Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1953]

Amended with slight addition February 2015

This is the Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book, which I call the ‘roller-coaster one’ as it’s so hard to date these. Have a look at the ‘jumping-off’ page for a list of all the others.

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] art by Reginald Heade

The roller-coaster cover appears to me to be a bit worrying in the light of developments concerning Uncle Mac’s behaviour, but being more positive, Glenn Reuben pointed out to me who the artist above is. Surprisingly, considering the material he is most known for, it’s Reginald Heade and I should have spotted his signature bottom right! Steve Holland tells us about his sad life on Bear Alley blog, and the fact that Heade signs this cover with his ‘proper’ name (and not the post-1954 method of ‘Cy Webb’) – and died in 1957 brings the expected date of this volume to pre-1954.

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – Endpapers; art by Reginald Heade

“Uncle Mac” as in Derek McCulloch had moved on from the BBC at the end of September 1950 as Sidgwick & Jackson announced in an advert for McCulloch’s novel “Cornish Mystery” in the Bookseller advert – (Bookseller 23 September 1950, p.699). Various regional papers echoed the fact of his “resigning to write more”.

Dear Bookseller
As you know ‘Uncle Mac’ has left the B.B.C. after twenty-five happy years’ work on Children’s Hour, and is now editing the children’s section of the ”News Chronicle,” a paper which has a circulation of nearly 1,500,000.

Also I notice the words “Uncle Mac” are omitted from the headers on each page of this particluar annual which merely state “Children’s Hour Story Book” – but this could be due to space (I know it was a feeble thought!). But the clincher is complicated.

Following adverts and other bibliographic details in the press for the books using “Uncle Mac” and “Children’s Hour” titles, we can map exactly which years books were expected to be published (bearing in mind even announcements didn’t mean actual publication as sometimes books didn’t happen at all. I was a bookseller and knew that too well!). But let’s assume – especially as I have seen entries for the same number of books I own, or have seen online, that if I can match dates to specific titles then any ‘stray’ book is likely to have to be mapped to a Bookseller magazine entry. Well that’s the case here. I’ve accounted for the rest so this stray only maps one advert.

On the 5 July 1952, Collins paid for a full page advert in the Bookseller advertising, not only for this title but also Collins Magazine Annual [No.5] – see my previous logic on this – and this Uncle Mac title has “5 colour plates” as you’ll see below, listed in the Contents. [February 2025: I’ve had correspondence with Steve Walker – who with Steve Chibnall has written the most authoritative work on Reginald Heade (from Telos Publishing). He mentioned their initial thorough research gave them a date of publication for 1951. Unfortunately he couldn’t remember where this came from. But later he wrote: “Just to add a further thought, I’d be surprised if it was as late as 1953, as Heade didn’t really do any children’s book work for Collins after 1951”. Until I see the accession dates in the British Library I’m placing this here for anyone else who wants to chip in! Thanks Steve W.

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – Title page; art by Reginald Heade

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – Message; art by Reginald Heade

Notice above that Uncle Mac’s name is being used AND the cover uses his image, so I wondered if this is the earliest Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book? But no, I’ve come to the conclusion it’s printed in 1952

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – Contents Page; art by Unknown but not Heade

Whoever drew the Contents page, they took an easy way out for the Contents page by drawing children’s activities and not elements of the stories within, as others have done in other volumes.

CONTENTS

• THE BRITISH PRIVATE, by SHEILA STEEN; Drawings by Jeanne Farrar
• THE MISSEL-THRUSH, by OLIVE DEHN; Drawings by Valerie Sweet
• THE LAST WOLF, by JOHN KEIR CROSS; Drawings by [Artur?] Horowicz
• OPERATION AVOCET, by JAMES FISHER; Drawings by Len Fullerton
• GLOVE-PRINTS AND OUSTITI, by BERNARD NEWMAN; Drawings by Leslie Otway
• THEY CAN BE FRIENDS, by BRIAN VESEY FITZGERALD; Drawings by Douglas T. Duncan
• THE DISAPPEARING DOG, by MARY CAMPBELL; Drawings by Valerie Sweet
• MOTHER MICHEL AND HER CAT, by ANTONIA RIDGE; Drawings by Barbara C. Freeman
• THE FROG AND THE CIGARS, by KEN FRANCIS; Drawings by G. W. Backhouse
• SIX O’CLOCK, by OLIVE DEHN; Drawings by Valerie Sweet
• THE GREAT EXHIBITION, by ALISON UTTLEY; Drawings by Geoffrey Whittam
• WINDOW-BOXES AND MINIATURE GARDENS; Drawings by Geoffrey Salter
• THE GOOD PENNY, by GEOFFREY DEARMER; Drawings by Gilbert Dunlop
• THE KITE, by OLIVE DEHN; Drawings by A. H. Watson
• “WHAT’S THAT CATERPILLAR?” by L. HUGH NEWMAN; Drawings by Len Fullerton
• THE CAT THAT LOST FACE, by MERYON VANCE; Drawings by Pauline Baynes
• THE ELEPHANT AND CASTLE, by R. D. PECK; Drawings by Haro

ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR

• A LEAD SOLDIER TAKES SHAPE, by Jeanne Farrar
• GILBERT USED HIS FAMOUS UPPER-CUT, by Leslie Otway
• PLAYMATES, by Douglas T. Duncan
• ARRIVAL OF THE EXHIBITION SPECIAL, by Geoffrey Whittam
• HE RUSHED IN PURSUIT … by Geoffrey Salter

HALF-TONE ILLUSTRATIONS: “WHAT’S THAT CATERPILLAR?”

ART GALLERY and my comments and queries

The first two images are by Jeanne Farrar who is a new name to me – but Enid Blyton fans will know her. More of her work can be seen on this Italian blog on illustrators. I’ve included these here in case she has fans looking for her work and also to ensure I remember I have now come across her work!

The next two are from the story that takes place in Medieval Britain. I think the art is by Artur Horowicz (1898 – 1962). If it is indeed him, he studied art in Warsaw, his birthplace, before exhibiting in Berlin and then London where he illustrated for such magazines as The Illustrated London News and The Sketch.

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – p.26; art by Len Fullerton

Now with the following I have recognised this artist’s work for many years – having seen it first in my sister’s comic Princess Tina. Leslie Otway (1902-1979), drew “Alona the Wild One” for that comic, but his work appears in all sorts of books, comics and magazines and his style is endearing. His work can be identified through his use of heads which appear angled and he does wonderful dynamic figure work.

Douglas T. Duncan’s art doesn’t appeal to me but the best piece here is this colour portrait – and even here, I dislike the cat portrait, but the cocker spaniel is drawn far better than any of the other illustrations!

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – p.48; art by Douglas T. Duncan

We’ve already seen some art by Valerie Sweet in the article on Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Book [1952?], but I thought I’d add this sweet(!) image where she breaks the border with the characters involved.

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – p.49; art by Valerie Sweet

Barbara C. Freeman’s work appears in several children’s books such as this one (and Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Book [1952] ), and again she produces some lovely work. My friend Steve Holland has written a brief overview of her life (29 November 1906 – 6 May 1999).

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – p.56; art by Barbara C. Freeman

The next artist I want to highlight is the versatile Geoffrey William Backhouse (16 November 1903 – 1 August 1978). I have known about him because of his work in the Swift comic, where he drew ‘Tammy the Sheepdog’ in the mid-1950s. He is predominantly a nature/animal artist, but here, I was drawn to the stippling in the second illustration, a technique used by many artists to show a gradation from one area to another – in this case the shadow thrown by the candle.

I don’t want to write anything about Geoffrey Whittam, as Steve Holland has done an extensive bibliography (plus biography) on his blog but the colour illustration accompanying “The Great Exhibition” story by Alison Uttley is worth my reproducing here.

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – p.81; art by Geoffrey Whittam

Gilbert Dunlop needs no introduction as he will be familiar from many children’s books especially the “Barney” books by Enid Blyton – or the ‘R’ Books as I called them as a kid – The Rockingdown Mystery; The Rilloby Fair Mystery; The Ring O’ Bells Mystery; The Rubadub Mystery; The Rat-a-Tat Mystery; The Ragamuffin Mystery. However, knowledge of details are hard to come by.

The major offline sources tell me he was a prolific artist active between 1949-1966 – I can widen that to 1935-1965 One art site mentions his dates as 1901-1984 but how authoritative this is, I don’t know. I’ve add a bibliography of his work at the end of this article to help other researchers but should anyone have any further information on this wonderful artist, not only would I like to know, but so would the Enid Blyton Society!

