:00.001-07:002016-06-29T13:05:48.445-07:00How it works: The Ladybird PasticheSince the autumn, a new breed of 'Ladybird' has arrived on these shores and has been having a dramatic effect on native biblio-ecosystems.<br />
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I refer, of course, to 'Ladybird Books for Grown Ups' which are to be found all over the place - not just in bookshops but also clustered around the tills in coffee shops and supermarkets nationwide.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYcEA07vACHGJ3lNzMOjKSbZ_JLJZpt7YFaxZbJ2DtRwLbAl5WcdW1Gn8YP_2nOVU_H3LN32-E2rQ2amxBvoy06z4pJS7WZ7zmAsfqeNy1mLgMXQ-KqdxjkYmaFrGe5Td-wE2ddBOSXj4/s1600/LB4GU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYcEA07vACHGJ3lNzMOjKSbZ_JLJZpt7YFaxZbJ2DtRwLbAl5WcdW1Gn8YP_2nOVU_H3LN32-E2rQ2amxBvoy06z4pJS7WZ7zmAsfqeNy1mLgMXQ-KqdxjkYmaFrGe5Td-wE2ddBOSXj4/s200/LB4GU.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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When they were first spotted and identified, last autumn, they seemed to be winter migrants - turning up in time for Christmas but with a very short life span after that. But here we are, nearly in July, and they continue to colonise the bestsellers lists.<br />
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There's also some evidence that the new species are interbreedng with the native population. This is causing some confusion. Looking on eBay at 'vintage Ladybird Books' you don't have to look hard to find pictures such as this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-OW6u0XWfv7-ci3rcc-I4tgaTVcbyNUK-vnM7zkAtB838o0vLOCb_4_eu8xeMbOH1SJWri5SPjNlA5YRv14R8Y2iGHnFxqWDKIqbI0ETlIMGxqV0MgXrQXJhm2asbDONa8ryvUp_IDCZ/s1600/intruder.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-OW6u0XWfv7-ci3rcc-I4tgaTVcbyNUK-vnM7zkAtB838o0vLOCb_4_eu8xeMbOH1SJWri5SPjNlA5YRv14R8Y2iGHnFxqWDKIqbI0ETlIMGxqV0MgXrQXJhm2asbDONa8ryvUp_IDCZ/s200/intruder.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />
OK enough of the insect metaphor. <br />
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When people talk to me about 'Ladybird Books for grown-ups' they often seem a bit confused about them. Are they really
Ladybird Books? Are they spoofs? Are they parodies? What's the difference anyway? Are they new or
old? Are the illustrations original Ladybird illustrations? Have they commissioned new artwork? <br />
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Now, when an area of study requires clarification, what do we do, class?<br />
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That's right. We reach for a Ladybird Book to explain it to us in easy stages, and with lots of pictures.<br />
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So here it is - the Ladybird Book that will make it all clear.<br />
<h4>
How it Works: The Ladybird Pastiche</h4>
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First there were Ladybird Books.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_xo5CJYHIWg1gjxxPDwclrB3jHA4Npu4n_mMD09WZZlMU0RzQ-EP-Xr6sLjwZTqkOpUwXXNs_eJsBGH6uiP2uQ3fCvxUUi9zrGY2KDXPn_5M2qRlc7NXUz9ikIPeLSUmdL-iWtR8V3dy/s1600/normal_LBs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_xo5CJYHIWg1gjxxPDwclrB3jHA4Npu4n_mMD09WZZlMU0RzQ-EP-Xr6sLjwZTqkOpUwXXNs_eJsBGH6uiP2uQ3fCvxUUi9zrGY2KDXPn_5M2qRlc7NXUz9ikIPeLSUmdL-iWtR8V3dy/s200/normal_LBs.png" width="134" /></a></div>
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Then almost as soon as there were Ladybird Books there were Ladybird Book parodies.<br />
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The simple, didactic style of Ladybird prose lends itself very neatly to parody. The format and font and layout was standardised and quickly familiar. Some of the artists who made the pictures for Ladybird Books in the 1960s would make parodies of Ladybird Books and give them to their friends.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qWnQKzkkjDy07tkz3DodfCsOkHOunuadRkofuwnKdlkX-MDsERqy5IqtuqDrFZufgV4M3aN45fItAVFs4N3VKyu6Fsqt_SKq4ZoiZJvJPwBV1mlnFJ3Ovm3JPTbNZQvmPSLcB79AU3mT/s1600/2016-06-26+11.57.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qWnQKzkkjDy07tkz3DodfCsOkHOunuadRkofuwnKdlkX-MDsERqy5IqtuqDrFZufgV4M3aN45fItAVFs4N3VKyu6Fsqt_SKq4ZoiZJvJPwBV1mlnFJ3Ovm3JPTbNZQvmPSLcB79AU3mT/s320/2016-06-26+11.57.17.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spoof made by artist Martin Aitchison based on one of the series he himself had illustrated</td></tr>
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When the internet came along, there were lots of parodies to be found there. These internet parodies were, of course, often very rude and most of the internet parodies were not very funny. 'Parody' is probably the best word here as they usually involve mockery and a clear target. Some of the internet parodies were well done and some were funny too. Making this sort of Ladybird parody usually meant taking a real Ladybird Book and photographing the cover. Then, using Photoshop, a title or picture was changed so that it it no longer looked as it used to. You <a href="http://bagofdelights.tumblr.com/post/89652612113/classic-childhood-books-from-yesteryear" target="_blank">can see some examples here</a>. <br />
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<h4>
A target? </h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyytW-ugJ4XNkOAAsU83llVSaJTxXle6dhtkaKppxpp8dRHmn_0YraJOzZDTwAIabICLsJ0kQvN-3p6FIMVpos_orIvBI9DGlNc79uJc99CP-arWizHaFShzKvn-F7u6Gn4AO0RWPJeus7/s1600/2016-06-27+15.22.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyytW-ugJ4XNkOAAsU83llVSaJTxXle6dhtkaKppxpp8dRHmn_0YraJOzZDTwAIabICLsJ0kQvN-3p6FIMVpos_orIvBI9DGlNc79uJc99CP-arWizHaFShzKvn-F7u6Gn4AO0RWPJeus7/s200/2016-06-27+15.22.09.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Definitions are tricky here. If 'parody' involves mockery the question is, what is the target?<br />
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I don't think most Ladybird parodies mock their vehicle in the way that, say, a spoof horror movie mocks horror movies. <b> Instead I think Ladybirds are usually chosen for their outer shell of earnest naivety from which you can more effectively shoot vitriol. It's like packing a Morris Minor with Kalashnikovs. </b>But this easy brutality can sometimes make the satirist a bit lazy.<br />
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Personally I've always been a particular fan of <a href="http://www.kissmekwik.co.uk/category/67-ladybird.aspx" target="_blank">Simon Spicer's</a> humorous Ladybird (officially licensed) parody greetings cards which combine a deft touch with affectionate humour.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCL3YHL3iB9eeTTWD_f-ZWDnsG_xE7uQF8SPggc1khPZqEzf4gVXgxxeori-b7ZncsXztsY-3GOd8u1NzUaHQ20Zumm8GCO5ckq0Hw8_xBYOfiorLLT39ENdY-EkEq_ZJhJa0dCnX18fl/s1600/simonspicer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCL3YHL3iB9eeTTWD_f-ZWDnsG_xE7uQF8SPggc1khPZqEzf4gVXgxxeori-b7ZncsXztsY-3GOd8u1NzUaHQ20Zumm8GCO5ckq0Hw8_xBYOfiorLLT39ENdY-EkEq_ZJhJa0dCnX18fl/s320/simonspicer.png" width="264" /></a></div>
