! ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006! AUTUMN 2005 ThTeh Je eJessteterr

AVON CALLING

THE STRATFORD SHAKESPEARIENCE PICTURES AND MORE INSIDE YOUR HEALTH GAGS CARTOONS IN ADVERTISING PAUL BAKER ON HIRSCHFELD ON WILLIE GALL NEIL KERBER INTERVIEW THE VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER

NeThewsletter Newsletter of the of theCar Cartoonists’toonists’ Club Club of of Great Great BritainBritain THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Jester Issue 389 - September 2006 The Chair Published 11 times a year by The Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain

MEMBERS one and all, it’s all forms cise. You’ll notice there’s a box for The CCGB Committee at the moment – prolific box ticking name and county – this is not so we’ll is the call of the day! hunt you down because of a certain Chairman: Terry Christien The DACS Payback form, in all its answer but to assist with the demo- 020–8892 3621 pinkness, is most worthy of filling in graphics. By all means treat the name [email protected] and that needs to be returned by as optional if you feel you need the Secretary: Jed Stone September 30, so don’t miss out. If space to be candid without fear or 020–7720 1884 you encounter any difficulties, deal favour! [email protected] direct with DACS through email, Please fill in the form and send it phone or their website – they’re back now, while it’s fresh in your Treasurer: Anne Boyd really helpful people. It’s also helpful mind – certainly by the end of 020–7720 1884 to keep a photocopy for next year’s September in time for the next meet- [email protected] filling-in. ing in October. You’ll notice the form gives you the At August’s meeting Helen Martin Les Barton: 01895–236 732 opportunity to buy The Artists’ Year- gave us a most informative chat about [email protected] book 2007, an extremely useful refer- boy wonder Leonardo da Vinci, who ence tool – grab one! was just too smart for his own good. Clive Collins: 01702–557 205 And so to our very own club ques- And talking of smart, Helen knew her [email protected] tionnaire which we would very much stuff too – so thanks for that H! Neil Dishington: 020–8505 0134 like you all to return, to help us reflect We’ve got our redoubtable Jester Ed [email protected] on the constant changing of members’ Royston giving us a chat at the Sep- Ian Ellery: 01424–718 209 requirements. It’s not only our own tember meet, regaling no doubt the [email protected] illustrious club of like-minded people, sinking feeling of giving up the secu- Graham Fowell: 0115–933 4186 but clubs, societies and professional rity of the buff envelope at The Times gatherings up and down the country for a life of freelance cartooning. [email protected] need to take a recce from time to time Pete Jacob: 01732 845 079 to see if there are better ways of THE annual Big Draw – the Jill Kearney: 0115–933 4186 steering their memberships. Campaign for Drawing – is an [email protected] We’ve made returning the form as event a bunch of us usually get Helen Martin: 01883–625 600 easy as possible – it comes stamped involved with. This year it’s a little [email protected] addressed with seal-easy closing and earlier, on Sunday, September 24 at the need to fold the form only once! Somerset House in London. If any Roy Nixon: 01245–256 814 The forms will be coming back to of you are likely to be in the Jed Pascoe: 01767–682 882 yours truly for a little collation exer- metropolis for the day or weekend, [email protected] why not join us between 10.30am Derek Quint: 01984–632 592 and 5pm? It involves drawing in Richard Tomes: 0121–706 7652 front of the great British public, [email protected] who always turn out to be very Mike Turner: 01206–798 283 enthusiastic and fascinated by what we do. Showing them some of your [email protected] skills and encouraging them to Jock Williams-Davies: participate is really rewarding and 01473–422 917 takes the slog off you! Check out [email protected] their website: www.drawingpower. org.uk Cartoonists will be amongst Jester Editor: artists, illustrators, architects, and theatre designers doing their thing. Royston Robertson They supply art materials, but 01843–871 241 bring your favourites too, to show jester_magazine @yahoo.co.uk the 10,000 expected visitors how to Front cover: draw with flair. Graham Fowell by Tim Harries Enough from me already – enjoy Back cover: Frank Holmes this issue of The Jester. Terry Christien