The next artist to show you is A. H. Watson – Alice Helena Watson (1896-1984). In the second picture below you can see her signature and her lovely biography on Stella and Rose’s Books website. I’d love to see more of these articles by the bookseller. And if they listed all artists they could find in their stock, I’d be over the Moon, and I think they’d increase sales – as I, for one, would come running for a single illustration by Raymond Sheppard, if I don’t own it already!

Next we have the very famous Narnia illustrator par excellence, Pauline Baynes

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – p.113; art by Pauline Baynes

The last one I want to feature is “Haro”, (Haro Hodson (9 February 1923 – 19 January 2021)), – there’s a nice photo on the Guardian website as he illustrated so many cartoons for them and the Observer. His signature is very distinctive.

Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] – p.119; art by Haro

GILBERT DUNLOP BIBLIOGRAPHY of his artwork

[All data gathered from various sources – so please check before buying anything on spec, as I have tried very hard to get the dates and appearances of Dunlop’s art right]

• Science in Wonderland by  A. M. Low L. Dickson & Thomson, London 1935
• Alison Temple Prefect by  Winifred Darch,  Oxford University Press, Geoffrey Cumberlege,  London 1938
• Missing Bank Manager by  Michael Poole,  Oxford University Press, Humphrey Milford, London 1938
• Grey Men by  C Hamilton Ellis,  Oxford University Press, Humphrey Milford, London 1939
• Mystery At Merrilees by  Michael Poole,  Oxford University Press, London 1939
• New Girl At Graychurch by  Winifred Darch,  Oxford University Press, London 1939
• Browne of the Secret Service by  Michael Poole,  Oxford University Press, London 1940
• Bunty Brown – Probationer by  Barbara M. Wilcox,  Oxford University Press, Geoffrey Cumberlege,  London 1940
• Gwythen Clay Mystery by  Michael Poole,  Oxford University Press, London 1940
• Lucy and her Friends by Dinah Pares Harrap, London 1940
• Little Mr. Huffy-Puffy by  Adelaide Makower,  Collins, London 1946
• Semolina (first helping), by  Buster Brown (AKA Arthur Miles Weber-Brown),  Collins, London 1946
• Adventures with Rosalind by Charlotte Austen Hutchinson’s Books for Young People, London 1947
• Baby Elephant by  Gilbert Dunlop,  Collins, London 1947
• Semolina (second helping), by  Buster Brown (AKA Arthur Miles Weber-Brown),  Collins, London 1947
• Marjorie & Co. by  Lorna Hill,  Art & Educational Publishers, London 1948
• Semolina (third helping), by  Buster Brown (AKA Arthur Miles Weber-Brown),  Collins, London 1948
• Stolen Holiday by  Lorna Hill,  Art & Educational Publishers, London 1948
• Camp Christopher by  Pat Arrowsmith,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1949
• Guest Castle by  Kathleen Fidler,  Lutterworth, London 1949
• Rockingdown Mystery by  Enid Blyton,  Collins, London 1949
• Semolina Grunbles by Buster Brown (AKA Arthur Miles Weber-Brown),  Collins, London 1949
• Semolina Moves, by Buster Brown (AKA Arthur Miles Weber-Brown),  Collins, London 1949
• “The Ring O’Bells Mystery” in Sunny Stories in 29 Parts #492-520 (29 September 1950-16 November 1951) by Enid Blyton,  George Newnes, London 1950
• Collins Children’s Annual [cover] Collins, London 1950
• Rhodesian Adventure by  Mollie Chappell,  Collins, London 1950
• Rilloby Fair Mystery by  Enid Blyton,  Collins, London 1950
• Sooti by  Gilbert Dunlop,  Collins, London 1950
• Alison’s Poaching Adventure by  Sheila Stuart,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1951
• Christmas at Cowleaze Farm (in B.B.C. Children’s Hour Annual) by  Ralph Whitlock  Burke Publishing Co. Ltd, London 1951
• Little Shop on the Corner by Monica Backway Blackie & Son Limited, London 1951
• Nine on the Trail by  Heather Prime,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1951
• Ring O’ Bells Mystery by  Enid Blyton,  Collins, London 1951
• They Called Her Patience by  Lorna Hill,  Burke Publishing Co. Ltd, London 1951
• Alison’s Kidnapping Adventure by  Sheila Stuart,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1952
• Boy Next Door by  Enid Blyton,  Collins, London 1952
• Cormorant Ahoy! By George E Haley,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1952
• It was All Through Patience by  Lorna Hill,  Burke Publishing Co. Ltd, London 1952
• Merry Minstrel  by  Haydn Perry,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1952
• Nine Afloat by Heather Prime,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1952
• Prince Dynamite: The Story of Lawrence of Arabia by  John Kennett, Blackie & Son Limited, London 1952
• Rubadub Mystery by  Enid Blyton,  Collins, London 1952
• With Powder, Shot and Sword : the Story of Sir Francis Drake by John Kennett, Blackie & Son Limited, London 1952
• The Good Penny in Uncle Mac’s Children Hour Story Book [1953] by Geoffrey Dearmer, Collins, London, 1952
• As Simple as ABC by  Phyllis Helen Saunders Blackie & Son Limited, London 1953
• Castle in Northumbria by  Lorna Hill,  Burke Publishing Co. Ltd, London 1953
• Family Adventure by  Pamela Mansbridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1953
• Good-bye Uncle Simon! by  Pat Arrowsmith,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1953
• Mad Martins by Reginald Taylor Blackie & Son Limited, London 1953
• Penny Foolish by  Jane Gillespie,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1953
• Wonderful Adventures Of Snowball (Kingfisher Book # B2) by  Irene Gass,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1953
• Alison’s Island Adventure by  Sheila Stuart,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Blackie’s Prize Book of Stories,  by Various Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Cormorant’s Commandos by  George E Haley,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Exploration in the Antarctic by  Nina Langley,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Jimmy and Janet on the Farm by  W. Kersley Holmes,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• The Magic Ear-Rings, and the Free Willows by  Monica Backway Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Marigold Becomes a Brownie (Kingfisher Book # B8) by  Susan Jolly,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Piper’s Cave by  Isobel Knight,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Queen’s Rescue by  Agnes Ashton,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Riverside Adventure by  Pamela Mansbridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1954