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But sometimes people went to a lot more effort, taking a whole Ladybird
Book and changing the text so that it looked the same as before but now
said very different things. A spoof like this that became quite well-known is called: The Alternative Book of the Policeman. You can find that book
here - but it is not, in places, a gentle parody so it is not suitable for those who do not like harsh humour. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wgp1T2JDReQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wgp1T2JDReQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Peter and Jane books are particularly easy to parody. I made a simple Peter and Jane parody and <a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/pages/spoofpj.htm" target="_blank">put it on my website</a> over 15 years ago. It kept me amused one afternoon, but it is not very funny.<br />
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About 3 years ago an artist called Jon Bentley took a very different approach.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm2p35_SJCnGq3sf7RhfjN9byxA5vSga-BhC3EQH3PJDiU7rV9QJaybcLc1j6FMdYkTQ3X5jZ8j82V-eMPJq4dMJukS4SpcZJEIdf0xkgFiGsJ1byTs_joLnwDnRdry9XoaxbsqckRlsZ/s1600/JBentley.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm2p35_SJCnGq3sf7RhfjN9byxA5vSga-BhC3EQH3PJDiU7rV9QJaybcLc1j6FMdYkTQ3X5jZ8j82V-eMPJq4dMJukS4SpcZJEIdf0xkgFiGsJ1byTs_joLnwDnRdry9XoaxbsqckRlsZ/s200/JBentley.png" width="160" /></a></div>
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He made an interesting piece of work - taking pictures from old Peter and Jane books and creating original artwork in what he called 'a homage' to them. He also created new text to go with the pictures. The end result looked like a Ladybird Book.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2taklJN-IMwB_JO9-RYHFAvarOcPNeFzZfFlawM9tVhrIhkeNR5ZVnQ9QOb5-WBjrXBn2yaS0LqGZVTA1vivIlvXGW1EJTHfjCXz0KVQeGDTwg3cToDNiTd2JhB-Frj1Y8__Dbk8TP6R/s1600/fishing_lost_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2taklJN-IMwB_JO9-RYHFAvarOcPNeFzZfFlawM9tVhrIhkeNR5ZVnQ9QOb5-WBjrXBn2yaS0LqGZVTA1vivIlvXGW1EJTHfjCXz0KVQeGDTwg3cToDNiTd2JhB-Frj1Y8__Dbk8TP6R/s400/fishing_lost_2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The effect was very interesting and sometimes disturbing but also beautiful. His work cannot be classed as parody, in my view, because there is no mockery of any sort involved. Bentley uses the vehicle of the reading scheme books to say something about childhood and ... well you decide. You can see more of Jon Bentley's work here:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://issuu.com/lostepisodes/docs/44724_-_valerie_heys_peter___jane_books_2-12_singl" target="_blank">The Lost Episodes</a> <br />
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Jon Bentley wanted to publish his artwork as a book and he asked the publishers of Ladybird if he could so, but they did not give him permission.<br />
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About 2 years ago an artist called <a href="http://miriamelia.co.uk/biography/" target="_blank">Miriam Elia</a> made a parody of a Peter and Jane book which she called "We Go to the Gallery". Her target for satire was the world of modern art and the things that people say about modern art.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pFLSezfP7P_5_4b5U59rQ7HcSozP87K-84Mud2spvO8VMtIsBje7HAww-Dc2l9-LadskLzioc2W_eKrkKB7R_QDejJaPlEi6Yefew8Fk7_H5k0YGxz35a_5Ref17zICXpGxW9FaXgCCr/s1600/gallery.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pFLSezfP7P_5_4b5U59rQ7HcSozP87K-84Mud2spvO8VMtIsBje7HAww-Dc2l9-LadskLzioc2W_eKrkKB7R_QDejJaPlEi6Yefew8Fk7_H5k0YGxz35a_5Ref17zICXpGxW9FaXgCCr/s320/gallery.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Her book was very funny and very clever - though it was not written for children. It also took the form of a Peter and Jane book. You<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/we-go-to-the-gallery/miriam-elia/9780992834913" target="_blank"> can see the book here</a>.<br />
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<br />
Again, the publishers of Ladybird did not give her permission to publish her book.<br />
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But in October 2014 an amendment in the law came into effect allowing the parody of copyright work, where the aim of the work was "an expression of humour or mockery" and was not discriminatory. Miriam Elia was free to publish her book.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jedRyyaEdqWGTl6c1fqWLkktCZyhWjRxkhMML9NwXkgfSSdWMB-nzTKk_pPMRjFx4kx35OH3uRuONsyu1nhKOewvL6sk5r8P_cquMOsrpoPBwQuY45OekiKxbSgBmEE5BWst7JeUn4Io/s1600/pastiche.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jedRyyaEdqWGTl6c1fqWLkktCZyhWjRxkhMML9NwXkgfSSdWMB-nzTKk_pPMRjFx4kx35OH3uRuONsyu1nhKOewvL6sk5r8P_cquMOsrpoPBwQuY45OekiKxbSgBmEE5BWst7JeUn4Io/s400/pastiche.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the year that the law changed, another pair of comedy writers also had the idea to make a Ladybird pastiche. They put the idea to the publishers of Ladybird, expecting they would say no. But this time they said yes. The writers, Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley h<a href="http://www.framleyexaminer.com/pages/fron012" target="_blank">ad a track record of writing comic pastiche</a> and, like Elia, were big fans from childhood of Ladybird Books.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6345949833876069606" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>In We Go to the Gallery, Elia (who is an artist) bases her artwork on Peter and Jane pictures but adapts them to show the children visiting a modern art gallery. Then, of course, she adds her own text. So, although obviously inspired by Peter and Jane books, the final book is all original. This is a similar approach to that taken by Jon Bentley - although the effect of the two pieces is very different.<br />
