Now I grew up with J Alfred Dixon.
His postcards were pretty much the ones you saw in newsagents, and on railway station kiosks and more than likely were the ones that dropped through the letterbox with news of a holiday somewhere in Britain.
The images were always bright, cheerful and could be anything from a holiday camp, to a sea going steamer.
Looking at some of them today they appear slightly washed out but that might be down to over exposure in the bright sunlight on a shop counter on the south coast.
But it might equally just be to do with what Mr Dixon proudly boasted was “natural colour.”
And that brings me to this little bit of history, which for many of us will be so familiar that it doesn’t even warrant a second glance or for that matter count as history.
After all there will be some of these postcard stands still knocking around in the back of the store rooms of those older chemists, stationers and sweet shops up and down the High Street.
But that does not detract from that simple observation that these are a bit of our heritage. Not I grant you as grand as an inscribed gold plate marking a battle or a dusty document but history they are.
So following a bit of a conversation with its owner, David Harrop they will be sitting beside some of his other items in the Remembrance Lodge at Southern Cemetery this week.
David has a magnificent collection of memorabilia from both world wars including medals, letters and postcards along with souvenirs made especially during the Great War.
Some belong to men and women who are buried or commemorated in Southern Cemetery so it is fitting that they should be there on display.
Nor is that all because during the course of the week across the country places of historic interest will be open for free for people to “drop in” and experience the past.
And no where are you more likely to experience the past than Southern Cemetery, so why not come down on Thursday when David will be on hand to explain the history of the items in his collection.
After a bit of thought he has decided to bring the Dixon stand down and fill it with old postcards.
One of these will be a J Arthur Dixon postcard of Manchester Cathedral and regimental chapel of the Manchester Regiment.
And that I think is equally fitting.
Location; Southern Cemetery
Pictures; from the collection of David Harrop
The images were always bright, cheerful and could be anything from a holiday camp, to a sea going steamer.
Looking at some of them today they appear slightly washed out but that might be down to over exposure in the bright sunlight on a shop counter on the south coast.
But it might equally just be to do with what Mr Dixon proudly boasted was “natural colour.”
And that brings me to this little bit of history, which for many of us will be so familiar that it doesn’t even warrant a second glance or for that matter count as history.
After all there will be some of these postcard stands still knocking around in the back of the store rooms of those older chemists, stationers and sweet shops up and down the High Street.
But that does not detract from that simple observation that these are a bit of our heritage. Not I grant you as grand as an inscribed gold plate marking a battle or a dusty document but history they are.
So following a bit of a conversation with its owner, David Harrop they will be sitting beside some of his other items in the Remembrance Lodge at Southern Cemetery this week.
Some belong to men and women who are buried or commemorated in Southern Cemetery so it is fitting that they should be there on display.
Nor is that all because during the course of the week across the country places of historic interest will be open for free for people to “drop in” and experience the past.
And no where are you more likely to experience the past than Southern Cemetery, so why not come down on Thursday when David will be on hand to explain the history of the items in his collection.
After a bit of thought he has decided to bring the Dixon stand down and fill it with old postcards.
One of these will be a J Arthur Dixon postcard of Manchester Cathedral and regimental chapel of the Manchester Regiment.
And that I think is equally fitting.
Location; Southern Cemetery
Pictures; from the collection of David Harrop
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