• Secret of the Screes by  Thomas Francis Maher,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Wright Brothers-the Story of the Conquest of the Air by  Dorothy King,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Twopence Coloured by  Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1954
• We went to live in Scotland by  Cecilia Knowles  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1954
• Alison’s Spy Adventure by  Sheila Stuart,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1955
• Andy takes the Lead by  Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1955
• Beginning to read: a picture-reading book for the youngest children by  E. R. Boyce Macmillan, London 1955
• Children in the Square by  Pamela Mansbridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1955
• Happy Story of Wallace the Engine by  Henry Donald,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1955
• Scott of the Antarctic by  Bertie Webster Smith,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1955
• Story of Hal 5 and the Haywards by  Henry Donald,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1955
• Threepenny Bit by  Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1955
• Fourpenny Fair by  Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1956
• Magic Sleigh-Ride by  Jay Wallace,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1956
• Rat-A-Tat Mystery by  Enid Blyton,  Collins, London 1956
• Andy in Danger by Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1957
• Andy in Trouble by  Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1957
• Annabella and the Smugglers by  Mary Fitt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1957
• “The Ragamuffin Mystery” in Enid Blyton’s Magazine by Enid Blyton,  Evans, London 1958
• Alison’s Riding Adventure by Sheila Stuart,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1958
• Alison’s Pony Adventure by  Sheila Stuart,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1958
• Andy Keeps A Secret by  Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1958
• Blue Storybook – A Blackie Bumper Book, by various including Elizabeth Gould, Barbara Freeman and others   Blackie & Son Limited, London 1958
• Charles Darwin Naturalist by  Dorothy Laird,  Blackie & Son Limited, London 1958
• Crooked Sixpence by Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1958
• Fivepenny Mystery by Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1958
• Mystery at Queen’s by Sylvia Little, (AKA Eric Leyland),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1958
• Red Storybook – A Blackie Bumper Book, various including Elizabeth Gould, Barbara Freeman and others   Blackie & Son Limited, London 1958
• Shifting Sands by  Mary Fitt,  Children’s Book Club 1958
• So Much To Win by  Stephen Mogridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1958
• Thirteen for Luck by  Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1958
• Willow Green Mystery by  Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1958
• Andy Finds A Way by  Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1959
• Cross Channel by  Sylvia Little, (AKA Eric Leyland),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1959
• Inn of Mystery by  Ivy Russell,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1959
• Lively Expression (Books 1-4) by  Denis Wilfred Barker Macmillan, London 1959
• Looking after Thomas by  Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1959
• Ragamuffin Mystery by  Enid Blyton,  Collins, London 1959
• Andy Goes Abroad by Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1960
• Holiday in London by  Pamela Mansbridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1960
• Ice on the Lawn by  Jill Stevens (AKA Stephen Mogridge),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1960
• Long Garden by  Jill Stevens (AKA Stephen Mogridge),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1960
• Tall Man by  Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1960
• Venture to South Africa by Jane Shaw,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1960
• Andy wins the Prize by  Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1961
• Circus Comes to School by  Sylvia Little, (AKA Eric Leyland),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1961
• Creek Street Jumble by  Pamela Mansbridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1961
• Golden Path Pets by  Mary Gervaise,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1961
• House by the Shore by Ivy Russell,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1961
• Julia’s Swiss Smuggler by  Jill Stevens (AKA Stephen Mogridge),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1961
• Mystery That Never Was by  Enid Blyton,  Collins, London 1961
• New Girl at Minster by Sylvia Little, (AKA Eric Leyland),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1961
• Dutch Painting by  Jill Stevens (AKA Stephen Mogridge),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1962
• Green Umbrella by  Jill Stevens (AKA Stephen Mogridge),  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1962
• Highway to the Bible (Books 1-4) by  Donald M McFarlan Blackie & Son Limited, London 1962
• No Medals for Guy by  Lorna Hill,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1962
• Newcomers at the Cray by Pamela Mansbridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1962
• Red Peppers by  Stephen Mogridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1962
• Andy and Her Twin by Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1963
• Poems for you (Books 1-4) by  Val Sibley, Raymond Sibley Collins, London 1963
• Vigorous Verse by  W. R. S. McIntyre,  Macmillan, London 1963
• Battle tunes at Bindleton by  Pamela Mansbridge,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1964
• April Gold by  Viola Bayley Dent, London 1965
• Intruders at Pinetops by Freda M. Hurt,  Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1965
• Semolina lends a hand in Crackerjack Treasure Book by Various Children’s Press, London 196?