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But in the Morris/Hazeley books the writers use the original artwork, borrowed from a wide range of different Ladybird Books - not just Peter and Jane books. They don't amend the original artwork at all, except sometimes to zoom-in or crop. They are comedy writers, not artists so their 'art' is in matching each existing piece of artwork to a new piece of text. This means that the pictures in the pastiche books come from a random selection of original books. For example in the 'Ladybird Books for Grown-ups' book "The Ladybird Book of the Hangover", page one uses artwork from 'The Nurse', page two from 'Numbers', page three from 'The Story of Medicine', page 4 from 'Plastics' etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMupqtkAbolSRdGOsDU2zzOas3dNdhrqbpcRTT1k37HW73y1XySLXYVa2hkGxagKSDQ-Aj7_7xDJunbLb0qgeIuLhjL5jWbIyJn8kXlCD81eUUZOYqpuW_R1CeJ-Fiy0DlCu3_xYCbWPam/s1600/hanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMupqtkAbolSRdGOsDU2zzOas3dNdhrqbpcRTT1k37HW73y1XySLXYVa2hkGxagKSDQ-Aj7_7xDJunbLb0qgeIuLhjL5jWbIyJn8kXlCD81eUUZOYqpuW_R1CeJ-Fiy0DlCu3_xYCbWPam/s320/hanks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Though this was omitted from the first batch of books, the later 'LB Books for Grown-ups' credit the original artists.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6345949833876069606" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">In short</a><br />
<ul>
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<ul>
<li>Bentley's work reflects - but doesn't mock.</li>
<li>Elia's book takes an external target to satirise</li>
<li>With Hazely and Morris the humour mainly look inwards - it is predominately self-deprecating.</li>
</ul>
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For me none of the above display anything but affection for the medium of Ladybird Books. <b>Ladybird here represents a baseline position of innocent enquiry.</b><br />
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That's a quick tour of the subject to date. But since Ladybird aimed to give a thorough, if simplified, account of any topic, I should aim to do the same and mention a couple more points.<br />
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Over the course of the last 20 years, although they usually said 'no', there do seem to be a few other instances where the publishers of Ladybird <i>have</i> given permission for their brand to be used in some sort of a pastiche. In 2000 the BBC prevailed upon Ladybird to lend its trademarks to a publication called "Shopping on the Internet". Although one of the writers recently stated that this was "an actual Ladybird Book" it was, in fact, published by the BBC. Although written with a Ladybird-like intention to inform, it was deliberately designed to emulate a vintage Ladybird - the sort of book that, even in 2000, had not been produced by Ladybird for 30 years.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJmW142ppYcm5_wT1fshKwkRGjZKMYDXAQBsh0zDbf9PuXf8C5wdNKyW-4YRZUzM6FSTJ3ZuN_hsb9me9CRKf5MC4OyriuMomGP3KtqPgGnrY2Vkxto9Nb_kBwsjw-T9fwRth5U8atRHK/s1600/shopping_on_internet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJmW142ppYcm5_wT1fshKwkRGjZKMYDXAQBsh0zDbf9PuXf8C5wdNKyW-4YRZUzM6FSTJ3ZuN_hsb9me9CRKf5MC4OyriuMomGP3KtqPgGnrY2Vkxto9Nb_kBwsjw-T9fwRth5U8atRHK/s640/shopping_on_internet.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.easyontheeye.net/ladybird/news/netshop.htm</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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A less well-known venture into pastiche of the early 21st century is to be found in this rather mysterious little book: <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77ZYMIh3MIA4Qsg193QzMQ4ELhD3uV6WdcmacrFY0AZcaqg84WVru6hKLkeyA7o1ySUVa68TlPzQwC7v36_ADmf2IaVVS2xun9aiUw4aDmB7XPk3qZQfyKwMxZYt8L7OUX2dH1GBGBxnj/s1600/2016-06-26+12.34.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77ZYMIh3MIA4Qsg193QzMQ4ELhD3uV6WdcmacrFY0AZcaqg84WVru6hKLkeyA7o1ySUVa68TlPzQwC7v36_ADmf2IaVVS2xun9aiUw4aDmB7XPk3qZQfyKwMxZYt8L7OUX2dH1GBGBxnj/s320/2016-06-26+12.34.56.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
It would seem from this introductory paragraph to have been produced in conjunction with Ladybird - although there are no other acknowledgements.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvSeLT2Z7cQb-RiWKI42kHaid1I3E0IhYVRd0LPm2m2bKsMDd_3MdUIlhAnd1gKIJvfTysyudvXGK_PwijZ8TWB45JJURJhyphenhyphenIfYUNhWh5iAjRRAYessysz3XGbY9sgpkZ8rsyznrEJe46/s1600/2016-06-26+12.34.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvSeLT2Z7cQb-RiWKI42kHaid1I3E0IhYVRd0LPm2m2bKsMDd_3MdUIlhAnd1gKIJvfTysyudvXGK_PwijZ8TWB45JJURJhyphenhyphenIfYUNhWh5iAjRRAYessysz3XGbY9sgpkZ8rsyznrEJe46/s200/2016-06-26+12.34.45.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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It is an 'alphabet book' - giving household brands to represent the letters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d42mnmS2jlAT8ywhSx7Vi4wc2LP1Q38VypsEJ2oXVfaMqb00nGIDDUd0m5-i3ihc6yLhP0FraTubbFTquK7rILzIfZtRas6D6JFMhwFgrNtMlcIZrJkQM5Ik_GifqM7qKxh4ozYDklVD/s1600/2016-06-26+12.36.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d42mnmS2jlAT8ywhSx7Vi4wc2LP1Q38VypsEJ2oXVfaMqb00nGIDDUd0m5-i3ihc6yLhP0FraTubbFTquK7rILzIfZtRas6D6JFMhwFgrNtMlcIZrJkQM5Ik_GifqM7qKxh4ozYDklVD/s200/2016-06-26+12.36.36.jpg" width="169" /></a> </div>
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No prizes for guessing what 'L' stands for.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzCFgbuyOmha3pim0KVTHqPcn-vedOjS8wpUXm8rCitx48tU8EnC4MElMdcc-TcCbxejOPhyphenhyphenhBmlAb3gNraEjUH4cUe6vBa4Pdzt62zduKj-Ymf7jaPS6-SXnuBwq3OTr540H9XOoB7iT/s1600/2016-06-26+12.35.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzCFgbuyOmha3pim0KVTHqPcn-vedOjS8wpUXm8rCitx48tU8EnC4MElMdcc-TcCbxejOPhyphenhyphenhBmlAb3gNraEjUH4cUe6vBa4Pdzt62zduKj-Ymf7jaPS6-SXnuBwq3OTr540H9XOoB7iT/s200/2016-06-26+12.35.45.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
Here the writers of this book hit upon the same idea as Miriam Elia - aping the convention of Peter and Jane books by using the 'new words' at the bottom of the page to good effect.<br />
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<h4>
Summary</h4>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6345949833876069606" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>There are probably other bits and pieces to mention in the long and nuanced history of official/unofficial Ladybird parody but I shall finish with a simple summary which you can cut out and keep<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyg7dcdHZZqPm9pogRa2Cx1aFUYdSHna2piqRYGOrJdTUDOb8ywbt_lLvQcwheqGOxQovmk4WVYfLTG3uRqhZNVh11ZFHrruMNDCzs13ZcRRs8YJnBiYc2llWD5z9rA1O0aghVNaIS0P3f/s1600/scissors.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="54" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyg7dcdHZZqPm9pogRa2Cx1aFUYdSHna2piqRYGOrJdTUDOb8ywbt_lLvQcwheqGOxQovmk4WVYfLTG3uRqhZNVh11ZFHrruMNDCzs13ZcRRs8YJnBiYc2llWD5z9rA1O0aghVNaIS0P3f/s200/scissors.png" width="100" /></a></div>
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1) 'Ladybird Books for Grown Ups' are not really Ladybird Books. They are a humorous pastiche of a wide range of vintage Ladybird Books, using original artwork with different text. They are published by Michael Joseph (although Michael Joseph resides in the same publishing group as Penguin and the books have been issued with Penguin's blessing).<br />
<br />
