BBC Children’s Annual 1955

The jumping point for all the Children’s Hour, BBC Annuals and Uncle Mac’s Annual is here

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Cover by Joanna Curzon

Today I want to look closer at the B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 which was edited for the first time by Freda Lingstrom (taking over from ‘Elizabeth’ (May E. Jenkin) and dropped the ‘Hour’ for the previous annual title of BBC Children’s Hour Annual. It should also be noted that the dustjacket states no date but the title page does.

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Endpapers by Lotte Reiniger. The front papers are red and the back ones blue

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 -Contents page – art by Patricia Cullen

• Shooting With A Camera by Armand Denis; [illustrated by ?]
• The Cabin in the Clearing by Felix Felton and Susan Ashman; [illustrated by S. Van Abbé]
• Make Yourself a Pair of Stilts; [illustrated by author?]
• Magic is Fun by Robert Harbin; [illustrated by author?]
• Children’s Newsreel by Don Smith; [photos]
• The Skaters by Noel Streatfeild-; [illustrated by Joanna Curzon]
• Lions in the Garden by Marjorie Juta; [illustrated by Aldwyn Carpenter]
• Edmund Hillary stands on the Top of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary; [illustrated by ? ]
• The Missing Patient by Anthony C. Wilson; [illustrated by Tom Kerr]
• Seashore by John Merrett; [illustrated by ? ]
• The Appleyards Burglar Alarm by Allan Cooper; [illustrated by Tom Kerr + photos]
• All Your Own by Michael Westmore; [photos]
• Making A Start with Oils by Mervyn Levy; [illustrated by the author?]
• Operation Asteroid by Angus MacVicar; [illustrated by ?]
• Jennings at School by Anthony Buckeridge; [illustrated by S. Van Abbé]
• The King’s Bell by Rhoda Power; [illustrated by Betty Ladler]
• Trojan and Tilly: The Story of a Television Ballet by Naomi Capon; [illustrated by ?]
• The Golden Head by William Harris; [illustrated by ?]
• Gliding Today by Peter Dimmock; [illustrated by Pafford]
• Snowflakes and Diamonds by James McCloy; [illustrated by ?]
• What is an O.B.? by Stephen Wade; [illustrated by ?]
• What Do You Know? by A. J. Royds; illustrated by ?]
• Watermanship Joanne Jackson and Gil Redgrove; [illustrated by ?]
• What Did You Know? by A. J. Royds; [illustrated by ?]

The following artists are credited but who did what? I’ve identified a few above, and emboldened those I can’t be certain of:

• Aldwyn Carpenter
• Van Abbé
• Eileen Diss
• Pafford
• Tom Kerr
• John Woods (see below)
• Patricia Cullen
• Betty Ladler
• Lotte Reiniger
• Joanna Curzon
• Kathleen Burrell

They don’t appear to be in any order to me either!

GALLERY OF ART with queries as to which artist drew what.

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Cover by Joanna Curzon

It was Glenn Reuben who helped identify the artist Joanna Curzon who drew three covers for the BBC Children’s Annuals for 1955-1957. She also drew the Noel Streatfeild story in the 1955 annual (see below). Besides these annuals she is credited with Five Shilling Holiday and So Guy came Too, both written by Lorna-Hill and also Gipsy of Greywalls by Judith Carr.

Glenn also provided this information:

“Hugh Russell Hall was born in Dundee, Scotland February 28, 1905 and died September 20, 1984 in Halstead, Essex. He also worked as an illustrator, under the name Paul Rainer. In1924, he married Isobel Wallace Watson, and they had a daughter, Audrey, born in 1931. His second wife was Doreen Iris Hall (nee Cole), born February 12, 1923 and died December 25, 1997. She was an illustrator who used the name of Joanna Curzon”! Thanks Glenn

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – page 29 by Joanna Curzon

I’m reliably informed (thanks Jenny C.) that this story is a continuation of the life of the two girls in the book White Boots.

