The Jester - The Cartoonists` Club of Great Britain
Transcription
The Jester - The Cartoonists` Club of Great Britain
! ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 ! AUTUMN 2005 The Jester The Jester FLOCK AND ROLL BREW-HA-HA IN THE DALES MASHAM REPORT AND PICTURES THE CLUB’S DAYTIME AGM: APRIL 3 / YOUR LAW GAGS MARTIN HONEYSETT INTERVIEWED / SHREWSBURY PREVIEW CLIVE COLLINS’ SMOKING GUN / ACA’S PETER BROELMAN PLUS: TIME TO PAY YOUR SUBS OR SLEEP WITH THE FISHES! Newsletter of the Cartoonists’ Britain The Newsletter of the Cartoonists’Club Clubof ofGreat Great Britain THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 The Jester Issue 396 - April 2007 Published 11 times a year CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Chair by The Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain The CCGB Committee Chairman: Terry Christien 020–8892 3621 [email protected] Secretary: Jed Stone 020–7720 1884 [email protected] Treasurer: Anne Boyd 020–7720 1884 [email protected] Membership Secretary: Jed Pascoe: 01767–682 882 [email protected] Les Barton: 01895–236 732 [email protected] Clive Collins: 01702–557 205 [email protected] Neil Dishington: 020–8505 0134 [email protected] Ian Ellery: 01424–718 209 [email protected] Graham Fowell: 0115–933 4186 [email protected] Pete Jacob: 01732 845 079 Jill Kearney: 0115–933 4186 [email protected] Helen Martin: 01883–625 600 [email protected] Roy Nixon: 01245–256 814 Derek Quint: 01984–632 592 Richard Tomes: 0121–706 7652 [email protected] Mike Turner: 01206–798 283 [email protected] Jock Williams-Davies: 01473–422 917 [email protected] WELL, didn’t we have a fantabulous weekend? That was the Gathering of the Flock at Masham, that was! The weather was a bit chilly, but the company more than made up for it. It was great to see old mates and some new ones like Brenda and Chris Romans and the other Alan Turner, and wife Diane. We even met Dave and Irene Gaskill’s dogs! The King’s Head Hotel in the centre of Masham did us proud – excellent atmosphere and service all wrapped in good old York stone architecture. I was reminded of that on a few occasions when looking out for low-flying beams. Even my trouble and strife, Sue, at 5ft 3in, only just managed to sneak under them. After our tour around the Black Sheep Brewery on the Saturday night, we had a stupendous spread in the brewery’s bistro, having been “piped” along the winding road by our very own Club Piper, Arthur Middleton. Thank you Arthur, good to see and hear you in action again. We were able to sample the Black Sheep products to make sure they were up to scratch. Their shop merchandise was suitably represented by cartoon artworks, particularly in black and white of course. Late night banter and hearty home-cooked breakfasts rounded off a thoroughly social gettogether. Very importantly, I wanted to thank Jed Pascoe so much for taking the sheep by the wosnames and getting the right organising persons to do what they do best and do it for us – a simple stroke of common-sensickle genius, Jed! Well done. And we’re nearly at the AGM time again. Don’t forget we’re taking in the afternoon this time as well – committee meeting at 1pm and members 2pm onwards – until whenever suits you, making timings more flexible for your good selves for return journeys. Apart from the social chit chat, there will be nibbles and the pool table will beckon your skills. Will welcome all of you who can make it. Toodle pip, Terry Christien Ouch! Beam me up, says Terry Jester Editor: Royston Robertson 01843–871 241 jester_magazine @yahoo.co.uk Front cover: Jed Pascoe Back cover: Ron McGeary “Yes, that’s him – he’s the one ...” 2 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK News Packed schedule at Shrewsbury The Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival takes place from April 20-22, a long weekend of varied cartooning activity with several exhibitions. Around 40 cartoonists, including many CCGB members, will converge on Shrewsbury and be set loose around the town to undertake various activities for the public. Cartooning activities over the Festival weekend will include: Caricaturing; Live cartooning, in which 20 giant cartoons are drawn in The Square on 8ft x 6ft boards, on the festival theme of Trade; Illustrated talks by Steve Bell, Jed Pascoe and others; plus workshops and the Cartoon Clinic – drop-in sessions for budding cartoonists. The main Festival exhibition is called Mind Your Own Business and runs from April 2-28. Cartoonists from the UK and overseas were invited to submit cartoons. Around 100 cartoons will be exhibited and the majority will be for sale. Most cartoons will be new work and the exhibition will be a mixture of originals and goodquality