It started accidentally at a church or school jumble sale. I must have been about 13, maybe younger. Rummaging through the books I spotted a tatty paperback with the Saint stick man on the cover. When I was much younger I’d loved ‘The Return of the Saint’ TV show but only, to be honest, because … More Me and the Saint - Relics 10
They don’t make them like this anymore. This was the photo from my first year in my hall of residence, Hiatt Baker, at Bristol University. It now looks like it’s from the 1940s but just to prove it actually dates from the late 1980s, here’s a close-up. Even I had hair in those days.
This must be one of my favourite inscriptions in a book. I’m sure you can read what it says, but just in case it reads: For Adrian, Shame about the name! Adrian Edmondson It came about because I’d interviewed Adrian Edmonson back in the mid-1990s when he was promoting his first and, so far only, … More Relics 8: signed Adrian Edmonson novel
These are amongst the relics which exist in photo form only. I had to clear out vast piles of newspapers and magazines which was creating far too much pressure on the joists of my attic and for those I was ruthless with, I took photos to remember them. George magazine was an extraordinary thing: published … More Relics 7: George Magazine
I dug this out after Christmas because I was feeling nostalgic. I don’t remember if it was a present or came from the school book clubs we used to order books from. I must have been 9 or 10 when I read it and I must have wanted to see the film (which I … More Relics 6: Watership Down by Richard Adams
One of the strangest concerts I’ve ever seen: William Walton’s ‘Façade’ performed in a converted church in Bristol. The Edith Sitwell role was taken by Walton’s widow Susana accompanied by the first British TV newsreader Richard Baker. We sat in the gallery of St. George’s which made it quite hard to hear the words declaimed … More Relics 5: ‘Façade’ ticket
This was one of numerous newspaper cuttings I found in the attic clearout. It’s from the Western Mail and the colour of the paper suggests it was in a business supplement it used to publish. I don’t know the date, but the building we’re inspecting - Queen’s Arcade in Cardiff - opened in April 1994 … More Relics 4: Western Mail cutting with John Redwood
There’s been a lot of coverage today about the supposed possibility that the Dandy could close before its 75th birthday. I wouldn’t worry too much: we’ve been here before with DC Thompson’s publicity stunts - remember when Dennis the Menace was going to wear a shell suit instead of his striped jumper? And sad as … More Relics 3: Whoopee and Buster comics
It seems very timely to dig this out, given that I’ve just seen Elizabeth Fraser perform live for the first time in nearly two decades. More than two decades ago I saw her for the first time and bought this. The gig was at Bristol Studio. It was October 1990 and this was the Heaven … More Relics 2: Cocteau Twins Poster
If you bother with me on twitter, you’ll know that at the beginning of the year I cleared out my attic. It was a long and painful experience which confronted me with my hoarding ways. Determined to hoard no longer, I gave away or recycled most of the newspapers, magazines and bric-a-brac which had been … More Relics 1: Editing Kit