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 -page 36 by Joanna Curzon

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Page 47 by Tom Kerr

Take a look at the next two images below. It took a moment to realise I was looking at a mirrored image with “ALDWYN” as the signature! Nice drawings too by Aldwyn Carpenter

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 -page 69

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 -Close-up

And this isn’t the only mirrored image in the book but interestingly this one has the word / name “SWART” in the story “The Golden Head”, yet, the blackboard is the right way round! Is this supposed to be a child’s graffiti on the desk?

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Page 103 by ??

My good friend David Slinn supplied the following regarding John Woods – could the above be by him?

“John Woods, born in 1904, was still contributing to Bunty and Debbie during the late-1970s.  This contents listing in the 1955 BBC Childrens Annual, is contemporary with his contributions to Swift Annual No.1 (1954) and No.2 (1955); in 1956, he started to draw ‘Andy and Sandy’ for Radio Fun – much earlier, also handled by Tom Kerr – later, continuing when the title merged with Buster, until the series ended in 1962.  He worked from a studio just off Fleet Street, interestingly, shared with Edgar Spenceley.

As well as a prolific contributor to DC Thomson’s girls’ titles, primarily Bunty, Judy, Mandy, Debbie and the associated annuals, he also tackled a considerable number of ‘Zip Nolan’ weekly episodes in Lion.  During 1959-60, for Robin’s centre-spread he provided colour illustrations, incorporating hidden objects, of events or activities; together with occasional, “things to do” features.” – Thanks David – perhaps he drew some of the puzzles then?

The next one, I’m showing knowing Enid Blyton fans may enjoy knowing Ladler’s work appears here. Her brief biography can be found on Wikipedia.

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Page 91 by Betty Ladler

And lastly I’d love help identifying the following artist whose work appears in the story “Watermanship”

B.B.C. Children’s Annual 1955 – Page 121 by unknown but my friend David Slinn suggested “Robert (Bob) Bunkin, who came to real prominence with the adaptation of ‘Jane Eyre’ for Girl“

BBC Uncle Mac and Children’s Hour in books

INTRODUCTION

I’ve completely re-written this page [December 2024] as I had some assistance identifying covers and annual dates – see below for further information. In re-writing this page I took the opportunity to list contents pages separately from this page, and in more detail for each annual. It’s ongoing work but keep an eye out for further articles.

Firstly, let’s get out of the way the fact that there was a Children’s Hour in America (“The Children’s Hour With Uncle Arthur” #1-5, published between 1947-1955,) and in Australia – both saw Annuals published; the latter saw four annuals that I can find for the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s programme – 1956-1959 (#1-4).

This article is about the BBC production which started on radio and transitioned to TV. I have trawled the Internet and used details – only after checking and double checking facts about contents and dates – but please forgive me if I have erred and do get in contact so I can make corrections – as I’m sure there will be mistakes! I have included these details because, just like with Blackie and Son story books from this era it can be hard to date them and they have a wealth of lovely illustrations – many of whose artists are not remembered these days so I’m doing my bit to help keep their work and memory alive!

The Children’s Hour Annual 1928/1929, art by Stanislaus Soutten Longley, published by Partridge

The first annual I have found with the name of the BBC radio programme was published in 1928  – The Children’s Hour Annual: A Book of Stories and Poems for Boys and Girls (above) contained work by E. F. Benson, Desmond MacCarthy, C. Fox Smith, L. Du Garde Peach, Madeleine Nightingale J. C. Stobart, Christine Chaundler, Hugh Chesterman, Eric Parker, C. E. Hodges, C. A. Dawson Scott, Ralph De Rohan, Antonia White, Philip Carmichael and others, published by Partridge, London. This earliest Children’s Hour Annual had 127 pages and the artists include C. T. Nightingale, A. H. Watson,  Ernest Aris, H. J. Ford, Marian Allen, Hugh Chesterman, Joyce Dennys, John Dixon, Eleanor Lambert, A. E. Horn and simply “Johns”.  Glenn Reuben confirms the cover is by Stanislaus Soutten Longley (1894-1966) and the British Library copy has an accession date of “February 1929” so I have gone for 1928/1929 as the date.