prints. There will also be exhibitions by the late Dave Follows and by Albert Rusling. For more details go to the Shrewsbury website: www. shrewsburycartoonfestival.com From Paul Hardman: Dave Follows’ two lads, Chris and Steve, are working hard to get a comprehensive exhibition together which will first be seen at Shrewsbury and, later, in Stoke. They have asked me to contact Club members to ask if anyone has, or knows who has, any memorabilia of Dave. They specifically would like to see the cartoon he drew on a napkin in New York and which was published in one of the cartoonists’ magazines over there. They would welcome any photos or videos members might have. The lads can be contacted on [email protected] Angel delight Fallen Angel! The Political Cartoons of the Daily Worker Cartoonist Gabriel is at the Political Cartoon Gallery until April 28. This is the first exhibition of the work of Jimmy Friell (1912-1997), aka Gabriel, from the Communist paper, and offers an insight into the attitudes of those on the Left during the Cold War. The exhibition will consist of 60 of his best originals. The Political Cartoon Gallery, 32 Store Street, London, is open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm and Sat 11.30am-5.30pm. Museum pieces Alice in Sunderland, an exhibition of more than 60 original pieces of artwork from Bryan Talbot’s new graphic novel, is at the Cartoon Museum in London from April 5 – July 1. The Museum also has a Family Fun Day on April 7 and a series of Easter Children’s Workshops on April 11, 12 and 13, 11am-3.30pm. For more details and to book places for the workshops, phone 020-7580 8155 3 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK THE SUBS ARE DUE! Yes, it’s that time of year again – your annual CCGB subscriptions are due on April 1, 2007. So, to make sure your membership remains intact, your Jester continues to land on your doormat and your presence on the website forum and gallery stays firmly put, don’t forget to renew them. Members now have the option of paying by Standing Order. You should have received a form with the last Jester. We would like as many people as possible to pay by Standing Order, as it will make the subs payment process easier in the future. But if you prefer to pay in the usual way, then send your cheque for £35 to the CCGB Treasurer Anne Boyd, at 7 Gambetta Street, Battersea, London SW8 3TS Pay now to avoid distress! (see left...) The Paranoid Cartoonist – Andy Vine 4 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK From NCB to CCGB I am 71 this year. I started cartooning when I was a young lad working as a coal miner, I thought cartooning would get me out of the pit. Unfortunately, although I had a few cartoons published I couldn't earn enough to cease my pit work and stopped sending cartoons in. Some 35 years later a heart attack stopped me working and through sheer boredom I started art work again, in a more serious manner. Since then I have had success as an illustrator and cartoonist, having had more than a hundred cartoons published, and have done illustrations for advertisements. And I am now a member of the esteemed CCGB. A few months ago someone contacted me and told me he used to work for the NCB many years ago. He said he was clearing out some old papers and came across a copy of Coal magazine dated January 1959 and in it was one of my cartoons (below). It brought back wonderful old memories of a struggling miner with a big ambition. Had I not seen this old cartoon I probably would not have told you this little story, but it goes to prove that no one should ever give in on their ambitions. Frank Canning Postal address: The Jester, c/o Royston Robertson, 20 Upton Road, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2AS Email: jester_magazine @yahoo.co.uk Dear Jester Jim Towle came across this picture of the Andy Capp Blackpool Special in a recent edition of Steam Days, a magazine for railway enthusiasts. The Fat Controller would have been chuffed if this engine had visited the island of Sodor, although Thomas the Tank Engine would have looked insignificant beside the red, black and yellow “Andy” the compound engine. The Daily Mirror hired and paid for this engine to be painted in the newspaper’s house colours. It hauled a Daily Mirror-sponsored Andy Capp special excursion from Manchester to Blackpool Central on Bank Holiday Monday, August 3, 1959. The boiler and tender were painted yellow, the cab, coupling rods and splashers red, and the wheels white. After the excursion, No. 41101 was taken to Derby and hidden from sight until it was scrapped at the end of August. Sacrilege, I say, considering another engine of this type is preserved and on display at York Railway