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Book [1952]

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] Cover by ‘Mays’ i.e. Douglas Lionel Mays (1900-1991)

The jumping off page for all BBC and Uncle Mac annuals

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] – Endpapers art by Mays

So we are looking at the ‘red’ or ‘stage’ cover this time. But how to date the thing? None of “Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Book” or “Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour STORY Book” are dated internally. The quirky labelling of children’s annuals in the UK mean they are published in Year X and labelled Year Y for the coming year but for whatever reason none of these are dated in the title. So for example if the book / annual in question was published in 1951 and for sale – usually in September for the Christmas market 1951-, the title would say “XYZ Annual 1952” – thus projecting the future and therefore the book appears to buyers as new and not out of date. The publishers of all the Children’s Hour Annual, the Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour books and the BBC Children’s Annuals left all the annuals undated – to be fair they aren’t claiming to be annuals!

Now to this particular annual. Raymond Sheppard drew an article in the November 1954 Young Elizabethan magazine which was reprinted in the Collins Magazine Annual 1955, along with other pieces from the year’s run of the Young Elizabethan magazine. What’s this got to do with our red dustjacket above? I worked out that the dustjacket for the annual under discussion is dated copyright 1951 as it advertises the only Collins Magazine Annual I could find with the afore-mentioned W.E. Johns’ story which was in Collins Magazine Annual #4 (1951). The other clues on the dustjacket are too general to help pinpoint anything better. So I’m stating it’s fictitious title is Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952].

I said there’s no internal evidence but actually the story “Summer in the Canadian Arctic” has a signed and dated drawing – “1950” and that’s the only internal evidence.