The Children’s Story Book, 1933, published by Thomas Nelson [Thanks to “TipTruck” of “Collecting Books and magazines”]

Glenn also mentioned to me a reference to a 1933 “The Children’s Story Book (Children’s Hour Series)” on the Enid Blyton website, published by Thomas Nelson and I managed to find the above..

The Children’s Hour (1944)

Lilian Rowles’ “The Children’s Hour”, 1944

Then we have the 1944 Lilian Rowles (1893-1953) book (Rowles is famous for her softly lit portraits of sleeping babies) and the book is indeed about the radio programme.

The Children’s Hour Picture and Story Book [1951?]
Published by Juvenile Productions Ltd.

“The Children’s Hour; Picture and Story Book” book published in London by Juvenile Productions has 61 pages and significantly its first story is “The little whiner” by Enid Blyton, as later we have evidence that Blyton was not welcome on “Children’s Hour”. The other stories include:

• Little Whiner
• High House
• The farmer’s Little Pigs
• The Little Spotty Pup
• The Best Easter Egg
• Dumpty had a big fall!
• The Absent-minded Aunt

There are also verses, Puzzles, “How-to-makes”, Fun and games, and Picture Strips (Peter the Panda, The Bunny and the Bung, Tommy and the Apples, Bertie Bear’s Balloon) – all of which are 4 panels on one page. I can’t find any identifying signatures for any of the art, but the bulk is by one artist.

There are many older books with “Children’s Hour” in the title, (ironic as apparently the programme never reached a full 60 minutes!) after all it comes from Longfellow. Here the poem as published in from The Children’s Golden Treasure Book 1939 by Odhams

I can’t find any evidence of another ‘annual’ before ‘Uncle Mac’s’ time. He joined the BBC in 1926 and Children’s Hour  in 1930. So let’s get started, trying to map out when these titles were published and check their titles- and I should say this is not a list of all Uncle Mac’s / Derek McCulloch’s output, only the ones related to the Children’s Hour and BBC Annuals.

1935

1936

• The Children’s Hour Annual [1936] – Edited by Uncle Mac of the B. B.C. [© 1935] with a photographic cover
• The Children’s Hour Annual [1937] – Edited by Uncle Mac of the B.B.C. [© 1936] with a clock face cover by Keith McKay Edmunds, or Kay Edmunds
• The Children’s Hour Annual [1938] – Edited by Uncle Mac of the B.B.C. [© 1937] with cover art by Raymond Sheppard

DEREK MCCULLOCH – “UNCLE MAC”

The 13 October 1940  broadcast by Derek McCulloch (which is no longer archived) stated “the 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth sends her best wishes to the children who have been evacuated from Britain to America, Canada and elsewhere. Princess Margaret joins her to wish all children goodnight. This is the earliest recording of the future Queen in the BBC archives.” Duration 4 minutes 18 seconds. This was one of ‘Uncle Mac’s’ proudest moments apparently.

“Children’s Hour ran on BBC Radio from 1922 to 1964, […] Derek McCulloch took charge of Children’s Hour in 1933, and as ‘Uncle Mac’ presided over the show on air, giving it its famous sign off ‘Goodnight children, everywhere’ – from a defunct BBC page

Derek McCulloch / “Uncle Mac”

McCulloch’s full name was Derek Ivor Breashur [performing name “Uncle Mac”] (1897–1967). McCulloch lost his left eye at the Battle of the Somme and a leg as the result of an unfortunate coach accident near his home. He joined the BBC in 1926 (and wrote Nonsericks for Methuen, as “Uncle Mac” in 1928) and was second-in-command (1931) and took over Children’s Hour 1933. It was in 1950 that he gave up the Children’s Hour role to dedicate more time to writing and to become Children’s Editor for News Chronicle – a fact widely advertised at the time – and later he broadcast again on Children’s Favourites until 1964. Martin Parsons (on a now defunct website) spoke at the Winchester Archaeological Rescue Group after researching Children’s Hour. His special interest is the way in which war has affected the lives of children, with special reference to the evacuation process in World War II.  He found, from his research, that the “curmudgeonly old geezer” was very autocratic in his role, but felt this might be due to the constant pain he was in from his wounds. The significance to children scattered far and wide during the war, of his sign-off (“Goodnight children…everywhere”) with that most important pause cannot be exaggerated. You’ll find a fascinating piece called “A Day in the life of the chief Radio “Uncle”- Radio Pictorial April 26, 1935″ here  (Archived page). It would be remiss of me to not mention that ‘Uncle Mac’s’ name has now been besmirched.  The least sensationalist article I’ve found on the matter is by Andrew O’Hagan in the London Review of Books  and makes very depressing reading. You’ve been warned!

