Wednesday 26 August 2015

Bea-ing Educated

My father left school at the age of just 14. It seems unbelievable now that his official education finished when he was so young. I say ‘official education’ for the good reason that he found other ways to continue learning. 

My father bought The Wizard and The Hotspur every week. These were not cartoon comics, but rather short story magazines filled with tales of fictional heroes. In fact, he continued to subscribe to these comics until they ceased circulation, so as a child I too got to read the stories of ‘Wilson, the wonder athlete’.

Throughout his life he continued to read voraciously. I grew up in a house full of books, from cheap paperbacks to travel guides to encyclopaedias, and every other genre imaginable. In those pre-internet days, they provided a wealth of written information to aid my school work.

My father was also a collector, of anything and everything. This included stamps, coins, records, model cars and with each collection came reference books and guides, all conscientiously studied. He was definitely the man to have as your ‘phone a friend’ companion!

It is thanks to my father’s collection of postcards that I have an article published today in The People’s Friend Special, issue 111. My piece references just some of the many cards he owned.

Selection of postcards from my father's collection

There is a happy co-incidence that it is DC Thomson who have published my writing, for it is that company who were the publishers of my father’s early favourites, The Wizard and The Hotspur.

It is to my father’s memory I dedicate the article, ‘Send Me a Postcard!’

8 comments:

  1. What a fitting tribute to your father. My father left school at 14 and much later in life gained a GCSE in German. He read only non-fiction. Sadly his sight is fading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a great achievement, Linda. Proof that we're never too old to learn.

      Delete
  2. Aww, lovely post, Bea. Will be reading your article later today xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. I bet he'd have been chuffed to see your article.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think he would. And then offered me loads more ideas about what to write next.

      Delete
  4. How lovely, Bea. You've got a close connection with DC Thomson, those comics were a good investment. Hope you have more ideas for them to publish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I came across an old Hotspur in the James Herriot museum in Thirsk this weekend, Susan. I was amazed how small the font was and how long the stories, with only one small image at the top of the first page to break up the text. Really concentrated reading.

      Delete