2) Miriam Elia's book 'We Go to the Gallery' is not one of these 'Ladybird Books for Grown Ups' books, although it is often sold together with them in bookshops. And it is for grown ups! Her book is an original work, though inspired by 'Peter and Jane' books.<br />
<br />
3) Jon Bentley's work is also original and also made from Peter-and-Jane-inspired original text and artwork. It is <a href="https://issuu.com/lostepisodes/docs/44724_-_valerie_heys_peter___jane_books_2-12_singl" target="_blank">available to be viewed online</a> here.<br />
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4) More books are to be expected soon from Morris and Hazeley as well as from Elia<br />
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5) There's room for all. But let's not forget the originals in all this. <br />
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-41305909780289036152016-05-29T07:05:00.000-07:002016-05-29T07:06:35.113-07:00Why waste a good picture?It's easy to get a bit sentimental over many of the golden-age Ladybird illustrators and lose sight of the fact that they were busy working people, just earning a crust.<br />
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For the most part, the artists don't seem to have been proud to be illustrating children's books. From correspondence I've read, some at least were rather uncomfortable to be using their talents on such humble books instead of something more 'worthy'.<br />
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The schedule for book production was demanding - 24+ full page boards, crammed with detail, were required and there were a lot of books. The editorial director kept a 'Keen' and educated eye on quality.<br />
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So it's quite interesting to look out for the short-cuts that the artists sometimes took to get through their workload. Here are some that I've spotted, but please let me know if you find any others.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHhv3Y-fjBi0qK4-PKXCtI_gLV8rfDO1mNlklagb9d8KxFYCrYO-JNZUgroidj1apHSJRu-F48E2E6vCVJ03RfUMZZ6AEhGf7h-kPW6_PDRUGygCKq-oSCvbh-r4fx9E5sLykgWAVbDIe/s1600/2016-05-28+11.22.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHhv3Y-fjBi0qK4-PKXCtI_gLV8rfDO1mNlklagb9d8KxFYCrYO-JNZUgroidj1apHSJRu-F48E2E6vCVJ03RfUMZZ6AEhGf7h-kPW6_PDRUGygCKq-oSCvbh-r4fx9E5sLykgWAVbDIe/s200/2016-05-28+11.22.30.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8YKS8uVj2vy465nkMAU9wjjdfrUIks4A6YFoIMiC6CB54NBJfkkL0a1NedxumRhFlo-XRSB6wNyVMbxapFf7qFVrhAhcWPU9ix9uLyLPMeCFKHc5uCO-A4El5khIlRGGSY5kMzUO0d7v/s1600/2016-05-28+11.24.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8YKS8uVj2vy465nkMAU9wjjdfrUIks4A6YFoIMiC6CB54NBJfkkL0a1NedxumRhFlo-XRSB6wNyVMbxapFf7qFVrhAhcWPU9ix9uLyLPMeCFKHc5uCO-A4El5khIlRGGSY5kMzUO0d7v/s200/2016-05-28+11.24.34.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Before getting started, I should I'm NOT here talking about the many instances (see above) where the artwork was updated between editions of books - to correct a mistake or to move with the times. <span style="font-size: x-small;">This example from The Story of Ships (first pointed out to me by Paul Crampton)</span>.<br />
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For me this is also an interesting topic - but today's is a different story.<br />
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<h3>
1) Same artist - different book</h3>
Here is Harry Wingfield making effective use of the set of sketches and photos that he took at a children's party to illustrate two different books: The Party and The Lord's Prayer (published in the same year)<br />
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The start of the books 'Knitting' and 'Crochet' began with the advice to wash hands - so why would Harry reinvent the wheel when a quick makeover can be performed?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jxurLynaXV0Fu3pCESAFIe7euHktOQQx1Yyan6LsVC-2UV-svAYNag5GRW9v-f4c0DJ8mF1nAgrBcRBxwmr-FwKu2BUqXkQ5_ck85p-KAEjX0WyXUzOHJpf_ssqN8A3KJTL4E9AH3ckb/s1600/2016-05-28+11.17.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jxurLynaXV0Fu3pCESAFIe7euHktOQQx1Yyan6LsVC-2UV-svAYNag5GRW9v-f4c0DJ8mF1nAgrBcRBxwmr-FwKu2BUqXkQ5_ck85p-KAEjX0WyXUzOHJpf_ssqN8A3KJTL4E9AH3ckb/s400/2016-05-28+11.17.11.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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A slightly more subtle example by Frank Humphris can be found in this picture of Alexander Selkirk, 'The Story of Pirates' and White Bird Canyon (The Story of Indians). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vrc-1TLr1OgK2XTUTXEXiYPwUW0U5oYjLgx-6WPSTvPaa1IzNJj8GRtjG1074FjUesYMWaLFv5FFioXQ4lddpP1736qPL9AfxIvx2Nmfjt8c8sQNAdR16FmoWVKT2E15g5HTRcqIo3qX/s1600/2016-05-28+11.19.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vrc-1TLr1OgK2XTUTXEXiYPwUW0U5oYjLgx-6WPSTvPaa1IzNJj8GRtjG1074FjUesYMWaLFv5FFioXQ4lddpP1736qPL9AfxIvx2Nmfjt8c8sQNAdR16FmoWVKT2E15g5HTRcqIo3qX/s400/2016-05-28+11.19.15.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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John Berry's was also quite a subtle makeover in these pictures from The Policeman and The Roadmakers:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIvpM-N6Ty99_N55FOXaxMeLM0a0cfCTy5Ol_d9F57dvxvfprCP_jg4ARG7ZTEAhkBOJ-LEYSZlOZfKLagsM-ir255d_WiWYkrlL-5XDsd82W5nxMVcK8Z9l1eYi9CTxz9O1eRxVBqXKH/s1600/2016-05-28+10.23.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIvpM-N6Ty99_N55FOXaxMeLM0a0cfCTy5Ol_d9F57dvxvfprCP_jg4ARG7ZTEAhkBOJ-LEYSZlOZfKLagsM-ir255d_WiWYkrlL-5XDsd82W5nxMVcK8Z9l1eYi9CTxz9O1eRxVBqXKH/s400/2016-05-28+10.23.58.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzUkYBjKnGcONFVqDwaIyI1f9_IstPvyjqD2kYT5FFKOZtz67bEH0N_EcCuu25uVh70_HwCwkVBKUCEjeNlle8GYPOIozux6sNBo6ZduuqaWyw-JJRWlF5LClxt9wApRtr3vzsR2JxtDv/s1600/2016-05-28+10.20.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzUkYBjKnGcONFVqDwaIyI1f9_IstPvyjqD2kYT5FFKOZtz67bEH0N_EcCuu25uVh70_HwCwkVBKUCEjeNlle8GYPOIozux6sNBo6ZduuqaWyw-JJRWlF5LClxt9wApRtr3vzsR2JxtDv/s400/2016-05-28+10.20.42.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<h3>
2) Same artist, same book!</h3>
Slightly more daring was Berry's use of the same preparatory photograph just a few pages along in the same book:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZdBD0rUY9Gj3lX1UGktEauy28FcPkn8XMOw8Rznl8vmoXhXyF8uGE88EfGw2zS2LRdmGpXcfOWXUmQ4w-Uu3x2-lXisy_64_Mz_ekfofsPtwJNP42Mx7gtVhODeDXSNmFfE_hm9MizBY/s1600/2016-05-28+10.37.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZdBD0rUY9Gj3lX1UGktEauy28FcPkn8XMOw8Rznl8vmoXhXyF8uGE88EfGw2zS2LRdmGpXcfOWXUmQ4w-Uu3x2-lXisy_64_Mz_ekfofsPtwJNP42Mx7gtVhODeDXSNmFfE_hm9MizBY/s400/2016-05-28+10.37.27.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9p6tC0nAxl3XBjD_S2eA4TGndnLSLByGJRTQVcISOcAqdx3X9dyi4KfxGyaN5PsEHLtO6KvzO2GFK92eK7HAozb3KnSMEQTUz0yi4_jpj7sSZpGY8GfMrLRQmUtmcR7DxEk11QZl4NKp/s1600/2016-05-28+10.37.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9p6tC0nAxl3XBjD_S2eA4TGndnLSLByGJRTQVcISOcAqdx3X9dyi4KfxGyaN5PsEHLtO6KvzO2GFK92eK7HAozb3KnSMEQTUz0yi4_jpj7sSZpGY8GfMrLRQmUtmcR7DxEk11QZl4NKp/s400/2016-05-28+10.37.35.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I expect he felt that, with the regulation haircut and uniform, no one would notice.<br />
