Lestaret*

I think it can be universally agreed that the last couple of years have been a bit, well, testing. There has been much recording of the tragedies of our fellow occupants of Earth, on which I am wholly unqualified to comment, and disinclined to add my own story to this ever growing archive of grief, heroism, sacrifice, corruption and incompetence. Don’t get me started on the last two of those. Add…

Like most of us I’m spending a lot more time at home right now and my thoughts keep turning to my ‘ideal home’ – and like many others I have spent many hours on the web, browsing endless retail sites, falling in love with everything that I cannot afford and cursing at not being able to find what I want. Trying to navigate through frustrating websites developed by teams of crack UX/UI unicorns led…

Go Suck a Zube

Stuck for ideas for the ideal gift for your loved ones this Christmas? While we are in lockdown I thought I’d share some ideas from 1950. Make cheques and Postal orders payable to me.

To be read in the hushed and reverential style of a David Attenborough documentary:

It is late in the year and the threat of frost is almost upon us, but now is the season for freelance designers, fresh and seasoned alike, to preen their feathers and perform the complex and often confusing rituals of courtship that is the annual search for new partners for the forthcoming creative season.

Over…

Still Got Stile…

As we watch NASA and SpaceX launch the Crew Dragon off the planet and marvel at the ingenuity and determination of the human race (while simultaneously despairing of it) I made use of the distraction of our current situation to look at the mission and learn a little more about whats going on.

As I was looking at images of the astronauts Behnken and Hurley I was particularly struck by their…

I was rummaging around last week looking for something else and came across this little gem of ephemera wedged between the pages of a 1970’s Letraset catalogue (I will post images of that here sometime…)

It is part of a set that came with Imperial typewriters during the late 1950’s/early 60’s (I think).

I love the simplicity of the execution of what could have been a real dogs dinner.

This 8×5″…

Fundraising Update – a Christmas Miracle!

The Reverend Otis Driftwood announced that earlier this week, just as the fundraising thermometer had been updated to show that donations have reached the halfway point at just under £80,000, an pledge was made to fund the remaining half meaning that St. Polycarp’s Church will have a new roof in 2020!

The pledge, made by a local person who wished to remain anonymous, has been verified and…

I spent the majority of October feverishly working away on a project which is now starting to appear in some rather swanky places but I thought I’d wait until it was at least the same month as Christmas before sharing it.

Luxury leather goods brand Smythsons of Bond Streetcommissioned some unique displays to promote their seasonal merchandise, and I was asked to produce a series of illustrations…

In a few days here in the UK we will celebrate Guy Fawkes Night (or Bonfire Night); a strange annual custom that originated from a foiled attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 and is currently marked by the lighting of communal bonfires, burning effigies of the hapless conspirator, and the setting off of vast amounts of fireworks. Well, that’s the general concept anyway.

The reality…

I rediscovered a book in my collection that got me thinking and thought I’d share it here. I think it is an elegant example of celebrating a niche area of graphic design that has largely disappeared – bookplates. Little personalised labels that are pasted into books to identify the person, collection or library the whom the book belongs. It seems a little quaint these days, but these originated…

Skinner’s Quality Ice Cream

With the friendly clamour of the electronic bell to the tune of “Popeye the Sailor Man”, the children of Soddenham come tumbling out into the streets to find the pink and cream van coming around the corner, already trailing kids like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn – it’s time for a Skinner’s ice cream!

Oh yes, the summers aren’t complete without a cool creamy dairy treat from the occasionally friendly…

All together now! Who doesn’t love a good sing song! Especially when we’re young! My friend Jon Lawrence (also known as The Music Man!) has just released another collection of original songs for children – with illustrations by yours truly!

Here’s just a little taste of what’s inside…

Published by Eyrie Press, this is the second book by The Music Man, which even comes with a CD with recordings…

WITH ALWYN GAZE

It has often been commented upon that I spend a lot of my time walking in and around the village over the years, without route nor destination, and that I must know every inch of every mile! That well may be, but as I walk amongst our lanes and through our pastures I am often presented with a view not recognised, or scene unfolding amongst my fellow man that forces me to…

St. Polycarps Church, yesterday

The church is still temporarily closed and services have been running on a much reduced frequency, duration and regularity. The new incumbent Rev. Driftwood has been organising fundraising groups and almost every business in the village has a collection jar on the counter, of which he is assiduously collecting the contents daily, as well as accepting donations at…

Reverend Jeanette Blencowe 1968-2019

As we reported in March, after an extraordinary theft of the roof of St. Polycarp’s Church, our vicar of 18 years, the Reverent Jeanette Blencowe was found dead in the Leam beneath Candlesmoke Bridge. The investigation into the theft of the roof and the death of Rev. Blencowe, and their possible connection, has been thorough and surprisingly inconclusive.

Jeanette Blencowe

The inquest following…

In these posts so far we have featured shops and businesses in the heart of the village, but now its time to feature our other main commercial area – The Soddenham Enterprise Zone!

Situated in the south eastern corner of the village on what was the old Savilles Bunsen Burner factory, the zone is now a more modern multi faceted site filled with a wide assortment of businesses of the sort that a…

Rev. Driftwood, yesterday

Our new vicar, The Reverend Otis Driftwood arrived in Soddenham last week without much fanfare it has to be said, as we had not been informed of his arrival. Indeed, It was only after several hours in The Witches Teat did Mr. Driftwood introduce himself formally. After some initial confusion, Mr. Driftwood was offered temporary lodgings at The Teat, as the vicarage is…