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Bright career News Steve Bright, the CCGB’s man at , appeared on Radio Five Live on August 17 as part of a feature about the reality of the jobs we do compared with our childhood dreams. He told evening presenter Anita Anand that as a precocious teenager he always wanted to be a political cartoonist – but ended up drawing and Beryl the Peril. (Not quite the same gulf as the poor guy who wanted to be a pilot but ended up an estate agent, it must be said!) Steve had the pleasure of being told on national radio that his job is “immensely cool”. Mel Calman Laugh at Labour Pencil it in exhibition An exhibition titled Did Cowards A new weblog has been launched Flinch? A Cartoon History of the which offers advice on all aspects of An exhibition of the work of the late Labour Party 1906 – 2006 will be cartooning, from how to develop Mel Calman is running at the Cartoon held at the Political Cartoon Gallery your work to how to run a cartoon Museum in London from from October 12 until December 24. business. September 6 until October 15. On show will be original work by Chewing Pencils, launched by The show is organised by the likes of David Low, Vicky, and Australian cartoonist Matt Glover Calman’s family and celebrates his JAK, plus today’s greats such as Peter has only been around for a couple witty drawings from The Times and Brookes, Steve Bell, Dave Brown, of months but already the blog is other publications. The Cartoon and Ralph Steadman. proving to be a great resource for Museum is at 35 Little Russell St, The show will be opened by Dennis budding cartoonists. Bloomsbury, London. Tel: 020 7580 Skinner MP – who else! – on October You can find it at 8155. Or visit the website at 14. The gallery is at 32 Store Street, www.chewingpencils.com www.cartooncentre.com London, and is open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and on Sat- Andy Capp urdays between 11.30am – 5.30pm. statue plan A statue of Andy Capp could be put Database rejig up in Hartlepool if residents give it The University of Kent’s cartoon the go-ahead. database has been redesigned. Reg Smythe, creator of the It includes a bulletin board where evergreen cartoon character, was born chat and information searching can in the town. He died in 1998. go on, and users now have the The North Hartlepool Partnership facility to register to edit cartoons delivered leaflets to residents to on the database. The university is gauge support for a 5ft-tall bronze inviting CCGB members to add statue. It said it would take the information to the cartoons which £20,000 project forward if there was the university can’t easily research. clear support among residents. The It would be especially interesting, forms were due to be returned at the they say, if the cartoonists themselves end of August. If there is backing, the could add comments to the cartoons. partnership will write to the Daily The address is http://library.kent. Mirror, where the Capp cartoons ac.uk/cartoons/ were first featured in 1957, asking The Centre for the Study of if the newspaper would be willing to Cartoons and Caricature, established contribute to the cost. in 1973, is a research centre and pic- The sculpture would be created by ture library, based upon a unique ar- sculptor Jane Robbins, from chive of more than 85,000 pieces of Shropshire, who has created a small- cartoon artwork, supported by a ref- scale Plasticine rough model. erence library of newspaper cuttings, See picture, page 17 books, and audio-visual materials.

3 THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Dear Jester

Anyone remember Ed? A cultural visit to Stratford-upon- Avon is coming up (see pages 10 and My grandad, Ed Coombs, was the 11) and I hear a huge bikers’ festival Answer: page 19 first ever secretary of the Cartoonists’ is on at the same time … Club back in the early 1960s. My Dad (Ed’s son) and I were wondering if the club might happen to have any archive materials which relate to him, i.e. photographs, articles, cartoons, etc, which would be available for us to see? I would be grateful for anything you can find. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards and many thanks in advance. Anna Coombs Parting is such sweet sorrow, Post traumatic Mike Turner

The day doesn’t really begin for me Not a , honest until the post has been delivered. This was fine when it arrived regularly at In reply to Mike Turner’s letter (see 7.30am but now it can be anytime up last month): Sound advice Mike – to noon and it drives me mad. “Don’t chuck away the Letraset” – I I need my daily post fix! Even if it couldn’t agree more but then I’m is junk mail. And if there’s no post bound to say that I suppose I’m convinced the postie’s dumped it having gained sponsorship from in a river or someplace. Is there a Letraset. But seriously though, their (non-email) cure for this addiction? marker pens are superb tools for If all as gone to plan there should be traditionalists (like myself) who are a questionnaire with this issue. Please still roaming the earth. respond even if you only do part of it. I was amazed at the amount of Surely every member has some interest shown in Letraset’s range comment on the club? while demonstrating on their stand at the Artists and Illustrators’ show, in conjunction with cartoon workshops, Postal address: in July this year, at the Business Design Centre, Islington. The Jester It was great to see John Stilgoe c/o Royston Robertson visiting the show. Thanks for popping over to the 20 Upton Road, Broadstairs stand, John. It was lovely to catch up Kent CT10 2AS with you. This all might seem like a blatant Email: jester_magazine plug for their products but it isn’t @yahoo.co.uk (honestly!). It’s just that I’m very Letters may be edited to fit passionate about my tools that I use for the job (if you pardon the space requirements “I see our car-crash patient is expression). finally turning a corner.” Andy Gilbert

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Helen decodes Forthcoming Da Vinci CCGB talks and A WAIL of disappointment went up at last months “standing room Members’ events only” meeting (That’s enough sarcasm – Ed) when Helen Martin September: Jester Ed produced a laptop computer to give Directory Royston Robertson on his her presentation. Due to some career in journalism. Don’t misunderstanding it was generally worry, it’s just a laugh – with a thought she was giving a lap- – DONT career path from The Times to dancing presentation (Steady on – Ed). The Jester, how could it be Wails turned to wild applause, See page 3 anything else? however, following Helen’s infor- FORGET! October: Jed Stone presents mative and interesting chat on an “audio movie quiz” Leonardo da Vinci, an old time THANKS to all who have November: No talk currently cartoonist (I couldn’t see the joke – sent in entries for the CCGB scheduled Peter Cook). Members’ Directory – but we know there are lots more of you out there! December: Big Christmas Using technology that Leonardo All you have to do is send the fol- Cartoon Quiz – to be hosted would have sold his soul for, Helen was able to show many sketches by lowing details, by Neil Dishington and Clive preferably by email, or by post if Collins the Italian genius. Leonardo – Leo to his pals – was, of course, a major that’s not possible: Your name If you would like to do a talk, figure of the Renaissance, opening the eyes and minds to optimistic Address a turn, host a quiz or invite a new ideas in the arts, science and Telephone number non-member to speak, let us engineering. What didn’t he do? I and, if you have them ... know. All talks are informal, wouldn’t be surprised if he was Mobile number should not be very long, and also the inventor of spag bol. Email address can be on any subject you In her lively and entertaining Website address think may interest your fellow presentation Helen opened the eyes members of members to the true genius of Please also send a small piece of the man. Many thanks. artwork. It must be roughly square, Mike Turner fit a single column and must not need a separate caption. The directory will be printed in the same format as The Jester and will appear in January. And unlike the old handbook, it’s FREE!