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But I think my favourite bit of creative recycling is this one:<br />
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3) Different artist, different book</h3>
Here Martin Aitchison saves himself the effort of a visit to the hospital for a preparatory photograph when Peter and Jane's cousins visit someone in hospital. Instead Martin 'visits' John Berry's book The Nurse, published a few years before. And why not?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6lB5tCSVWcOufGzvqKQEuUIAndmeLZdih-SspkNeAmUksINlieYlxyERx5_fc3Z8gn4gTKmKA2o0IfoNNp7-YRoJ5oYrjv7O5SfeGDFtLLhNSGTTtCnkox2Kw2MmbI5uqM8Y6WIURWfB/s1600/2016-05-28+11.10.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6lB5tCSVWcOufGzvqKQEuUIAndmeLZdih-SspkNeAmUksINlieYlxyERx5_fc3Z8gn4gTKmKA2o0IfoNNp7-YRoJ5oYrjv7O5SfeGDFtLLhNSGTTtCnkox2Kw2MmbI5uqM8Y6WIURWfB/s400/2016-05-28+11.10.54.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1asqZDGXab4qLqiMZjkb-HszYfvMvGdZY0-FYorJStvAEI1sSnwSCPScrfYGAz8z-KGon00cturmiCN5pEOAKEgrKNqC9IcrsW9lWu5Dxt_CapYxepp79EFqmI-ZE4uI0wqMFYZ7haFQG/s1600/2016-05-28+11.14.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1asqZDGXab4qLqiMZjkb-HszYfvMvGdZY0-FYorJStvAEI1sSnwSCPScrfYGAz8z-KGon00cturmiCN5pEOAKEgrKNqC9IcrsW9lWu5Dxt_CapYxepp79EFqmI-ZE4uI0wqMFYZ7haFQG/s400/2016-05-28+11.14.40.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-18027837231122650852016-05-02T10:09:00.001-07:002016-05-02T15:21:56.825-07:00Ladybird Travel Adventure - your help needed<h3>
Introduction</h3>
A couple of weeks ago a journalist called Steve Clark got in touch. He was thinking about writing an article about the real scenes captured in Ladybird Books. Previously he had written a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/steveclarkauthor/photos/a.406223646206417.1073741828.405245979637517/579919645503482/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Ladybird-themed blog-post</a>, which I had shared on Twitter. <br />
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In Steve's blog post he had put side by side two pictures - one a photo of a village local to him which had been used as a basis to the front cover of the 1960s book 'The Little Red Hen' and the other the picture from the book itself - a book beautifully illustrated by Robert Lumley.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7zHv_nAquMIErWKFHHA8g8IJKjMs8qXDqjX6qa_j9Mh8JszqJVFc1uSO8w5ukHDEl-vEZiefmf_Y-2wXdkydb6IawMtlqF15QtORKA_Giq4bU7PPImOcYiRAWsWrnGpJwcKyCHOo2ert/s1600/2016-05-01+16.44.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7zHv_nAquMIErWKFHHA8g8IJKjMs8qXDqjX6qa_j9Mh8JszqJVFc1uSO8w5ukHDEl-vEZiefmf_Y-2wXdkydb6IawMtlqF15QtORKA_Giq4bU7PPImOcYiRAWsWrnGpJwcKyCHOo2ert/s200/2016-05-01+16.44.18.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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The post attracted quite a lot of attention, as things often do that remind people of this much-loved series of children's books. He wanted to turn it into an article for a Sunday paper - possibly the Mail on Sunday. Now this is a topic that has interested me for a while. I've been planning to write something on the topic and have been collecting pictures for this purpose for a while so I told him this. However, in the spirit of Ladybird Land I agreed to help him with it and shared some of my information.<br />
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The story, due out 2 weeks ago, never appeared, he didn't contact me again and I assume that Steve changed his mind or, more likely perhaps, an editor was less enamored with the idea than either of us.<br />
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So now I shall share some of the scenes I have accumulated so far - mainly thanks to research and heavy use of Google Street view - but also thanks to contributions from some kind folk out there. <br />
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<i>But I'd love to collect some more. If you can place any well-known Ladybird scenes, I'd really appreciate your help.</i><br />
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1) John Berry's Police Station from the 1962 version of 'People at Work - The Policeman' and Brixton Police Station today<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i4zc17Ykw4R8RnxYAqV9jD1fF6UJN25YziG1SQEbjQtKljeQYO3vibbuFcgDnw3j6ypxbpf8mnkBomlmjsfxC9JNaaIy6Fh37R5y3Yg4ecGJwvA1TNnwvfVKl_7CHIpDOErLjB0vJRDc/s1600/2015-10-20+18.08.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i4zc17Ykw4R8RnxYAqV9jD1fF6UJN25YziG1SQEbjQtKljeQYO3vibbuFcgDnw3j6ypxbpf8mnkBomlmjsfxC9JNaaIy6Fh37R5y3Yg4ecGJwvA1TNnwvfVKl_7CHIpDOErLjB0vJRDc/s400/2015-10-20+18.08.48.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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via @lovesBrixton</div>
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The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel - adorned with cuddly Morris Traveller - from Robert Ayton's 1964 illustrations in 'Churches and Cathedrals' <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW0h6MqKtDkaaBlYFkQQLSkD6DgczaSPmZcIAigLTk_XaJrUEZhP9PimT6tCWFdMa3-fwUHpE2WGVVitS7DFiJ_n3hQdiREiM3oFD_MmwLoQR9WDFk8D4GomXSyo1ahIhpg7DoVNeioaQ/s1600/File+21-04-2016%252C+11+42+09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW0h6MqKtDkaaBlYFkQQLSkD6DgczaSPmZcIAigLTk_XaJrUEZhP9PimT6tCWFdMa3-fwUHpE2WGVVitS7DFiJ_n3hQdiREiM3oFD_MmwLoQR9WDFk8D4GomXSyo1ahIhpg7DoVNeioaQ/s400/File+21-04-2016%252C+11+42+09.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
and today - now Bridport Arts Centre. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYNwFbxkBHa-AJFfaOmWsx7N2BNHYtcQSRW6hp4DHOhShyAjoDVkf52QNX5_1_wRd4CenBBDfEl57ZCcKkOo11QqjwIMySRXEyEbzgD87xipLMnXGw6OlJgK-WWbKBU1to8ltDCEUnA1h/s1600/Bridport+Arts+Centre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYNwFbxkBHa-AJFfaOmWsx7N2BNHYtcQSRW6hp4DHOhShyAjoDVkf52QNX5_1_wRd4CenBBDfEl57ZCcKkOo11QqjwIMySRXEyEbzgD87xipLMnXGw6OlJgK-WWbKBU1to8ltDCEUnA1h/s400/Bridport+Arts+Centre.jpg" width="363" /></a></div>
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(Thanks to Gary Grant @ecoschemes)<br />
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3)Now on to London (John Berry again, 1961)<br />
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First we have The Royal Exchange in 1961:<br />
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(Apparently the flashy car in the foreground was John Berry's own - he squeezed a cameo of it into a few of his pictures)<br />