Museum. Imagine if 41101 had been preserved and returned to running order. Wouldn’t it have been fantastic to see it heading an Andy Capp special train to the unveiling of his new bronze statue at Hartlepool? I’m assuming the original day trip was laid on for Mirror employees and their families but wonder if Reg Smythe was on the train too. Maybe one of our members could shed some light on the subject? There are over a hundred private steam railways operating throughout the UK so wouldn’t it be marvellous if even one could be persuaded to run a cartoon-themed day? They do have real ale days ... so perhaps a combination of both? Jim Towle Farewell Lord Forte Those sharp-eyed among the membership will have read of the death of Lord Forte, in March. He was a sterling supporter of the CCGB in the 60s and 70s, thanks to our Founder and then Chairman, Ian Scott, and it was through their association that we were able to host various functions at the Café Royal, and I think we should record his passing – albeit at a grand age (98) – with some regret. Clive Collins 5 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 101 Uses for The Jester Number: 4 Polonium 210 tea strainer Name that CCGB member (Answer page 15) My first is in Beer and also in Bitter My second’s in Sit and also in Sitter My third’s not in Pose but is in Model My fourth’s twice in Molly, once in Coddle My fifth is in Bridge but not in Span My sixth is in Child but not in Man My seventh heads a Tick and also a Tock My eighth is in Jack and also in Jock My ninth’s in an Hour but not in a Day My tenth is in Mild, but not in May My last is in Value but not in Worth And my whole is a writer from the North CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Coffee and sympathy Peter Broelman on the daily struggle of the Aussie cartoonist HERE in drought-ridden South Australia a small band of cartoonists gather for their Friday morning coffee. Once in a while we might even talk about cartooning. The feedback from the rank and file over our latest edition of Inkspot, the ACA’s quarterly magazine, was interesting. ACA and CCGB member Dave Gaskill wrote a piece that everyone could relate to – the threat to editorial cartoonists in the mainstream media. Dave’s take on the UK scene was indeed interesting. I think some Aussie members were genuinely surprised as they considered the UK to be the last great bastion of cartooning. Last year several large US newspapers dumped editorial cartoons altogether. In Australia the threat to editorial jobs was solved years ago by the concentration of media ownership in capital cities. So much for healthy competition. Today there’s one daily newspaper in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth – all cities with populations of more than a million. If you aren’t one of the fortunate few to score a daily paper you’re left with a smattering of regional papers whose bean counters are more ruthless than their editors. You have no choice than to syndicate. Some regionals have dumped editorial spots altogether to save themselves $100 a week for six cartoons (about £40). The full-time editorial cartoonist Down Under is a rare breed indeed. Then there’s the comic strip artist. Don’t even get me started at those unfortunates who get kicked in the guts on a regular basis by the syndicates and bean counters combined. So what does a cartoonist organisation do? The ACA is always battling ways to think of promoting cartoonists and raising the bar for all cartoonists. We’ve joined newspaper associations for a lot of money. We recently decided not to renew as there was no ascertainable benefit, despite the best efforts, and we would be better served hitting editors and management direct. I checked out the CCGB website and that has inspired the ACA to redesign its own website – www.cartoonists. org.au – with more emphasis on promoting cartoonists rather than promoting the organisation that’s supposed to do the promoting. Last year our annual Year Book (a 120-page catalogue of all the entrants to our annual Stanley Awards) was sent to 100 publishers Australia-wide rather than just newspaper editors. Our online members directory gets attention from clients (I suspect none are editors). Members’ entries are categorised and there’s a recommended rates chart for potential clients to see, and to dissuade freebie-seekers. While these steps address outside influences, occasionally members’ attitudes towards their own work have to be addressed. Free work for free exposure is self-defeating. Not all cartoonists are natural-born business people. At the next Annual Stanleys Awards Conference we’ll be having a motivational speaker. The business ethic behind providing cartoons is no different