To submit via email: [email protected]

To submit via post: The Jester c/o Royston Robertson 20 Upton Road Broadstairs Kent CT10 2AS

The deadline is November 12. If you do not submit your details, those on the existing data- base will be used – right or wrong. Your entry will not include artwork. So why not do it now, while you remember?

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it, with that real “straight in with the 99 Ways to pen, none of yer pencil roughs, mate!” feel. I like it. I like it a lot. Tell a Story So you’re probably asking yourself By Matt Madden “Who’s this Nik Scott fella, and why should I buy this book? Hmmm, what HERE’S an oddity: a comic-strip ver- should I have for tea? Where did I sio of Raymond Queneau’s influential Review leave those car keys? Ooh look, a 1947 book Exercises in Style. badger.” Unfortunately, I can’t help In that book, the author told a simple Web Junkie you with your attention deficit disor- story in 99 different styles and genres, By Nik Scott der but I can answer the first question. so you got the same events told in Scott was born in the UK and headed every conceivable tense, then as de- NIK SCOTT is one of those cartoon- to Australia at the age of 17, where he tective fiction, a sonnet, a haiku, even ists who saw the potential of the inter- carved out his career as a cartoonist, as a book-jacket blurb. Here Matt net before most of us had even bought and a busy one at that, illustrating Madden does the same thing, but with our first modem. more than 100 books, exhibiting his different styles of comic, so we get 99 His new book Web Junkie collects work throughout the world and pro- strips in every style you can think of, together his Cran and Lerma web ducing editorial, gag and strip cartoons and then some. cartoons which have featured on the for everyone from The New York net since 1995 as well as in newspa- Times to Rolling Stone. pers across the world. Scott certainly Web Junkie is a funny read, and if seems in tune with the online world, you’re into computers and the web it’s dealing with a variety of subjects in- definitely worth a look (it has to be cluding chatrooms, blogging, forums said, if you’re a bit of a technophobe and the people who use them, in a you’ll probably go “huh?” at most of smart and funny manner. If you’ve the terms and references). 3 ways: subjective, sci-fi, photocomic ever used a computer to communicate Head over to www.nikscott.com for This is, of course, an academic exer- with people, there’s a good chance information about ordering it, and to cise of sorts – indeed New York-based you’ll recognise and laugh along with see a variety of the strips featured in Madden teaches at the School of the situations Lerma and her friends the book. Visual Arts and Yale University – but find themselves in. The artwork is worry not, it’s also great fun and in loose and lively and all the better for Tim Harries places very funny. First of all, the story is: there ain’t no story. It’s just a single-page scene of mundane domestic life. But Madden transforms it into something else as we revisit the scene from multiple viewpoints and in many genres: politi- cal cartoon, underground comix, manga, daily newspaper strip, photo- comic, you name it. A particular joy is the colour section in the middle, where the scene is pre- sented as beautifully realised pastiches of Tintin, those Marvel comics Char- les Atlas ads, and, in recognition of the true origins of the comic strip, as a “newly discovered fragment” of the Bayeux Tapestry! As the book goes on it gets more and more playful, the story is reshuffled, characters added, others removed. It is of course repetitive in places, but it’s never dull as there’s always a clever twist around the corner. World Wide 99 Ways has so many ideas packed Wit: Nik into it that it’s too much to take in in Scott’s one go. Because of its nature, it is Cran and very much a “dip into it” book, and Lerma strips one that I found myself returning to are collected many times. in Web Junkie Royston Robertson 6 THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Baker’s Dozen No series on caricaturists would be complete without the sweeping lines of Al Hirschfeld, says Paul Baker in his ninth installment

WHEN Al Hirschfeld died in 2003, he has probably seen more theatre been exhibitions of his work in muse- and incredible career spanning eight productions than most actors, direc- ums and galleries across the States decades came to an end. I wrote a sort tors, critics and ice-cream sellers. and abroad. He was prolific and in- of obituary for him in The Jester, so Once back in his old barber’s chair dustrious to a degree that earned him forgive me for repeating, or even in the studio he would begin the proc- the nickname “Flash”. plagiarising myself. But this series ess of making the actual drawing Hirschfeld never seemed to tire of would just look too incomplete with- using crow-quill pens, Higgins Indian his art form, and he did consider cari- out him. ink and Japanese brushes. The figures cature as an art form. Take note Mr Born in 1903 in St Louis, the young were made up from sinuous lines, Adrian Searle of The Guardian (see Al showed great artistic flair from a spirals, stripes and stars, and although last month’s Jester, page 15): “Car- young age. By his late teens he had they look spontaneous each line is toon has a literary connotation, cari- already begun to contribute to the meticulously placed and gone over cature is abstract. I’ve always thought socialist magazine The New Masses, again and again to achieve the right of El Greco as a great caricaturist, before deciding to travel to Paris to effect. Once the drawing has been also Picasso, Modigliani and Matisse. soak up some artistic inspiration. reproduced and reduced, this gives It’s pure caricature, the elongated Working as a painter on the left bank the impression of clean lines made in body and hands. I just love El Greco’s he would occasionally rub shoulders one go. Attending the Hirschfeld exaggeration of reality – it never goes with Picasso and Hemingway. In the exhibition last year, it was clear to see overboard. That’s a tendency in gro- 1930s he visited Bali and was in- the intricate positioning of each line. tesque caricature, but I’ve never spired by the tradition of line draw- He eventually found a great economy found it terribly exciting.” ings he saw there. This would have a of line in his work, with foreheads Al Hirschfeld worked solidly up till great effect on his work. and cheeks swooping round to form a his death at the age of 99. He is sur- Returning to the US he began to nose, and shoulders and folded arms vived by his daughter Nina who made produce caricatures for The New York that become huge bow-ties. more appearances in his work than Times based on the other great love of Over the years his reputation grew any actor. Look carefully – she is his life – theatre. Smuggling in a and expanded, until he was held in there! small notebook in his pocket he great affection by both the cartoonists would rough out caricatures of the and the theatricals. He has produced actors with a pencil, still concealed in set designs for some of the produc- his pocket. It is said of Hirschfeld that tions he has covered, and there have

