How many families didn't read The Sunday Post in the 1960s?
For many years we didn't buy a copy of The Sunday Post, but read my grandfather's copy on our weekly family visits.
As children in the early 1960s it was mainly the Fun Section that we read.
This was the double spread on either side of the page. The Broons were the main feature on one side, and Oor Wullie on the other. If Gaga (grandfather) was reading the newspaper sometimes he would just remove the Fun Section for us
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| The Broons and Oor Wullie |
The Broons were good, but wee Wee Wullie probably just shaded it.
There were also other features which I enjoyed - some jokes, puzzles and for many years, Nero and Zero, two Roman guards who were supposed to look after Caesar; there was also Nosey Parker.
This Sunday ritual with Family Favourites and Jean Metcalfe and Cliff Michelmore on the radio in the background was always a very relaxing and a key part of these Sundays mornings at our grandparents home at Durham Road, Portobello before the Sunday roast dinner was served up .
As we grew older in the late 1960s we began to alternate our Sunday visits and so like millions of others, we started to buy our own copy of The Post at 6/2 Oxgangs Avenue.
Gradually, I progressed from just reading the Fun Section to the sports pages and then regular columns such as The Hon Man. His adventures could be quite interesting, particularly if the editor had perhaps sent him away to live on a pound a day or to tour around the Highlands camping and of course report back weekly, in a humorous vein.
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| d'Artagnan and Stopwatch Racing at Stockbridge, Edinburgh, January 2004 |
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| d'Artagnan reading Oor Wullie Stockbridge, Edinburgh, January 2004 |
d'Artagnan and Stopwatch Racing were brought up on the annuals.
Reading the sauce bottle at the dinner table, leads on to Oor Wullie; The Four Marys; Alf Tupper; Peter Pan; Robin Hood; and then Holden Cauldfield; Atticus Finch; Pip; and Anna Karenina et al.
Given the dramatic reduction in newspaper buying The Sunday Post's circulation is still relatively high, however back in the 1960s I believe it had the highest reader penetration per head of the population of any newspaper in the world.
3 comments:
Liz,
Great to hear from you-it is a small world, but I would not want to paint it!-like Alexander McCall-Smith (I wish!),I am usually several blogs ahead. I was on a flying visit to Edinburgh yesterday and discussed this very example with my mother. I wanted to confirm my own memory because I have that very gentleman as a draft for the future-my memory ties in with yours-whereas my mother thought he was Indian and wore a turban? It would be interesting to hear further from yourself and Douglas. Last year on the re-opening of the Portrait Gallery there was a fascinating section/display relating the family stories of some of the prominent and successful Asian immigrants to Edinburgh and Glasgow telling their family story with some wonderful tales and great photographs of the generations from the 1930s onward-I wish I could get access to the material. By the way Liz, when my mother learns how to operate the computer she is going to give the correct version of the coat and the rag and bone man! Further, on a small world-filled up with petrol at a filling station yesterday before heading back to the Heilands with Tom-paid for petrol with debit card-lady at till says-love the blog, Mr Hoffmann!
hello peter,
i have had the pleasure of working with iain for many years now and was delighted when he showed me your blog.memories of that era came flooding back.although i was brought up in polwarth crescent and liberton ,our adventures were much of the same ilk - expeditions along the canal and the hermitage park.great times,and my wife still buys my BROONS and OOR WULLIE every year for me.cheers. steve clark.
Help ma boab-just back in from jumping the Stoorie and haeing ma mince n tatties Steve-thank you for the comments!
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