Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: All the Prisoners are Protestors

This was the Ban the Bomb era when it was considered smart to get yourself put in prison for your opinions. Pat Arrowsmith is the doyenne of these ‘old lags’. On looking her up I was surprised to see that she was educated at Cheltenham Ladies College and that she had read History at Cambridge. I wonder if she appears in their lists of alumnae? It seems that she has served eleven prison sentences for her political activities.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: Involuntary Bid

The woman-and-mouse joke has a long pedigree.

“Sold to the lady at the back. Where would you like to have it delivered, madam?”

“Right here and please hurry up.!”

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: Being Different

In Victorian times beards were very much admired. Then we noted that Lupin, the son in Diary of a Nobody, was out of step by being beardless. This cartoon suggests that the recipient of the compliment has also struck out against the trend.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: Not a Deserving Cause

This cartoon manages to create a link between World War Two and the then current dispute about nuclear weapons. These WVS ladies in their distinctive green uniforms have been looking for an opportunity to repeat their exploits during the previous war. In this highly fictitious interview the spokesman for the US Air Force would have had to suppress his amusement at the thought that the mighty U S of A was in need of their charity.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: More Hankering for the War

The park keeper (ex NCO I assume) still misses the chain of command that he had experienced during the war. Presumably his temporary staff had learned to stand to attention during their peacetime National Service.

On a pedantic note I see that the cartoonist has missed out on the chance for the park keeper to wear his WW2 medal ribbons on his uniform. (I have a medal myself from my National Service days and I think that I probably know where I last put it.)

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: Already a Problem

I have no idea how many more cars are on the roads today than 66 years ago but it must be a lot. The problem was surely evident then in a relatively small number of places.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: Laid Back Authorities

If the police towed the car away then the HP people would have to pay the fine in order to repossess it.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: Charting the Rise of Consumerism

The cartoon supports the idea that women find it pleasurable to go into shops and buy things. I don’t imagine that Mrs M. is unique in finding it no pleasure at all. Already keen on mail-order she has now discovered the benefits of ordering things she really needs on the internet. Recent events have caused me to follow her example more often than not.

The little girl’s father is clearly worrying about his bank balance. The blissful shopper leaving the store with her purchases appears to have no such concerns.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: She Knows Where He Is

This kind of cynicism anticipates the ‘Sixties’ as we tend to think of them.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1960: In a Time of Moderate Inflation

Today we would tend to say “Bus Conductors! Where have you been all these years?”