Clockwise from right: Ira and George Gershwin, Sophia Loren and W.C. Fields. But can you spot Nina?

7 THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Sale of the (last) century Cartoons in advertising are not what they were, says Steve Willis, following up his recent club talk, but perhaps there could yet be a return to form MY RECENT talk at The Cartoonist verts by some of our best cartoonists – pub (see last Jester) certainly brought Giles for Fisons, John Gilroy for back some happy memories. I had Guinness and Ronald Searle for intended to show how cartoons were Lemon Hart Rum, to name but a few. alive and well in advertising these What was most interesting to me days. But when I looked for current though was the discussion that fol- examples of the art I failed dismally. lowed. It was quite apparent that I was Most ads are created by youngish not alone in thinking that cartooned creative teams. Unsurprisingly they ads were exceptionally visible and prefer to use modern techniques that memorable. are largely computer-influenced. Do they do a better job than some of That’s not necessarily a bad thing the computer-induced images we’re overall but it does mean cartooning fed today? I believe so, and so did has become less of an influence in others. A case in point has to be the modern advertising. CCGB’s own Paul Baker with his The good news was that I was able to caricatures for the range of Jonathan flesh out my presentation by showing Crisp potato snacks – an all too rare plenty of examples from the past. How example of cartooning working well in marvellous it was to hear an audience advertising today. in full spontaneous voice singing All of which leads me to pose one “Murray Mints! Murray Mints! Too- question: can more advertising agency good-to-hurry mints!” as memories of art directors be influenced away from Britiain’s first ever animated TV the Mac and back towards using car- commercial came flooding back from toons as a medium? Of course, raising the 1950s. the question is rather easier than of- It was good too to see the positive fering answers. Guinness is, of course, good for you reaction as I showed some great ad- Any thoughts, readers? – a message promoted by John Gilroy

Right: a rum old job for Ronald Searle. Far right: Giles was no doubt as happy as a pig in, er, Fisons with this job

8 THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Board to tears In the first of a new column written by members of the Australian Cartoonists Association, Steve Panozzo talks all-rounders

AS I WAS trying, vainly, to come up with a single idea for my “big board” cartoon in Shrewsbury in April, I was reflecting on how inept I was at gag cartoons. This point of view was reinforced by the comment of one old gent who shuffled up next to me in the town square saying, to no one in particular, “It’s not that funny up close.” Coming to such a realisation in the full glare of public scru- Sick tiny is an intimidating experi- jokes ence, but being the good Aussie “And if you had any talent you'd be foot-soldier that I am, I stood an art critic – like me.” my ground. Then, with a whirl of stolen acrylic, produced a rather photographs as gifts, and others drawn crap cartoon. And I realised why – I on-the-spot at corporate events. was amongst greatness. I’m not one to On-the-spot caricatures have taken off piss in anyone’s pocket, but Britain is big-time in Australia. In the last week, home to the greatest gag cartoonists in I’ve drawn at two corporate gigs, a the world. 60th birthday and I’m booked for two In the United States, the situation is weddings next month. My diary is very different. America is the ancestral punctuated with event bookings until home of the comic strip. You can’t next February. shake hands with another cartoonist in This strange form of cartooning, the the States without the second line of “performance caricature”, means that greeting consisting of, “Which syndi- I’m often working alongside magi- cate are you with?” cians, singers, stilt-walkers and con- This leads me to wonder: is there tortionists. It can be a novel way of anything that sets Australian cartoon- picking up new skills, such as psy- ing apart from the rest of the world? chiatry, relationship counselling, con- Sure, we have the oft-noted “laconic” flict resolution and stand-up comedy. sense of humour. I guess we can be Which also means taking out public characterised as being pretty good all- liability insurance. rounders. Unlike in the US or Britain, I’m not sure how prevalent the “live” we don’t have the population to sus- caricature situation is in the UK. But tain ourselves in only one field of car- the extent to which my workload is tooning. There are a few exceptions, increasing probably says as much but the general rule is based on the fact about Australian corporate culture and that we don’t have the population to its lack of discernment as it does about support an effective syndicate net- cartooning trends. work. Without a contract or full-time Fortunately, it saves me from making employment at a newspaper, it is very a goose of myself trying to draw gag tough to survive with only one or two cartoons on big boards in town squares strings to your bow. ... until next April. Lucky me. So the freelancer has to pretty much be a jack-of-all-trades. For example, Steve Panozzo, formerly a cartoonist although my strength is caricature, gag with The Australian and The Daily cartoons and humorous illustrations Telegraph in Sydney, also served as for the corporate market make up a president of the ACA for four years. fair percentage of my workload. Half He now works freelance. NHS Very Direct of my caricatures are drawn from www.noz.com.au