Back to the Annuals.

• Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1948, 1947] with pirate cover, Art by Bruno Kay (1910-?), Published by Samspon Low at 7s 6d
• Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Book [1949, 1948] with balloons cover, Art by William Gale, Published by Sampson Low
• Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Book [1950, 1949] with orange cover, Published by Sampson Low [printed by Purnell]
• Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Book [1950, 1949] with yellow cover, Published by [No publisher within] at 7s 6d [printed by Purnell] – simplified shaded colours from the ‘orange’ cover above
• Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1952, 1951] with red stage cover – Art by Douglas Lionel Mays (1900-1991), Published by Collins at 7s 6d
• Uncle Mac’s Children’s Hour Story Book [1953, 1952] with roller-coaster cover. Art by Reginald Cyril Webb / Reginald Heade (1901-1957), Published by Collins at 7s 6d

1948

1949

• Uncle Mac’s Fairy Tale Book [1948, 1947] Art by ‘Kay’ – i.e. Bruno Kay (1910-?), Published by Sampson Low at 7/6d
• Uncle Mac’s Own Story Book [1949, 1948] Art by Mary Kendal Lee, Published by Sampson Low at 7/6d

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

• BBC Children’s Hour Annual [1952] Edited by Peggy Bacon (; assisted by May E. Jenkin (London)) with an elephant leading a crowd on an ice slide, drawn by Sam Fair (1909-1985) Published by Burke, [© 1951]
• BBC Children’s Hour Annual [1953] Edited by May E. Jenkin (Elizabeth) (Head of the Children’s Hour assisted by Freda Lingstrom Head of Television Children’s Programmes) with a central point with radiating circles and various figures. Art by Gilbert Dunlop (1909-1984) Published by Burke, [© 1952]
• BBC Children’s Hour Annual [1954] Edited by Elizabeth (May E. Jenkin) with 5 character cameos on a red grid background with art by various artists.
• BBC Children’s Annual [1955] Edited by Freda Lingstrom, (Head of BBC Children’s Television) with children in the snow running home at 5pm. Art by Joanna Curzon
• BBC Children’s Annual [1956] Edited by Freda Lingstrom with children in the snow pushing a log on a sled. Art by Joanna Curzon
• BBC Children’s Annual [1957] Edited by Freda Lingstrom with a snow outside broadcast near Nelson’s Column(?)children in the snow playing with a sled. Art by Joanna Curzon
• BBC Children’s Annual [1958] Edited by Freda Lingstrom with a circle of characters around a Christmas tree (with black background). Art by Trefor Jones
• BBC Children’s Annual [1959] Edited by Ursula Eason (Assistant Head of Children’s Television) with a red background and various characters seating on a Chinese dragon. Art by Dick Hart (1920-1990)
• BBC Children’s Annual [1960] Edited by Ursula Eason with a photographic cover of a TV studio

FOOTNOTES

1. I must say an especial thanks to Glenn Reuben who was also researching “the dust jackets of all the publications that come under the “Children’s Hour” umbrella, either including the BBC or their host “Uncle Mac” (Derek McCulloch) in the title” and he had help from Alison Bailey, Lead Curator, Printed Heritage Collections 1901-2000 at the British Library who made notes about accession date stamps which covers most of the above
2. Jeff Walden, ‘McCulloch, Derek Ivor Breashur [Uncle Mac] (1897–1967)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/53647, accessed 23 Feb 2014].