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] – Contents page – by Mays

CONTENTS

• SUMMER IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC, by PETER SCOTT; Drawings by Donald Watson
• MAGIC, by JOHN KEIR CROSS; Drawings by Batchelor
• THE LUCKY BAG, by ALISON UTTLEY; Drawings by Barbara C. Freeman
• PERIWINKLE HILL, by OLIVE DEHN; Drawings by Valerie Sweet
• NOT SO CLUELESS, by BERNARD NEWMAN; Drawings by S. Van Abbé
• THE ROYAL FEET (A Play), by ANTONIA RIDGE; Drawings by Barbara C. Freeman
• SOME NOTES TO HELP YOU, by ANTONIA RIDGE; Drawings by Barbara C. Freeman
• BIRD-WATCHING, by JAMES FISHER; Drawings by Len Fullerton
• SUMMER IS OVER, by OLIVE DEHN; Drawings by Valerie Sweet
• THE PULBOROUGH PIKE, by OLIVE DEHN; Drawings by G. S. Sherwood
• SIMON AND THE TELESCOPE, by Meryon Vance; Drawings by A. H. Watson
• THE GOLDFISH AND THE PIANO-TUNER, by Barbara E. Todd; Drawings by Valerie Sweet
• THIMBLE, by Noel Streatfeild; Drawings by Hilda Boswell
• THE HARVEST, by OLIVE DEHN; Drawings by Valerie Sweet
• “WELL, I’M BLOWED!” by Geoffrey Dearmer; Drawings by G. W. Backhouse
• SEVEN KINGS, by R. D. Peck; Drawings by Douglas Relf

ART GALLERY and queries and comments

My first query is which “Batchelor” drew the illustrations for the story “Magic”? We have John Batchelor who drew those wonderful cutaways for Eagle comic but other than that I’m stuck. Could this be him? Roland, Bernard and Valerie Batchelor don’t look like candidates, and the more likely candidate Halas John Batchelor’s cartoon drawings don’t match the style. Does anyone want to tell me if they know?

I thought you’d like to see some Barbara C. Freeman artwork so here’s the first page of one story and a beautiful spread within the play “The Royal Feet”, by Antonia Ridge.

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] – page 35 drawn by Barbara C. Freeman

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] – page 160-161 drawn by Barbara C. Freeman

Next is the artist G. S. Sherwood about whom I know nothing. I’m sure I’ve seen that distinctive signature elsewhere. He drew for Punch (in the 1930s) as well as other magazines – see below , and illustrated books.

Short bibliography

• The pleasure’s yours. A guide to the right and proper employment of the leisure hours … The whole profusely illustrated by G. S. Sherwood by H. F. Ellis, published by Methuen, London, 1933
• Much Ado Mostly About Nothing, published by Methuen & Co., London, 1934
• Mr. Punch’s Limerick Book, published by Cobden-Sanderson, London, 1934
• Thoughts on things, Humorous Essays, by Anthony Armstrong, published by Methuen, London, 1935
• Song Salad, by Laurance Tanner, published by Arrowsmith, 1938
• Second helping, by Laurance tanner, published by Arrowsmith, London, 1938
• Verses from Alice, published by London Collins, 1944
• Edward Lear’s Nonsense Alphabet, published by Collins, London, 1950
• A Pedlar’s Pack, by D. Palmer-Jones, published by Erskine Macdonald Ltd, London, [Undated]

• Pearson’s Magazine July 1913, Oct 1916
• The Royal Magazine October and November 1915
• The Magpie Summer 1924
• Popular Pictorial April 2 1927
• Gaiety July 1927, August 1927, September 1927
• The Passing Show Summer 1929, Christmas 1929, Christmas 1930
• The Merrythoughts’ Magazine June 1932
• Nash’s—Pall Mall Magazine December 1936, January 1937, February 1937, April 1937
• The Strand Magazine August 1939
• London Opinion (Various cartoons)

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] – page 76, art by G. S. Sherwood

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] – page 77, art by G. S. Sherwood

Moving onto the other artists, here are some examples of their work. The first is 2 drawings by A. H. Watson from page 93 and 95

The next is from pages 99 and 112 and drawn by Valerie Sweet who signs her work ‘valerie’

Then we have two artists whose work appeared in a lot of places: G. W. Backhouse (page 113) and Douglas Relf (page 120)

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] – page 113, art by G. W. Backhouse

Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952] – page 120, art by Douglas Relf

BBC Children’s Annual 1958

BBC Children’s Annual 1958 – dustjacket by Trefor Jones

Your jumping off point for various annuals that I’ve covered already is on this page. As usual I’m doing this for myself and hope others might enjoy what I’ve done. If you spot any corrections or additions please do get in contact.