than any other business. There’s no guarantee these measures will provide the solution to the problems faced by cartoonists. We are, after all, masters of our own destiny. At the very least it’ll be a good talking point at the next Friday morning coffee. Peter Broelman is the President of the Australian Cartoonists’ Association. He is a recipient of the 2004 and 2005 Stanley Award for Editorial/ Political cartoons and 2005 Gold Stanley Cartoonist Of The Year. “And remember, MY door is always open – tough bananas, eh?” 6 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK “Sorry Ma’am, but stealing the duvet is not technically a criminal offence.” “Hello, Tech Support? Crime is down.” Fuzz Funnies! “He says he’s nightshift, Sarge, fitting energy-saving lightbulbs.” “Can’t I choose a dress the normal way?” Next gag theme is: THE ENVIRONMENT (climate change chuckles, global warming giggles etc etc) 7 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Gathering of the Flock The CCGB’s Black Sheep Brewery weekend was all laughs, late nights, and colossal cheese platters, says Tim Harries I’M HAPPY to report a positively excellent time was had by at all the CCGB get-together. Situated in the Yorkshire Dales, Masham is a small market town that boasts two breweries, and was therefore the ideal venue for a cartoonists’ weekend. Despite traffic delays getting there, the trip was certainly worth it. Settling into the King’s Head Hotel, we had the chance to catch up over a few pints, followed by a delicious meal in their restaurant. The hotel had helpfully, but rather naively, put up a board in reception with which cartoonists could leave each other notes and messages. Minutes later it was covered in scribbles and one or two vital polls (see page 15). The turnout for the weekend was good, most Masham 2007 agreeing that it was an excellent weekend break for the price, and it was nice to see new members Brenda Romans and Alan Turner (plus their partners) mingling with the regular faces. We socialised until the bar staff gently chucked us out at 2am. The following morning saw a hearty breakfast quickly followed by a short official meeting to discuss any club matters and why Terry wasn’t wearing shorts for once. A brisk walk Lookalike Scene from Reservoir Dogs Have any other readers noticed the similarity between a bunch of cartoonists and their partners out on the razz in a Wensleydale market town and a bunch of ruthless criminals on their way to a jewellery heist? Are they perhaps related? I think we should be told etc. Tintin Quarantino Off to the brewery 8 around the “Farmers’ Market” revealed several used DVDs and a deerstalker for sale, so several of us adjourned to the nearest pub. It had just gone 12, honest. Some rugby matches were playing on the telly, but despite that, we still had a good time. In fact, it was such a good time that we visited every pub in Masham, talked scurrilous talk, drew libellous pictures and only just got back to the hotel before we had to wobble back out for The Event of the Weekend … the Black Sheep Brewery visit. A quick gathering for a group photo in the square and then we were off, led by club piper Arthur Middleton, complete with bagpipes and kilt. Several doors opened and curtains twitched as we marched as a group through the village. Terrific fun, though I suspect it was rather chilly for Arthur. Little wonder Terry wasn’t wearing shorts. After an informative and entertaining tour of the brewery, we were treated to a spot of beer tasting, then a gorgeous meal at the Brewery Bistro, complete with more free drinks and cheese plates the size of Cuba. Pens and paper appeared and no one was safe from doodling. Royston admitted he’d seen Lindisfarne in concert in Masham in the 1980s and since there was no way to top that revelation, we all made our way back to the hotel, settled into the bar and chatted into the early hours, until once again flung out by the bar staff. You’d think these people had homes to go to. Sunday arrived, a bit of brekkie and it was over all too soon. We said our goodbyes and looked forward to seeing each other at the AGM. As we left I had tears in my eyes, but then I had just paid my tab. William Rudling: It was over all too soon! The Black Sheep Weekend was a great success. If you want a laugh and a memorable 67 hours, spend it with the people I met from the CCGB. It proved to me that personal, social contacts strengthen the club. My thanks to its creator, Jed Pascoe, Venues Unlimited ,the King’s Head Hotel and the Black Sheep Brewery for looking after us. THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Arthur Middleton: Good one Jed, excellent company, excellent food and what about that beer? It was really