9 THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Fellows of infinite jest* DUE to dodgy weather, CCGB Q: How many candles do you have members were forced to to light to illuminate a table for 11 spend most of their time in the in a shed at the back of the Rose and Crown before they put the pub during their visit to lights on? Stratford – mainly the Windmill A: 10 Inn, favourite haunt of one of Britain’s best-loved Q: How does Mike feel about cartoonists, the late Terence staying at a place that is very close to the biker festival? Parkes, aka Larry. Undeterred A: It’s all part of Life’s Rich Pageant. by the fact that a load of bikers decided to descend on A great time was had by all and the Stratford at the same time, Stratford 2006 Windmill seem to want to adopt us. They had laid on breakfast for the much solving of Life’s Big Q: Was that a gay club we passed Questions ensued, says bikers; none turned up, they got us last night? instead. They said they’d do break- organiser Richard Tomes … A: No Mike, that was the backstage fasts just for us if we plan on going area of the Courtyard Theatre and again. We left feeling very appreci- those people were actors. ated indeed. Appreciation – therapy Q: Is Graham Fowell capable of for cartoonists by the bucket load. sitting quietly for an evening in the Q: What do you get if you combine Roll on next year (with bacon, egg, Windmill and resisting the urge to a CCGB do with a biker festival? toast, fried bread, two sausages etc ..) caricature everything that moves A: Thousands of the world’s best or sits still? caricature subjects going far too From Tim and Nikki Harries: A: No. fast to do. Cheers to Richard and Emma for an excellent weekend. We arrived on Friday evening and after mistaking half of the “Bulldog Bash” bikers for Graham (it was the impressive moustaches), eventually found him and Jill safely ensconced in the Windmill Inn. Joined later by Richard

John Stilgoe points out that somebody has left the pub without being caricatured by Graham Fowell. Below: a gallery of Graham’s victims

The Jester, Stratford style * Hamlet, Act 5, Sc. 1 (adapted a bit!) 10 THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK and Emma, and John Stilgoe, we drank and chatted into the night, as Graham caricatured the bar staff to their great delight. The free beers were flying about! Saturday saw more arrivals – Mike Turner, Alex Hughes, and Gary and Christine Smith. After wandering around Stratford admiring the strange mix of Shakespeare and very large bikes, we headed back to the Wind- mill for more chatting, drawing and drinking, and then on to another venue for a meal, where Mike impressed us all with his sophisticated ways by ordering a starter. Is there no end to the decadence? A good time was had by all, and it Richard provides a cartoon masterclass for, l-r, Alex Hughes, Emma, Mike was certainly nice to meet new mem- Turner, John Stilgoe, Gary and Christine Smith, and Nikki Harries bers. Here’s hoping we see even more next year.

Mike Turner: Stratford town was awash with bikers and cartoonists! Thanks to Rich and Emma for getting it together. Trying to cross the road, however, when 2,000 single-file mo- torbikes are coming along is no joke.

Gary and Christine Smith: Just a note to say how much we enjoyed meeting everyone at Stratford. Mike you had us in stitches. Tim Harries couldn’t stop drawing (I got a Tharries original!) The “wicked” caricatures by Graham Fowell ... all thrown in with the “Bulldog Bash” biker’s weekend and a nice meal made it a crackin’ day out. Cheers everyone. Richard Tomes: “I would give Gary Smith: “Drink, sir, is a provoker all my fame for a pot of ale.” of three things – nose painting, sleep Graham Fowell and Jill Kearney: It Henry V, Act 3, Sc. 2 and urine.” Macbeth, Act 2, Sc. 3 was great to meet up with folks you don’t normally get to meet up with. Will the Windmill ever recover? Huge thanks to Richard and Emma for organising a great weekend, and here’s to the next one.

John Stilgoe: Great company, time to talk and even better time to listen to the great stories of adventures past, I never realised that the club was so old and that visiting Stratford was returning to our roots. How Graham drew so well on so much free fuel had to be seen to be believed, a true pro- fessional. I even got to sit where Larry sat, one of my all-time heroes. Thanks to those who made it possible, here’s looking forward to the next one.

Pics: Tim Harries “Good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used.” Othello, Act 2, Sc. 3

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We could hardly have “health” as a theme without the view from the inside (see below) courtesy of the CCGB’s cartooning nurse Sue Burleigh ...

"Getting beaten up by a nun is NOT an Act of God?"

“It’s not a watch you need mate, it’s a bloody calendar.”

“The armour seems to be quite free, sire, it must be “Doctor, I’ve got that thrush problem again.” a touch of rheumatism.”

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“The ‘M’ is just a smidgen too close to the’P’.” “Your health, Mr Reece? I can honestly say that I’ve found no trace of it.” Healthy Hilarity!

"We are what we eat – cut down on the bacon rolls." “Bad news I’m afraid, Mr Wilde – you’re an incurable romantic.”