Endpapers

Title Page

Contents

CONTENTS

• A Boy, a Clown, and a Horse by Rosamund Davies; [illustrated by ?]
• What’s Wrong With These?; [illustrated by ?]
• The Silver Jet by Margaret Potter; [illustrated by Geoffrey Whittam]
• What’s Wrong With These?; [illustrated by ?]
• Table Workshop by Louise Cochrane; [illustrated by the author?]
• A Glassful of Oxygen by Vere Lorrimer; [photos]
• Potts – Gangbuster by Desmond O’Donovan; [illustrated by Mike Noble]
• Kitty Clive by Estelle Holt; [illustrated by Will Nickless]
• Crackerjack Quiz by Eamonn Andrews; [illustrated by ?]
• The Adventures of Pierre by John Hunter Blair & C.E. Webber; [illustrated by ?]
• A Question of Identity by Aubrey Feist; [illustrated by ?]
• Rex Milligan’s Christmas Turkey by Anthony Buckeridge; [illustrated by Mike Noble]
• Crossing the Sahara by Michael Ross; [illustrated by Michael Ross]
• The Gordon Honour and the Treasure Ship by Shaun Sutton; [illustrated by Jill Franksen?]
• Magic Made Easy by David Berglas; [photos]
• Dance With Don by Don Tasker; [illustrated by ?]
• Country Close-up with Jon Trant; [illustrated by Maurice Wilson]
• The Lost Tribe of Motilon by Ross Salmon; [illustrated by ?]
• What’s Wrong With These? [illustrated by ?]
• Training for Sport introduced by Bill Lotto; [photos]
• Historical Dolls by Elizabeth Dicey Williams; [illustrated by author?]
• The Rainbow Ray by Anthony C. Wilson; [illustrated by Peter Kay?]
• The Bumblies by Michael Bentine; [illustrated by Michael Bentine]
• Dr. H. Baines tells you How Photography Works; [photos by author?]

The credited artists are:

• Illustrations by
• Noble,
• Geoffrey Whittam,
• Peter Kay McBeath,
• Jill Franksen,
• Maurice Wilson,
• Burgess Sharrocks,
• ‘Victoria’

What’s interesting is how a very few artists have signed their work in some form and others haven’t, and then some artists aren’t even credited!

ART GALLERY plus some queries

p.7

p.8-9

My first query is the above story “A Boy, a Clown, and a Horse” by Rosamund Davies. Does anyone have any ideas? I looked at the credited artists and tried to match them up but really the only person I think looks anything like this is Burgess Sharrocks who is well-known for illustrating Enid Blyton’s “Secret Seven”.

BBC Children’s Annual 1958, p28 art by Michael Noble

I have no problem identifying Mike’s artwork. Although it took me a long time to find his first name but I shall ever be grateful to Jeff Haythorpe and Paul Holder for for making it possible for me to meet the late Mike Noble. He also illustrates a second story in this book . The first gallery below is from “Potts – Gangbuster” by Desmond O’Donovan

The second gallery from “Rex Milligan’s Christmas Turkey” by Anthony Buckeridge

Thanks to David Slinn who first scanned these for me before I owned a copy of the BBC Children’s Annual 1958. And as David scanned the following story “Kitty Clive” by Estelle Holt I thought you might as well see it, especially as the artwork is by the ever brilliant Will Nickless – one of those uncredited artists in this book!

Artwork by “Victoria”

In the middle of the first Mike Noble illustrated story above, this cat by ‘Victoria’ appears and then romps throughout the Annual! I’ve only scanned one image as I know it’s ‘Victoria’s artwork as I’m very familiar with her drawing style having mentioned here before.

“The Adventures of Pierre” by John Hunter Blair & C.E. Webber have some sweet drawings which remind me of the American ‘Golden Books’ but I have no idea who the artists is.

“The Gordon Honour and the Treasure Ship” by Shaun Sutton looks to me to be illustrated by Jill Franksen. Does anyone agree or disagree? She is credited on the Contents page but…

“The Lost Tribe of Motilon” by the ubiquitous Ross Salmon has an illustrator I don’t know. Anyone any ideas?

I’m pretty sure this artwork for “The Rainbow Ray” is by Peter Kay who I was surprised to learn was a Czech citizen before coming to Britain. he worked extensively for Hulton in the 50s on such strips as ‘Susan at St Bride’s’, ‘Wendy and Jinx’, and ‘Lindy Love’ in “Girl”.