Twickers Grot and Mod Rock from “L” for learners to the grave.
The first two of these photographs featuring students at Twickenham art school in this ‘cradle to grave’ sequence are by Colin Fulcher, AKA Barney Bubbles. A mod fashion statement from a seminal year. It is around the time of that 1961 Twickenham tale about a girl who left school in the movie “An Education” (2009). (For American readers, the L on the auto is, in Britain, a sign that learner drivers sport to show their driving license status.)
The old Morris auto belonged to fellow Twickensian, Roy Burge. Later that same year, when the transmission went kaput, the car was filmed by Fulcher as we set it on fire and it submerged beneath the lake in a disused gravel pit on Hounslow Heath with a whump as the sump exploded and smoky bubbles burst upon the frothing ripples.
The third photograph, shot in the quadrangle by me (David Wills), is of the students, mourning their demise. This graduating class at Twickenham art school was, I think, taken in 1962 (?) or 1963 (will someone please tell me when?).
These photographs have never been published before, the class will now have a jolly souvenir to frame on the mantlepiece.
I should explain that ‘Twickers Grot’ refered to in the headline above, was a hand-drawn typeface used in handwritten notes, on rough layouts or fly-posters, and based loosely on the then overused letterpress typeface ‘Grot 9′ that was the only ‘grotty’ face available in the comp room and used by many students at the time. (I like the term ‘Twickers Grot’, but I have no contemporary example to show here.)
Since no-one has told me the date on these pix yet, or offered help with names (come on guys), I’m still uncertain if that is Pennie Smith, the photographer of note, in the line up, third from left (not counting the dummy) in the first picture with the auto. But it sure looks like her endearing presence. Fifty years on, the memories linger… but not that clearly.
geoff allum, 
R & M, 
‘An Education’ in Mid-Century Mod « 6:09 pm on February 12, 2010 Permalink |
[...] First two photos via David Wills Tells Tales [...]
Ian B 9:02 pm on February 25, 2010 Permalink |
Love these, thanks for sharing…
Edward Field 5:38 pm on May 27, 2010 Permalink |
hello David, we were navigating the Internet and came across the first photo above on your blog. We tried it out as a partial background on a wine label. Do you believe that it would it be possible for us to consider using it? Thank you very much for you consideration and we look forward to hearing from you. Edward Field
Edward Field 2:01 pm on May 28, 2010 Permalink |
hello David, I sent an answer as a reply to your email but I am not sure if it went through. I received an error message. Would it be best if we spoke by phone? Please send me a number best for you. Thank you. Edward
Gordon Crabb 6:18 pm on January 3, 2012 Permalink |
Dear David, the year would have been 1967. Although I don’t seem to be in the photographs it was my year though I can only put names to a few of the faces but it definitely is Penny Smith. I came across your blog whilst Googling Dave Pether who I shared a studio with in Chiswick in the 70s. I would dearly love higher-res versions of the above photographs to jog the memory hopefully.
Best wishes, Gordon Crabb
R & M 12:40 pm on January 4, 2012 Permalink |
Gordon, not sure if David has said, but if you click on the image so it opens in a window of its own, then click again to magnify it, you’ll find it’s a massive image file. Hope this helps.
geoff allum 10:16 pm on January 5, 2012 Permalink |
dear david,how good to see that photo after all these years.yes,that is penny smith,bob wilson(now in canada) is leaning on the left hand side of the car,derek barter is wrestling the girl on the left,i am at the back right, white t.shirt short hair and just in front of me is elizabeth hayle….i might get some more if i look long enough. in the group photo,seemingly taken the same day i am centre picture next to hayley but it’s too small to see much more.i think it was taken about 1963.i left twickenham in’66 and after rowing the atlantic became a creative director of the ad. agency masius where i stayed for 34 years.i’m now ertired and live in east sussex…it would be good to keep in touch.thanks again. yours geoff.