good to meet up with old friends and meet new ones. Did the weekend achieve its aim? Well, on a scale of 1 to 10, I will give it 12. Steve Willis’s T-shirts and badges were great, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better badge and they are a great help to those us of more senior years who struggle to keep the memory cells active more than a few seconds at time. Well done and thanks. The whole weekend was spot-on and those poor souls not able to with us, I think, will be the poorer for it. Brenda Romans: We had a great time at the weekend. It was great to meet you all, and quite inspiring. Alan Turner (the Shrewsbury one!): “He couldn’t organize a piss up in a brewery!” … but Jed did just that with panache, aplomb and any other supportive adjective you can think of. Masham was an undoubted success. It had the relaxed and friendly atmosphere which you’d expect, all mixed with a very tangible sense of fun. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that many of us behaved like cheeky schoolboys on the Saturday evening (I thought underage drinking was banned in most pubs) and my wife and I enjoyed it immensely. It was also a wonderful opportunity to put names to faces but, more importantly, to discover that one is not alone in striving for excellence or to get published; the exchange of ideas, coupled with very firm offers of help and advice, were always there. Please pass on my and Diane’s most grateful thanks to the committee, especially to Jed, for an excellent weekend in Yorkshire. To those of you who didn’t make the effort, you don’t know what you missed. It was bloody marvellous! Let’s have more PU’s in a B. Flocked and loaded (well, almost): a photo-call before the brewery visit Alex Hughes models the official Masham 2007 T-shirt, while the Black Sheep goes to Tim Harries’ head Pied piper Arthur Middleton leads the cartoonists, by Brenda Romans Ian Ellery: It was truly a great weekend. Lovely to meet new members Alan and Brenda too. Steve Willis: I’ll second all of that. A great weekend. There were no complaints about portions during Saturday’s meal at the brewery Photos: Royston Robertson, Tim Harries and Alan Turner 9 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK What we did at the weekend Typical. You ask Masham organiser Jed Pascoe for a write-up and he delegates it to his inner child ... By Jeremy age 5 1/3: Me and Deryl went to Masham. Mummy said the men wore flat caps and Daddy said I would have to watch out that they didn’t show me their wippits and then him and uncle Stan had a good laugh but I don’t know why. We got to a big house called the Kings Head and it was a hotel and we was the first and we had a room with a big bed and a canopy to sleep in. The bed not the canopy because it would have come off. Then William and Alex arrived because I saw them from our window which was at the front. And they had nice rooms too and we went for a glass of Tizer in another room called the Bar and everybody arrived two by two like the animals in the ark only it didn’t rain at all except for a little bit about five o’clock but that was all right becose we were all in the Bar drinking Tizer so it didn’t matter. We met a man called Arthur who played the bagpipes only he wasn’t Scottish and Dave brought two dogs and Irene said one of them was a half cross and very good-natured which I know is true because when mummy says she is not half cross it means she really is. Then we all had dinner and it was just like school because you queue up and get your own and the man with the white coat gave me a big pile of meat which wasn’t like school becouse you only get a tiddly slice there and this looked like half a cow had died on my plate but some people had special food because they was vejetairine and that was allright because it was yummy. And then we had lots more Tizer and in the morning we had a big cooked breakfast with black pudding which was Yorkshire food and Brenda wasn’t sure if she liked it but Chris said he would have her’s. Then we had a meeting when a man called Terry who said he was the Chair-man but he couldn’t have been because he stood up told us what the Club was up to and then we had coffee and went around the market and into Auntie Wainwright’s only she wasn’t there but a man with a hat sold us some books. Bill went walking into the Dales and Matt and Royston and Ian and Rita and Alex went to find out how many pubs sold Tizer and they did. And our new friend Alan used to be in the RAF and he had his own scooter but he wouldn’t let us have a go. And in the evening we all put on our t-shirts what Steve made and we followed Arthur as he played his bagpipes all the way through the town to the Black Sheep Brewery which