Cutting - Earl's Heir Killed (1926)

August 1926

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By dying in this car crash Major the Hon. Harold FitzClarence only missed being the 5th Earl by 2 years, his brother the 4th Earl died in 1928. 

Advert - Vidor Portable radio (1950's)

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The Lady Margaret portable radio manufactured by Vidor Ltd of Erith, Kent circa 1953/4. I hope that she won't be driving while it is playing on her knee. They also produced Lady Anne and Lady Elizabeth models - some sort of specifically targeted marketing strategy?

Cutting - Marlene Dietrich (1949?)

Probably 1949

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Marlene Dietrich became an international film star during the Silent era when language was no barrier to success. As to how old she was - this cutting dates from either 1949 or 1950 and Dietrich was born in 1901, making her 48 or even 49, but then a lady has the right to lie about her age. 'No Highway' was released in 1951. Dietrich spent the last decade of her life mostly bedridden and died in 1992.

Advert - Barratt Shoes (1926)

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Founded in Northampton in 1903 Barratt Shoes were a successful country wide chain by the 1920's. Who needs x-ray machines or special gauges to get the right size shoe when you have a pencil and a bit of paper handy?

Cutting - Atlantic Rower (1969)

20th July 1969

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John Fairfax was the first person to row the Atlantic solo. He set off on January 20th 1969 and arrived in Florida 180 days later on July 19th. In 1971/2 he rowed, along with Sylvia Cook, the Pacific taking 361 days. He died in Nevada in 2012 at the age of 74.

Advert - Woolworths (1986)

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The first UK Woolworths was opened in 1909 and by the 1950's when I was a kid every High Street had one, but the last  Woolworths store closed down in 2009.

Cutting - Blonde Spy in Flat (1938)

4th February 1938

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The trial of the Woolwich Arsenal spies and a tale worthy of John Le Carre complete with the mysterious Miss X. The whole story is very nicely written up at this website.  

Advert - Craven A cigarettes (1930's)

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Craven A cigarettes don't stain your lips or fingers with nicotine. What about your lungs? 20 coffin nails for 1/- (5p or allowing for inflation £3.12)

Cutting - Flying Baroness Killed (1919)

July 1919

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Elise Raymonde Deroche, known as Baroness De Laroche, was a pioneering French aviatrix and the first woman in the world to receive a pilot's licence. Unable to join the air force during WWI she became an Army driver for the duration. She returned to flying in 1919 but as shown here was killed on July 18th while a passenger in an experimental plane

Advert - Bourneville Cocoa (approx 1910)

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Lovely little sketch of kids running in for a cup of Bourneville Cocoa. I wonder when 'Mummie' became 'Mummy'?

Cutting - Ronald Shiner Tops Film Poll (1952)

27th December 1952

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Published in December 1952 this poll of Britain's leading box-office attractions is headed by Ronald Shiner. I imagine anyone under 50 will ask, "Who?” Shiner made 86 films between 1934 and 1961. Surprisingly he is above such greats as Alastair Sim, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins and Trevor Howerd. This was when Britain had a film industry and 8 of the top 12 moneymaking films were British!

Advert - Prison Service jobs (1970's)

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If you fancied yourself as Mr Mackay or Mr Barrowclough from Porridge then the Prison Service was the job for you, if the postal strike ever ended and you could send off your application. No e-mail or online contact in those dark days.

Cutting - Obituary for Joseph Conrad (1924)

23rd August 1924

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Joseph Conrad was born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski in 1857 in the Ukraine, and was raised and educated in Poland before a sea-faring career in the French and British merchant navies. He settled in England and wrote short stories and novels like Lord Jim, Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent, which combined his experiences all over the World with an interest in moral conflict and the dark side of human nature. In his time he was regarded as one of England great writers but is now best remembered as the author of the novella (Heart of Darkness) on which the film 'Apocalypse Now' was based. He died in Canterbury on 3rd August 1924.

Advert - British Rail excursion (1940's)

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King's Cross to Doncaster for the St Leger for only £1 11s 9d (£1.58 or allowing for inflation £59.75) or if you were posh 1st class for £2 13s (£2.65 or £99 after inflation). The journey took 3hours and 30 minutes whereas now it would be about 1hour 45 minutes (unless there were leaves on the line) and the first class return would set you back £285

Cutting - I'm Not Bank Raid Mr Big (1977)

June 1977

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The Bank of America in Mayfair, London was robbed of £8million in 1976. After the inside man turned informant 7 of the gang were jailed but the mastermind Frank Maple fled abroad. He was later sentenced to 9 years in Austria for a hotel robbery. 

Random Ad - Norman Vaughan (1960's)

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Norman Vaughan replaced Bruce Forsyth (whatever happened to him) as host of  the TV show 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium' in 1962. He also devised the TV gameshow 'Bullseye' and appeared in a series of adverts for Roses Chocolates with the catchphrase "Roses grow on you". He died in 2002 following a road accident.

Random Cutting - Death of Harold Lloyd (1971)

10th March 1971

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I think I became aware of the silent film comedian Harold Lloyd when I saw the compilation film 'Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy' in 1962. Originally a 'poor man's Charlie Chaplin', Lloyd soon found his own character, bespectacled accident-prone optimist, and made a fortune. His films often featured seemingly dangerous stunts which Lloyd participated in with the help of stuntman Harvey Parry. He died on the 8th March 1971.