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Clive Collins

NEVER one to knowingly be outside into line with modern-day, up-to-the mal accompaniment to the evening air the circle of contemporary thinking, minute EU thinking. Wave power in our lounge, and if I didn’t receive a unless I happen to be in the toilet at comes to mind, though I’m not keen minor shock, then something was the time, my thoughts wander this on letting the wild and wet ocean seriously wrong. month, like a drunk holding a key forces of the Thames Estuary come I’m flummoxed. I don’t even dare over a keyhole, to alternative sources into direct contact with my Mac. The go down the nuclear route, there’s of energy. “Big subject,” I hear those steam was bad enough when I enough things glowing in the dark of you who are still reading cry. Well accidentally tipped a litre of Highland around here without filtering Sizewell if it can exercise the minds of Great Spring over it, and there’s still an B through my system. I can see I’m Thinkers like Tony Blair then why unpleasantly strong smell of going to have to get help from Mac not? overheated wiring when I turn the Warehouse – they’ll be bound to So I’m sitting here pondering on the machine on. know what’s the best way of getting possibilities of converting my com- My dad, who was a force to be reck- me into the Energy Commission’s puter to wind power. Not easy. There oned with when it came to knowing good books – they must get enquiries don’t seem to be any USB ports into absolutely nothing, used to construct like mine all the time. which I can stuff the thicker end of a elaborate Christmas trees of brown three-bladed windmill, and I suspect two-pin fittings, that not so much PERSONAL Health & Safety note: that the vibration would make the plugged into sockets, as hung from Our local Taxi Licensing Authority, drawing of fine lines just the other them. Whenever I got a mild, finger- like many others, is replacing its side of impossible. shuddering shock from these installa- regular black cabs with larger ones I tried cutting a solar panel in the tions – which was every time I went that can accommodate wheelchairs. back of my G3, only to sustain burns to use the radio (or wireless as we The problem is that the floor of these that kept my local Outpatients laugh- called it way back then) – he’d puff new cabs is higher than previously, ing for some months to come. So on his pipe, and respond to my and the driver doesn’t lower the steps what to do? WHAT to DO? whingeing, youthful complaint, with, unless you’re, er, in a wheelchair. I always try to do my bit when it “That means we’ve got power, so So this week I became just one comes to buzzwords like “alternative everything’s OK.” of many sober, able-bodied cartoon- sources of energy”, mind you I don’t In fact I grew up assuming that the ists to trip and fall into a disabled- altogether like the dangerous idea of smell of warm electricity was a nor- access cab. cutting a further access hole in the machine in order to deliver the flatu- lence incurred while on a veggie diet. It’s undignified, and it could make a lonely job even lonelier. Now that the Hidden Cameras That Are Everywhere record our every move, how long before a red warning sign flashes up on my screen inform- ing me that “you are using too much energy, switch to some alternative source”. I’ll digress here and tell you about the aforementioned Hidden Cameras, just in case you’re wondering about dangerous self-adjustments to my medication: my lady wife has long scoffed at my sincerely held belief that our every moves are being seen and piped through to some lonely sod in a dimly lit room. She, of course, considers me completely ga-ga and snorts loudly. So how is it then, that when I lock up at night and turn off the outside lights, I hear a small voice say, as if through a megaphone, the words “cut and print!” Right? I rest my case. So, back to energy and my desire to bring myself 14 THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK More coffee, Neil? Liverpool Lawrence Goldsmith talks to Supermodels creator Neil Kerber draw

Who were your early influences and VISITORS to Liverpool fortunate which current cartoonists do you enough to take refuge from the admire? heatwave this summer will have had I grew up loving Gary Larson’s The the opportunity to visit the city’s Far Side, he was my main influence. second cartoon festival at the Royal Also Mordillo, and Don Martin of Court Theatre. Mad. I also greatly admire the draw- Thanks to the efforts of Paul ings of Edward Gorey and Ronald Hardman, Bill Stott and John Searle. Last but not least, I have al- Roberts, the city saw a fine ways been a massive Simpsons fan. exhibition of gags, illustrations and caricatures go on display from July How did you get started out as a 13 as a part of the Liverpool cartoonist? Comedy Festival. I always used to doodle over books The show at the theatre’s huge and and desks at school, but never thought recently refurbished subterranean of it as a career. One day, whilst bar showcased more than 100 pieces working for a family friend up in from 34 contributing cartoonists Hatton Garden, I started drawing some working on the theme of gags. I took them to the then Mirror Neil Kerber: caffeine fiend “Performance”. building which was very close by, and And it was so good that once the a regular strip in the Sunday People up coffee, send out roughs, coffee, management saw it, they decided to started. It’s been downhill ever since. draw out finished artwork, coffee, extend its run from two to four coffee, coffee, make love to the wife, weeks. You write a lot a material with coffee, bed, coffee. It’s the second time that the North your colleague Adrian Black. How West Three have battled though the did you start working together and How do you see the future of city’s bureaucracy and managed to how does the writer/artist cartooning as digital media snaffle enough cash to get a selling relationship work? becomes more important? show put on during the comedy Firstly, he’s called David Black, not Absolutely no idea. I just want to keep festival. Adrian (where did this come from?). coming up with great ideas and hoping At the opening night bash, it was We were brought up on the same there’ll always be room for me common consent was that this year’s street, so have known each other for somewhere. venue was a significant ever. We started working together improvement on the entrance hall of about 12 years ago, I still do a lot of Has anybody been offended by your the Liverpool Echo, which had the my own work (Private Eye/ caricature of them (Arsene Wenger luck to launch the idea last year. Independent etc) but we enjoy getting as a turkey springs to mind) ? The organisers hope to continue the together and producing great things. No. Not to my knowledge. Most of habit in 2007 and remain focused on We both write and we both draw (he my cartoons are actually quite flatter- attempting to liberate further money can draw in my style). ing. You should see what they look from the resources swilling around like in real life! in the European Capital of Culture Describe your working week pot. The city aims to be Europe’s Up early, coffee, think of jokes, coffee, Any advice to aspiring cartoonists? premier cultural destination in 2008. draw some out, coffee, phone people NEVER NEVER NEVER give up! More money would allow a variety of cartoon events to be run. And this year, John, Bill and Paul did branch out into a bit of al fresco, large-scale, big-board drawing – to show willing and to help demonstrate to their sponsors how things could be enlarged and improved next year. Also at the opening night soiree with the three organisers were: Clive Collins, Paul Baker, Steve Best, Roger Penwill and myself. It was jolly good fun (Hic). Matt Buck