was a funny name because there weren’t any sheep and we sat in the classroom and the teacher told us all about beer and how they made it but there wasn’t no sheep in the beer but stuff called yeest was in the big tanks where they made the beer and that looked fluffy so maybe that’s why it’s called Black Sheep only it wasan’t black. And then we had more food and lots of Yorkshire dark Tizer called Riggwelter 10 what was in the cassrol too and we got a hooj plate of cheese. We all drew pictures of black sheep and Dave the teacher on a big piece of paper then we had lots more Tizer and I can’t remember anything except naughty Ian pretending he knew the script to a scary old film about Sherlook Homes only he had a lot of Tizer and he didn’t do a good job of it so there. And we al had a great time and in the morning we had more food bacon and eggs and other people had black pudding and liked it and then we all went off in our cars but nobody ever showed me a wippit and I was dispointed the end THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Big in Japan Lawrence Goldsmith talks to Martin Honeysett Who were your early influences and who do you admire now? As a young teen I avidly read the Giles annuals that an uncle collected. Later, I came to admire Ronald Searle and then people such as Larry and Bill Tidy. There were many I admired, and still do, but I’m not sure how much they influenced me. As for current cartoonists, I’m a bit out of touch having been away for two years but I always find Steve Bell outstanding. Laugh with conviction! “I’m in here just because I made big money. It was about 2mm too big.” How did you get started? I did a year at art school then left and drifted around, lived abroad for several years doing a variety of jobs. I started trying to get illustration work with magazines, with limited success. When I returned to England in the late 1960s, I thought I’d try cartoons. Putting drawings in an envelope and sending them in seemed much easier than touting a portfolio around. Fortunately, I had some early success but it took a year of weekly submissions before Punch accepted me. I was, of course, over the moon when they did and it gave me the confidence to become a full time cartoonist. You are currently at the cartoon department of Kyoto Seika University in Japan. Tell us about that. I first visited Japan about 20 years ago. I was part of a group of six English and six French cartoonists and it was a sort of cultural exchange trip. We were there for two weeks and spent a few days in Kyoto visiting the cartoon dept. of Seika University. After that I kept in touch by submitting work to the International Exhibition they organise every two years. Four years ago they invited me out for a visit and asked if I’d be interested in being a visiting professor. Naturally, I jumped at the chance. For me it’s been a very exciting and interesting experience, to live and work in a completely different culture. I’ve never really taught before but I find it very satisfying and some of the students produce excellent work. Not that my duties have been too onerous. I’ve had lots of time to do my own work and to try to absorb some of the culture, in particular the strong drawing tradition in Japanese art. 11 Martin Honeysett: cartoon professor What other projects are you working on? While here I produced some work for an exhibition in Kyoto reflecting my views of Japan. I want to expand on this for another exhibition and hopefully some sort of publication. What materials do you use? Pencil, “fine liner” type pens, and watercolour. Do you feel the market for cartoons is tough at present? I think it’s been getting tough for a few years now. Not only is the market shrinking, there doesn’t seem to be the same appreciation of the special qualities and values of the cartoon in all its varied forms. How do you feel cartoonists will fair in the increasing digital age? Cartoonists have always had to adapt to new technologies and we’re all having to adapt to the digital age, some with more enthusiasm than others. Any advice for aspiring cartoonists? Don’t strive for a style, it will come naturally. Don’t give up. THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Reprinted by kind permission of our friends at the Australian Cartoonists’ Association magazine Inkspot 12 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Clive Collins LET’S begin this month’s offering with my wholehearted agreement with Neil Dishington’s comments on the Mike Williams’ show at the Cartoon Museum (was it all that time ago? Doesn’t the time fly when you’re twiddling your thumbs and staring at the electricity meter whizzing round?). At least, my wholehearted agreement with Neil up to the