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And from Google: (very grateful to the bus for lining up so precisely).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdLBWbT_7Z8440Ptj4KDxfvlnCK2Ep0aTnCQ0vPIjUfxJPDbGMIiAcvU_LigqOa1n-4anu2XnRkYcFddqq-mmM_Mk8aJE6mmmPseItbjLxc-d8-uv0D5sTcOF4PLSJoBJNnGIX18HbFLB/s1600/Royal_exchange.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdLBWbT_7Z8440Ptj4KDxfvlnCK2Ep0aTnCQ0vPIjUfxJPDbGMIiAcvU_LigqOa1n-4anu2XnRkYcFddqq-mmM_Mk8aJE6mmmPseItbjLxc-d8-uv0D5sTcOF4PLSJoBJNnGIX18HbFLB/s400/Royal_exchange.png" width="282" /></a></div>
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The Science Museum, 1961 - hushed and tranquil</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnAUYZyJOTG7ospvQMVUUkPVqLN4qO3YDQqelglLFvQi_pAy7qo3HS-SLRa-JQzGwrApd4L7o6KaFI_mG5yWJfWLAiqawe05iMoq15trRrXgP4JxIve2NVpg7FyV4RIP2M_xHMHJBHW2I/s1600/2016-05-01+16.32.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnAUYZyJOTG7ospvQMVUUkPVqLN4qO3YDQqelglLFvQi_pAy7qo3HS-SLRa-JQzGwrApd4L7o6KaFI_mG5yWJfWLAiqawe05iMoq15trRrXgP4JxIve2NVpg7FyV4RIP2M_xHMHJBHW2I/s400/2016-05-01+16.32.20.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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And today ... (ish)<br />
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Tower Bridge hasn't changed much of course, but the view behind it has. <br />
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(No, don't let the lean unsettle you; I don't think it's falling down in reality). </div>
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Some scenes have barely changed, of course:<br />
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The British Museum may have been completely revamped in some areas but others look much the same ...<br />
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I can't get quite the right picture of Piccadilly Circus - and not by night - but you get the idea.<br />
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London Zoo no longer seems to keep sea lions so the nearest I can get is the Penguin Pool<br />
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Though in my research I found the newspaper image that Berry seems to have based his painting on:<br />
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As for Heathrow, ... (back in 1961 in was 'London Airport')<br />
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And today ...<br />
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4) But my favourite finds are still from fiction - there's an added buzz when a photograph hints that perhaps your five-year-old self wasn't wrong: perhaps after all it's all really really real and the ungrateful little gingerbread boy one day just might run past you ...<br />
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And of course, let's not forget The Little Red Hen<br />
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-49848612609889189992016-03-06T01:45:00.004-08:002016-03-06T01:45:54.115-08:00What's so special about ... John Berry (part 2)<a href="http://oldladybirdbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/whats-so-special-about-john-berry-part-1.html" target="_blank">(Part one is here)</a><br />
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As I said in my <a href="http://oldladybirdbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/whats-so-special-about-john-berry-part-1.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, the People at Work series was one of the first Ladybird series I remember.<br />
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The first 7 titles represent for me 'old Ladybird' - with a rather retro post-war comfort and solidity to them. They show the grown-up world of work as a place of responsible adults, striving honestly to make the world a safer or a more comfortable place for us all - particularly for children. Nobody runs in this world - except the villains, and then the policeman (there are barely any policewomen) is forced to give chase. But for the most part people walk placidly, or sit or stand. All shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well in Ladybird Land.<br />
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The policeman will catch the thief because that's what policemen do. The fireman will put out the fire and the people will be safe. The nurse will look after the child and the child will soon be well again. Even the battery farms are happy places, with contented hens (it says so in the text).<br />
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There a real sense of transition in the next batch of book that Berry illustrated in this series, all of which were issued in the late 1960s. From The Postman to The Lifeboatmen this is very much a man's world. In these books there are even fewer illustrations of women - not even as onlookers (with the notable exception of the workers in the potteries).<br />
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In these books technology is very much to the fore and generally this is embraced with enthusiasm - particularly in the text.<br />
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The working world is still a noble place. From the heavy industry of The Miner to the light industry of The Pottery Makers these are centuries-old trades, plied by workers much as they every have been - just with more buttons and levers.<br />
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The emphasis is on public service and great works. The three forces are covered in The Sailor, The Airman and The Soldier, all three men (just men) alert in their wholesome roles of peace-keepers and defenders.<br />
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Although they not actually in this series, the 3 books, also illustrated by Berry in a series called 'The Public Services,' really belong here - because of chronology and tone. (In case you've forgotten, the Public Services in question were Water, Gas and Electricity. Remember now? Seems a long time ago).<br />
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Basically, the late-60s is an exciting time to live - even if the colours are a little drab, a little dour at times compared to the earlier books.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2p6szQpLGGl81IoS8pQ1QDe72IVsMwKnB8vNvsf2KMh8wKH_Akdh6KjqXSCM4iL0HLOtNgQCpmRPqriHodZA8ftFCjBIqqZlo5uhhyphenhyphenD2NrSAmTTJXPrdMc0hgZHj6wnLpdvQiw47eGkC/s1600/t_2016-03-05+12.20.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2p6szQpLGGl81IoS8pQ1QDe72IVsMwKnB8vNvsf2KMh8wKH_Akdh6KjqXSCM4iL0HLOtNgQCpmRPqriHodZA8ftFCjBIqqZlo5uhhyphenhyphenD2NrSAmTTJXPrdMc0hgZHj6wnLpdvQiw47eGkC/s200/t_2016-03-05+12.20.31.jpg" width="149" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistyk56Qda1YDTAgsWc0k7UpgXdlGx-AxY513yiuWMyebt_n6md-E2t4G5bT25cJZd6bD2SLDzxUu9lE5p1V7EEZBHITGYraJUuvrkwL12t3uqRDwij4Kj3Jxk0Ecb7Tmhah7_kpQQs0ys/s1600/t_2016-03-05+12.21.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistyk56Qda1YDTAgsWc0k7UpgXdlGx-AxY513yiuWMyebt_n6md-E2t4G5bT25cJZd6bD2SLDzxUu9lE5p1V7EEZBHITGYraJUuvrkwL12t3uqRDwij4Kj3Jxk0Ecb7Tmhah7_kpQQs0ys/s200/t_2016-03-05+12.21.28.jpg" width="149" /></a> The roads, freshly built by The Roadmakers are wide and smart and empty. Daddy can drive his brand new Mini, crafted by 'The Carmakers', quickly down these roads, home to Mummy and a home powered by wonderful labour-saving devices.<br />