15 THE JESTER ISSUE 389 – SEPTEMBER 2006 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Notes from the North

MY LONG-TIME friend Frank McDiarmid (of , Cheeky, Crusher etc. fame) phoned me up asking me to help him out. He had been approached by a local gala day committee to judge the fancy dress competition, as it was on a “comic characters” theme. He wanted me to be a fellow judge. I thought, “Why not? There will probably be a dozen kids dressed up as Minnie the Minx and Dennis the Menace.” We turned up on the day, in glorious sunshine, to find a very good turnout. We were joined by a lady judge and were expected to judge eight huge floats, full of competing organisations. We had Roy of the Rovers, the Flintstones, , and an assortment of comic characters from Dennis to Superman, Beryl the Peril to Wonder Woman. lifetime in the business. He did his “translated” for the English editions. Surprisingly, we agreed quite readily first cartoon in 1934 for the Glasgow More recently, Ewan Bain (Angus Og on the winners. So that would be that, Evening News, when he was a com- in the Record) and Malky McCor- we thought. But no, the organisers mercial traveller for a biscuit com- mick (The Big Yin) carried on the use had us down as the official judges for pany. He was a professional athlete of local dialect. the whole programme – everything and became a PT instructor in the Sadly, the use of Scottish captions from Miss Gala Princess to Glamor- RAF during the war. He worked on has all but died out, although the ous Grannies, Bonny Babies to Braw and then became the CCGB’s own Jim Towle keeps the Lads! The biggest surprise came in main cartoonist on The Sunday Mail, flag flying with his cartoons in Scot- the Knobbly Knees contest. Half a providing cartoons and two strips – tish Memories magazine. dozen guys lined up, rolling up their The Macs and The Macallums. trouser legs to show off their knees – Gall joined the Glasgow Evening INTERESTINGLY, the topic of Scot- except one who dropped his trousers. Times in 1955, taking over from Bud tish dialect has come up in the news Luckily he had clean underpants on. Neill (wo had left to join the Daily as I write. A German girl, Anne Hoyer He got the lady judge’s vote anyway. Record) and provided a daily topical of Heidelberg, made our national strip The things you do in the name of cartoon until he retired. Gall had two the subject of her PhD. cartooning! albums of his cartoons published in Anne first came across our Sunday the late 1980s – The Sheer Gall of It Post hero when she lived in THE doyen of Scottish cartooning, and Gall in a Day’s Work. Both were as a student and became a fan, even- Willie Gall, retired recently after a highly successful. He worked from tually understanding the Scottish his home in Rothesay, on the Isle of words in the strip. Bute, sending his work in by post, the Amazingly, she made an analysis of office having a few “timeless” car- the language, using a computer to toons on hand should the post let him record the Scottish words. Her con- down. clusion was that the dialect was in Willie used the West Coast dialogue decline and such words as “jings” in his captions, as did many cartoon- were fading out. On TV David Don- ists of the time, such as his contempo- aldson, who edits the strips, claimed raries on the Citizen, Jimmy Malcolm in response that the Scottishness of and Jack Lindsay, Harry Smith at the the strip would continue as usual. Evening News, and the greatest expo- All this word analysis is one thing, nent of the genre, Bud Neill at the but the scripts are meaningless Record. cartoonists without the brilliant transformation also had distinctly Scottish dialect into expressive pictures by the captions. Macdonald, Mal and Gra- cartoonist. One final thought … what ham, in his Wee Huckie strip, all used is the German for “Jings, crivvens, the vernacular to great effect. I be- help ma boab”? lieve some of the captions were Bill Ritchie

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A rough model of the planned Andy Capp statue, (see page three) by Jane Robbins. Sheba Cassini coordinated a get-together for caricaturists at the Eversley Pic courtesy BBC Cross pub in darkest Hampshire, which is owned by caricaturist Sara- Louise and her husband Mark. Note Sheba (cowboy hat, sunglasses) and hubby Simon (Spidey T-shirt) in standard “Wahey! There’s a camera!” pose. Everyone else was too shy, apparently. Jed Pascoe

Above: from a guide to pubs near the law courts in The Times Law Supplement. Thanks to Tom Power, landlord of The Cartoonist, for submitting the cutting. From The Guardian Weekend magazine, August 12. Hands up, who’d rather have the vintage comics intact?

