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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Ephemera

9 Comments

A Learning Aid From the 1920s.
A Learning Aid From the 1920s.
Photo: Philip Gormley.
Views: 2,001
Item #: 29595
I was allowed to keep the card upon leaving St Aidan's Junior School - Billinge in 1959. We had been allowed to rummage through the line of similar unwanted items and to take home whichever item/s we chose. The card's pleasing image and easy-going text would have been easy meat to the child; a banquet if those pleasing qualities had been maintained throughout the set. It would, also, be quite a task if attempting to find which series the card belongs to, as there must be battalions of them - The Grosvenor, The Beaumont... . A full set in excellent condition would be a prized possession indeed - pity about the 'foxing' on the card, though.

Comment by: irene roberts on 29th July 2017 at 18:05

That's so special, and a joy to see. Thankyou for sharing.

Comment by: Veronica on 30th July 2017 at 09:47

The illustration reminds me slightly of Lucy Atwell's images in children's books. The kind of pictures that keep children interested. I recall the book
Of The Flowe Fairies that had me entranced- I was forever rummaging in the school desk and looking at the pictures when I should have been doing something else. I think that's where my interest in watercolour must have begun.

Comment by: Veronica on 30th July 2017 at 10:27

Ooops! The Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker who I'm sure many of the ladies on here will remember. I couldn't wait to buy my granddaughter the books just so I could look at them again...still do! Along with Beatrice Potter's books and her own beautiful illustrations and not forgetting Milly Molly Mandy....who could?

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 30th July 2017 at 13:09

Lucy Atwell: By Jove, Veronica, you've nailed it! And the images are as Irene says, "a joy to see". Universally pleasing artwork, for the child, which to this day offers sufficient pulling-power for it to compete against (and probably beat) supporting text during a chase for title of Preferred Choice ('1/4 fav, Image'). Thanks.

Comment by: irene roberts on 30th July 2017 at 13:13

Veronica, I've still got my Milly-Molly-Mandy books that were bought for me from Boot's Chemists in Standishgate when I was a little girl. They used to sell books upstairs in those days. The price is still in, written in pencil...6/-.

Comment by: Veronica on 30th July 2017 at 16:34

Irene/ Philip when Roald Dahl's illustrations are compared to the above there is no comparison- although the stories are appropriate for children today and are very good. Our books were of a more innocent time. I went errands from quite a young age and used to pretend I was Milly -Molly-Mandy and my friend was always Little Friend Susan. I even had a pink striped frock! Lovely memories. You never know we might be able to pass them on to great grandchildren!

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 30th July 2017 at 17:44

Irene/Veronica: I've just discovered that Glyn Poole had recorded the song Milly-Molly-Mandy, in 1973, when it reached No.35 in the UK Charts. It's on YouTube, of course.

Comment by: irene roberts on 30th July 2017 at 19:03

Veronica, I don't know if you've seen it but I gave you a mention on the Wigan Park p-a-d a few days ago. Maureen and I used to have a bit of fun with "Johnny" and I have added you as a new recruit! (We used to get told off for 'going off the subject'!)I remember we had some nature-books at school in the late 1950s/early 1960s which also contained "farmyard"-type pictures like the above, with hayricks and big white clouds; there was something so special about them.....I think the books were of the "Blackie Readers" series. (People would even take THAT wrong these days, but "Blackie's" was simply the name of the publisher). I think the most beautiful illustrations in children's books I have ever seen are in the Ladybird "What To Look For In Spring", (followed by Summer, Autumn and Winter), series. The illustrations are superb and I have a copy of them all.

Comment by: Veronica on 30th July 2017 at 22:17

Irene/ Philip ..just listened to the song on YouTube argh! I had forgotten it -nearly as bad as Grandad by Clive Dunn! I must have left school when the Ladybird books came out but my children had them -they were very good for them learning to read. I did see the comment on PAD we are becoming quite a gang on here!! We had better watch out! : 0))......!

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