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The rapid rate of technological development is still a little disconcerting at times, but there are helpful men (always men) with neat partings and heavy glasses ever on hand to orientate us through it all.<br />
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There are pylons and power stations and maybe at times these are a little challenging in our mental and physical landscape. But the pylons and power stations are not unharmonious; <br />
not without their own grandeur and grace.<br />
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(To be continued).<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The 'People at Work' series, 606b, and 'Public Services', 606e, illustrated by John Berry and written by different authors - but mainly by I and J Havenhand </span>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-29170117898414377822016-01-29T06:33:00.000-08:002016-03-06T02:47:40.709-08:00The great Ladybird Book charity sale<br />
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You've finally done it - you've got your hands on the very last book needed to complete your prized collection of Ladybird Books. So ... now what do you do? <br />
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What one pair of collectors, Kate and Philip Morgan, have done is to donate the whole lot to a local Oxfam Bookshop to be sold off.<br />
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There are hundreds of books in this collection - probably over a thousand and altogether they must be worth thousands of pounds, as all the rare titles are all there (although not shown in the picture) and are mostly in great condition. The couple built up the collection in the usual way - trawling through secondhand bookshops and charity shops for years and ending up getting "quite obsessive about it". [Hmmm. Wonder what that feels like ... ;-) ]<br />
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<a href="http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops/oxfam-books-music-cirencester" target="_blank">The Oxfam Bookshop</a> in question is in Cirencester and they have decided, rather than putting them all up for sale online, to have a launch. In terms of prices, the policy is to set them at a level which is fair to the charity but makes the books cheaper than you'd probably be able to find them if buying them online.<br />
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The launch date is 8th February 2016 so if you collect Ladybirds and are trying to complete a set; if you are looking for a rare one or if you would simply like the chance to buy a whole load of great condition vintage books all at once, confident in the knowledge that prices are fair, then try to be in Cirencester on Monday 8th. If you live nowhere near, the books can be reserved by phone<b> from the 8th Feb </b>and paid for by credit card or cheque.<br />
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So ... if you can't come in person, a booklist of the older, rarer books will be available the night before: the<b> 7th February from 6.pm</b> . When it's realeased I'll publish it here, and on my Twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/lbflyawayhome" target="_blank">@lbflyawayhome</a> and on the vintage <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/121640071180835/" target="_blank">Ladybird Book Facebook group</a>.<br />
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HERE's the link to the book lists:<br />
<a href="http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/oxfamcirencester.htm"><b>http://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/oxfamcirencester.htm</b></a> <br />
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*<b>Strictly from the 8th Feb onwards</b>*, books can be reserved by phone. However reservations will only be held until 5.15pm on 8th Feb, by which time the book must be paid for, either:<br />
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<ul>
<li>by payment and collection in person on the day</li>
<li>or by phone credit/debit card payment</li>
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Postage will be charged - at Royal Mail recorded delivery standard rates.</div>
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To make a reservation, the customer can call Oxfam on <b>01285 658729</b>. <b> </b><br />
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<b>But remember - don't do this before before 8th Feb. </b></div>
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A great donation for a great charity and what a kind, generous act! Philip and Kate Morgan, I salute you.<br />
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<i><b>[Postscript]</b></i><br />
<i><b>Thanks to the power of social media and the hard work of a few volunteers, the Ladybird Book sale was a huge success and made several thousand pounds for the cause.</b></i></div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-52970352475851167222015-12-12T02:00:00.000-08:002015-12-12T03:23:00.125-08:00You can't make an omlette ...The thing about Ladybird Books ... well, one of the things ... there are a lot of things ... but one of my favourite things about Ladybird Books is the way they capture domestic scenes in snapshot. Details of 20th century daily life, insignificant at the time, can pack a particular zeitgeist punch because they slip under our guard.<br />
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I recently posted a picture online of a tea table laid for a tea party. <br />
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It evoked lots of comments as people focused on the details on the table: the tea-cosy, the proportion of cakes to sandwiches, the home-made jam tarts (always either red or yellow and of indeterminate sweet taste) and the cellophane frill around the cake.<br />
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(In the era of The Great British Bake Off and Choccywoccydoodah many of us had forgotten that humble yet gaudy, fringed cellophane cake frill the jazzed up your party cake. It seems my family was not alone in using the same cake frill for years, carefully removing it as the cake was eaten and putting it in a kitchen drawer where it would shed small pieces of hard icing through the year until next called on for active cake service).<br />