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later, the third photograph arrived and it looked noth- ing like the first two. How- ever, I got to work on it. I showed my caricature to the studio staff, and as usual they agreed that I had done a good job. It looked like the man in the photo, and won- I WAS working exclusively for British der of wonders, my client confirmed Telecom as company cartoonist/ that I had at last captured the subject’s caricaturist, and Display Manager. One present appearance. When I informed Potted Minutes from of my duties entailed the production of him that the first two photographs CCGB committee meeting caricatures to order, of senior retiring looked like photos of two different of August 1, 2006 staff. On one occasion, a photograph people I was told, apologetically, that was sent to me with a request for a all three photographs had been taken at Present: Clive Collins, Les caricature of the gentleman featured, ten year intervals! who was about to retire. I must say, a caterpillar has nothing Barton, Terry Chjristien, Royston I completed the caricature and on the metamorphosis that this retiring Robertson, Mike Turner, Helen showed it with the reference photo- senior official had undergone in 30 Martin. graph to 60 staff members of the stu- years except that his transformation dio. Having received their unanimous was in reverse i.e. from what looked Apologies: Anne Boyd, Neil approbation, I forwarded the caricature like a handsome butterfly into some- Dishington, Derek Quint. to my client. Imagine my embarrass- what of a caterpillar. ment when he complained that the Rex Juriansz caricature looked nothing like “the real Matters arising: 50th thing”. I requested a second and more anniversary bash – high-interest recent photograph. Once again my I WAS just starting out in cartooning account looked into. Some critics approved of my achievement, and was meeting a prospective client concern over tax implications. and I forwarded the second caricature for the first time in a pub. It was going Anne to be asked for current to my client. He was sorely disap- well, I was definitely impressing him balance sheet; Olympics – pointed, and I just could not under- and, thus relaxed, drink in hand, I con- members to be asked at some stand why. tinued to expand on my ideas, leaning point to produce cartoons for a A trifle annoyed, I asked him for a back in my chair as I did so. Except I website gallery and/or The third photograph and requested that it was sitting on a stool. It was one of Jester. Cartoons could be be one of the gentleman in question those moments when everything hap- exactly as he looked at present. Fortu- pens in slow motion and I was aware perused by Olympic committee. nately, my client advised me, a photo- of every head in the crowded pub graph had been taken a fortnight pre- turned my way as I descended, back- Jester: Our counterparts in the viously by a press photographer. He wards, feet in the air, to the floor. I Australian Cartoonists said he would endeavour to have a didn’t get the job. Association are to write regular copy of it sent to me. A couple of days Noel Ford columns for the newsletter, beginning in the Sept issue.

New Members: Chichi Parish and Cameroon cartoonist Moukolo Monny Alain Guy were accepted.

Any other business: The committee had a final “tweak” of Mike Turner’s “Have Your Say” questionnaire. This will now be included in the next Jester, along with an SAE; The idea of having the next AGM on a Friday instead of a Tuesday was suggested by Mike Turner and discussed. Concerns over venue hire costs. Meeting wrapped at 7.22pm

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A word from the Editor THE DEADLINE This past month I have been mostly Did I have any waiting for me that I raging against technology. I found didn’t know about, I wondered. Also, IS THE 12th OF myself unable to pick up my emails many of my regular clients commu- for a couple of days – the problem nicate by email. Did they have any being a power “outage” at my cartoon jobs for me? I could hardly EVERY MONTH internet service provider. phone all of them on the off-chance. When did the Great British Things then went from bad to Powercut become lumbered with the worse. I started having internet American term outage, by the way? connection problems, so not only It looks too much like outrage to me could I not get emails, I could not – though that would have been quite even connect to the web. At one applicable in this case as I found point, even the telephone helpline myself banging my head on the wall was “temporarily out of order”. They in frustration as I realised just how were, of course, sorry for the much I now rely on this technology. inconvenience. That’s OK then. Contributions via email: Far too much. Of course, it was sorted out [email protected] Out-of-the-blue emails can be a eventually, but it was worrying. Still, good source of commissions for me. never mind, I did exact some Contributions via post: revenge on technology when my The Jester printer, which has been threatening to c/o Royston Robertson breathe its last for two years, finally 20 Upton Road gave up and died. Broadstairs It gave me the chance to carry out a Kent CT10 2AS long-cherished fantasy in the back Tel: 01843-871 241 yard (see left) – a very cathartic experience. All articles and cartoons Royston Robertson welcomed (especially for the Smash the technology! Kill! Kill! front and back covers)

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, Cifs or Pifs please!

REMINDER: the next two Many thanks to all who sent in cartoons on the theme of health. And thanks also to members that have sent in “general” gags – if they’ve not club meetings are yet appeared, fret not. I’ll be hanging on to them to fill niggling gaps in September 5 (with a talk by future editions! Next month’s theme will be: WORK Royston Robertson on his

journalistic “career”, see s Bill Ritchie Bill s

Jesterquiz solution it’ crivvens, and/or Jings page 3) and October 3 (Jed Stone’s audio movie Membership enquiries to: Jed Stone (Secretary), 7 Gambetta quiz) at The Cartoonist pub, Street, Battersea, London, SW8 3TS. Tel: 020-7720 1884 Shoe Lane, London. Email: [email protected] Subscription enquiries to: Anne Boyd (Treasurer), 7 Gambetta Street, Battersea, London, SW8 3TS. Tel: 020-7720 1884 Committee: 5.30pm Website enquiries to: Ian Ellery, 25 Nelson Road, Hastings TN34 Members: 7pm BRX. Tel: 01424-718 209. Email: [email protected]

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“Your cartoon book has had a review – ‘Now in paperback, avoidable in all good bookshops’.”

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