Well perhaps a moment in my personal history.
And the rest as they say was a journey which I share with many others who were born in the first half of the last century.
And my justification for featuring it ….. simply that I can.
Location; Childhood memories in 1955
Picture; cover of Eagle Vol 6 No. 19 May 13th 1955, and Modern Coal Mine
For a decade and more, every Christmas, many of us born in the middle decades of the last century would spend many happy hours at Christmas reading the exploits of Dan Dare.
Dan Dare was a good hero, vanquished the evil and tyrannical figures across the Universe, but always did it fairly, never breaking his word, and by and large never killing his opponents.
There were other comics, and indeed other annuals, but Eagle and its companion comics Girl, Swift and Robin with their mix of adventure stories, information features and humour call up a gentler world.
Now I know it isn't Christmas but I liked the annuals, and still have them all from 1950 through to 1966.
And that is it.
Location; the 1950s
Pictures; Operation Moss and Space Race from the Eagle Annuals, 1950s, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
You will have to be a certain age to remember Johnny Haynes, or be familiar with Fulham FC.
"He was selected for 3 World Cup finals squads playing in the latter two of those. Nicknamed 'the Maestro', his attacking play was noted for two footed passing ability, vision and deftness of touch. Haynes is widely regarded as Fulham's greatest ever player remaining loyal there for 20 years despite coming no nearer to a major trophy win than two FA Cup semi-final appearances.
Immediately following the abolition of the £20 maximum wage in 1961 he became the first player to be paid £100 a week. He also had a spell on loan with Toronto City in 1961 and ended his playing days at Durban City, winning there the only trophy he won in his football career".*