bit about Steadman; Scarfe yes, but I think Steadman’s someone quite special. Anyway it’s all personal choice. Apart from the sheer brilliance of Mike’s artwork and the wonderfully crazy ideas, once again my enjoyment of a show of great cartoons was tinged with the sad knowledge that there are no magazines in this country today that would even contemplate using work of such a high standard. I’ve been a keen admirer of his work from the time I first saw it in the Daily Sketch and Weekend – long before he hit Punch – and you just knew that he’d be one of the best. Furthermore, it was during that magical period when Liverpool was spawning so much cartoon talent – Bill Tidy, Albert Rusling, Mike’s brother Pete (a superb cartoonist in his own right), Ian Jackson, Bill Stott, Paul Hardman and others too numerous to mention, all making their marks on the many and varied cartoon pages that were then available. Great also to hear laughter at a cartoon exhibition. I recall, some years back, Lynne laughing out loud at a Larry show at Chris Beetles’ gallery, and seeing the shocked and offended faces of the po-faced regulars turn round to her. Mike’s cartoons ARE funny, and are a perfect match of words and pictures, and the non-captioned ones are in a league of their own. On a side note, it was fascinating to overhear disparaging comments on the displayed work, made by far lesser cartoonists than Mike. One of whom (as legend would have it) had once actually told Larry that his cartoons could be improved by the use of a ruler. Funny old world! By the time you read these words the exhibition will have closed, so I hope that as many of you as possible grabbed the chance to see it. MEANWHILE, in a corner of Shoe Lane, there has been much bitterness over the fact that The Cartoonist pub ‘There is much bitterness that The Cartoonist pub wasn’t picked for Mega-Casino status ...’ wasn’t among those selected for Mega-Casino status. The CCGB had placed great store on the prospect of members being attracted back to monthly club meetings by the lure of a possible Big Win while they were talking to Frank Holmes. It is even believed that a number of caricaturists had cleared their diaries on the first Tuesday of each month in order to cruise for business among the punters filling the upstairs and downstairs bars. In response to concerns expressed about the Mega-Casino, gambling, and the risk factor of the unsophisticated poor being lured into debt, the landlord stated that “cartoonists have always been welcome in the pub, and those that cannot afford to gamble will, of course, be able to refrain from doing so”. There had also been a chance that a monthly inn-sign competition would be inaugurated, incorporating a “Where’s Wally” type of feature, on which punters could bet, the winner being granted free drinks for life (so long as “life” meant not beyond age 45). There’s still a slim chance of a rethink, bearing in mind the Manchester doubts, and despite a negative campaign by Ye Olde Bell in Fleet Street, who had been looking to a franchise for 1,000 fruit machines running along the walkway between the pub and St. Bride’s Church. We will keep you informed on progress. THIS column comes to you from the holding cell of Leigh-on-sea nick, courtesy of the police laptop. A Smoking Warden gained access to my house (by breaking an upstairs window) three nights ago, and went through my originals, where he discovered a collection of cartoons that involved characters depicted with cigarettes in their mouths. Copies of the offending cartoons were taken away and I was charged with “being a threat to the moral fibre of non-smokers”. It is believed that the offices of The Mirror were next on the list, with the entire collection of Andy Capp strips being confiscated. 13 THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Potted Minutes from CCGB committee meeting of March 6, 2007 Present: Terry Christien, Jed Stone, Neil Dishington, Jed Pascoe, Anne Boyd, Clive Collins. Apologies: Graham Fowell, Jill Kearney, Ian Ellery, Derek Quint, Les Barton, Helen Martin, Jock WilliamsDavies, Richard Tomes, Mike Turner, Royston Robertson. Left: from the Daily Record, March 5. Above: from the Dundee Courier and Advertiser, March 9. Both spotted by John “Speedy” Harrison Did you know that Claude Monet drew caricatures? Well, now you can see them, at the Royal Academy, London, until June 10, as part of a show entitled The Unknown Monet. The exhibition is the first devoted to Monet’s drawings and pastels. It offers a ground-breaking exploration of the role of draughtsmanship throughout the artist’s long career, overturning the conventional notion that Monet painted his impressions of nature directly onto the canvas. Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London. Tel: 020-7300 8000 Open: Sat-Thu 10am6pm, Fri 10am-10pm Lookalike: Have any other readers noticed the similarity between CCGB stalwart Mike Turner and a painting of a golfer spotted by a bunch of tipsy cartoonists in the Bruce Arms pub in Masham? Are they perhapshrellated ?.. whose round is it ..? O. P. Q. Lear Mike Turner Golfer 14 Matters Arising: The club has approved the CCGB exhibition being shown at The Weston Arts Festival in September, although there were questions on how much we should charge for providing workshops. Treasurer’s Report: Anne Boyd reported that the bank had returned some members’ cheques. She gained permission from the committee to draft a form to be sent out requesting they reissue the cheques. Correspondence: Two letters received from “teen-agers” asking how to become cartoonists. After various comments ranging from “It’s in the blood” to “Join a life class”, it was decided to advise them to pop along to the Cartoon Museum. Jester: Another reminder of AGM time to appear in the April Jester. Members’ Directory to be sent out with The Jester, prior to the AGM. Website: Jed Pascoe reported quite a lot of “phishing” and “spam” infiltrating the site, but he was managing to control it. Neil Dishington recalled having spam fritters during WWII, and a certain Mrs Robinson loitering outside the barracks of 101 American Airborne Div, in the hope of scrounging the odd can. He also recollected a POW camp nearby, where the German and Italian inmates, made little wooden toys, unlike their allied counterparts, who were busy forming escape committees, vaulting over wooden horses ... [Ed’s note: Jed Stone’s “creative writing” minutes edited at this point for length] ... it was round about now that our normally steadfast Chairman, buried his head in his hands and claimed he was “Losing the will to live”. Meeting wrapped 7.45pm THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK A word from the Editor During the Gathering of the Flock, I made the mistake of mentioning that I had seen the terminally un-hip Geordie folk-rock band Lindisfarne at Masham Town Hall in 1986. This confession provoked much mirth and mockery and led to the cartoon on the right from the restless pen of Tim Harries. Eagle-eyed readers will spot that the flute and onelegged pose is more reminiscent of fellow beardy 1970s folkies Jethro Tull. That band did come up in conversation during the Saturday afternoon pub crawl that several of us embarked on (yes, we visited every pub in Masham – all three of them!) so poor Tim must have got confused. As for seeing Lindisfarne, what can I say? I was a young, impressionable teenager, led astray by folkies. Actually, Masham’s reputation as Town of Beer had a lot to do with it. And in my defence, I also saw the slightly hipper Smiths in the same summer ... Which reminds me, what’s with the hair in this cartoon, Tim? I wouldn’t normally consider the un-quiffing of my hair to be a subject worth recording in The Jester, but as it seemed to be a popular subject on the cartoon- Jesterquiz solution IS THE 12th OF EVERY MONTH Contributions via email: [email protected] Contributions via post: The Jester c/o Royston Robertson 20 Upton Road Broadstairs Kent CT10 2AS Tel: 01843-871 241 ists’ message board at Masham (see right) I may put the “quiff or no quiff?” matter to a public vote. Details of the premium-rate phoneline will be in the next Jester ... All articles and cartoons welcomed (especially for the front and back covers) Royston Robertson 101 Uses for The Jester Number: 5 “Go on then, make me laugh!” Email submissions are preferred, as then images and text do not need to be scanned – but snail mail is still acceptable. Images sent by email must be a resolution of 300dpi, and in the JPEG format – no Tiffs, Gifs etc. REMINDER: the next two club meetings are ... April 3 (The AGM, to be held during the day. Caricature by Rex Juriansz It’s Bill Ritchie! THE DEADLINE A jester Membership enquiries to: Jed Pascoe (Membership Secretary), 4 Osprey Close, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1TW. Tel: 01767-682 882. Email: [email protected] Subscription enquiries to: Anne Boyd (Treasurer), 7 Gambetta Street, Battersea, London, SW8 3TS. Tel: 020-7720 1884. Email [email protected] Website enquiries to: Ian Ellery, 25 Nelson Road, Hastings TN34 BRX. Tel: 01424-718 209. Email: [email protected] 15 Committee 1pm, Members 2pm) May 1 (Regular club meeting time i.e. Committee 5.30pm, Members 7pm) Both at The Cartoonist pub, Shoe Lane, London. THE JESTER ISSUE 396 – APRIL 2007 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK 16
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