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Eggs are another example of the spirit of the times lurking quietly in domestic detail. I eat eggs today; I ate eggs when I was little (in the late 60s). But looking through Ladybird Books of the late 50s to early 70s it's clear that eggs today aren't what once they were. Eggs loomed larger in our lives. Eggs weren't about mayonnaise or quiche or souffle or even omlettes. They were about poached, boiled, fried or scrambled. Particularly, if Ladybird artwork and my memory are correct, about boiled.<br />
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Egg cups - every body had egg cups in their cupboard. Most people had their own egg cup which was fiercely defended. (Perhaps it once came 'free' with your Easter egg?) Timing eggs was important. You knew the difference in consistency of a 4 minute egg or a 6 minute egg. Egg timers were mainly used for timing eggs - not for playing board games. You knew, or thought you knew, or knew ... whichever! ... that it was (or wasn't) healthy to go to work or school on an egg. <br />
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Boiled eggs might be the centrepiece of a salad.<br />
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Then how did you keep your egg warm until its time had come? You were invited to knit egg cosies, or to give egg cosies as presents.<br />
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And when you'd finished eating your eggs, egg boxes were the staple of Ladybird craft activity.<br />
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The egg is still with us - but the Ladybird artwork evidence suggests that its importance has waned. Once the egg was something - majestic in its simplicity. Now it's more likely to be an ingredient, among other ingredients, on a long list in a complex recipe.<br />
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345949833876069606.post-15848242608285137042015-10-28T03:25:00.000-07:002015-10-28T03:25:32.920-07:00What's so special about ... John Berry. Part 1For me, John Berry is right up there with the very best illustrators.<br />
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Although I've always enjoyed his artwork, he is another of the Ladybird artists that I've grown into more as I've got older. One reason is perhaps because his books are among the first Ladybirds I ever encountered - even before I started school. I think we had a copy of The Fireman and The Policeman around the house - probably given to my older brother.<br />
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So those memorable illustrations of the Dixon-of-Dock-Green-esque bobby and the splendid crimson of the fire engines are such a fundamental a part of my early childhood that I never really gave them much of a thought.<br />
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The next John Berry books I met were probably those he illustrated for the first version of the Peter and Jane series. Although the differences between the Ladybird artists who contributed to this series are glaringly obvious to me now, at the time I was unaware of the different hands at work. Now I'll get this bit out of the way early (because it pains me to say it) but Berry wasn't at his best painting children at play.<br />
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This is a bit of a basic problem when illustrating a children's reading scheme and is probably the reason why he only produced the artwork for 3 of the 36 books in the series. Although for me now the charm of his illustrations for this series is in their very stiffness and formality, it probably didn't quite meet the exacting requirments of Editorial Director Douglas Keen, who preferred Wingfield and Aitchison's ability to blend realism with movement and imagination.<br />
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I'm speculating here, of course - but anyway there was no lack of Ladybird illustration work for Berry at this time. Much more up his street was the People at Work series that he alone illustrated, between 1961 and 1972.<br />
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In terms of social history this series may be unique in its documentation of the world of work in the second half of the 20th century, and contemporary attitudes towards it. Not only have some key professions been captured in the stunning photorealism of Berry's artwork but so much can be inferred by the emphasis of the books, what was selected, what was omited and what was updated.<br />
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For me, in terms of tone and outlook, the series breaks into two parts: the books produced before 1965 and those produced between 1965 and the end of the series in 1972 and I aim to look at these separately.<br />
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For now though, let me me sum up why I now find John Berry's artwork breathtaking. Yes, his technical ability was extraordinary. Yes, he could paint factories, machinery and architecture with photographic precision but that alone wouldn't make an artist great. Now I'm no art critic or art historian and, if you know about this stuff, you're going to have to be tolerant of me when I mangle concepts and use the wrong terms. But for me Berry could compose and interpret a scene with small choices and small touches that set the final piece on a different plane, while making the process seem effortless. In addition to this, there's his versatility that I find baffling.<br />
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While I'm sure there are other artists who share a similar ability to paint a turbine or the manufacture of a ship's hull and make it look interesting - beautiful even - there must be far fewer who could then turn around and paint a soft, nostalgic landscape or produce empathetic, keenly observed portraits of the workers. And all within the time and financial restraints of a busy editorial schedule and the requirements to produce twenty-four full pictures for every book.<br />
<br />
In my next post I'll look in more detail at the first books in this
series: The Policeman, Nurse, Fireman, Builder, Farmer and Fisherman. after that I'll look at the later 'Work' books and other series he
illustrated for Ladybird. <br />
<br />
But in the meantime, here's a brief biography in the form of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jan/22/john-berry-obituary" target="_blank">Cressida Connoly's excellent piece </a>written shortly after Berry died in 2009<br />
<br />
<img alt="John Berry" class="maxed responsive-img" itemprop="contentUrl" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/1/22/1264176256636/John-Berry-001.jpg?w=300&q=85&auto=format&sharp=10&s=e2b269c87646e793bc364389c8d0ea78" /><br />
<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07184917749393353999noreply@blogger.com4