RED NOSE DAY

Friday 18th March 2011 was ‘Red Nose Day’, being the biennial telethon highlight of the charity Comic Relief. Originally it was set up in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and the comedian Lenny Henry in response to the famine in Ethiopia, and whose stated aim is to “bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of poor and disadvantaged people, which we believe requires investing in work that addresses people's immediate needs as well as tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice”. http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us

One of the fundamental principles of the charity is where every single donated pound (£) is spent on charitable projects. All the operating costs, such as staff salaries etc., are covered by corporate sponsors, or by the interest earned on the money donated, while it is waiting to be distributed. Since it’s inception in the 1980’s over £650 Million has been raised. Each year the style of the ‘Red Noses’ change and in 2011, for the first time, there were three different types available. Charles Grave (1886-1944) cartoon below draws attention to another form of Red Nose.

Transcript below:

 
LONG-SUFFERING VICAR: (to teller of plausible tale). "I'd no idea that the lack of the train-fare to Leighton Buzzard could have such an extraordinary effect upon the nose."

ALL AT SEA

With the recent ‘Whalers Reunion’ having taken place in Shetland, the links between the islands and the sea were once again highlighted. The Whaling industry in the Southern Atlantic was a dangerous occupation starting in the early 1900’s and a lot of men left Shetland to take part in this right up until it ceased around 1963. Seafaring was the life of many a local man, and this cartoon by Charles Grave (1886-1944) maybe echoes a scene remembered by those in the Merchant Navy.

Transcript below:

"This is a ruddy fine game 'olystonin' the decks at one o'clock in the mornin'."

"You ain't got the right way of lookin' at it. I gets a lot of 'appiness by bangin'

about an' keepin' passengers awake what's paid a 'undred quid for the outin'."



I AM SAILING, I AM SAILING .....

The arrival of the superyacht 'LADY B' in Lerwick Harbour this week, all £10 million pounds worth of aluminium and walnut highlights the continuation of the wealthy to indulge in beautiful pieces of precision marine engineering. The downside of owning anything of such value and beauty, is the tendency to harbour an over zealous protective nature as illustrated by this Charles Grave (1886-1944) cartoon.

Transcript below:

FASTIDIOUS YACHTSMAN: "Can't you find some other part of the river on which to practise your horrible cult of nudism and pickled onions?"

WORLD TRAVEL

The number of Britons indulging in foreign travel in the 1920’s and ‘30’s was small – being confined almost entirely to those wealthy enough to afford the cost and time to travel. In these modern days all that has changed and holidays abroad are a common occurrence. But those early 20th century cartoonists invited you to spend time with them in exotic locations around the world, as well as onboard the main transport of the day, passenger steamers and liners plying their trade across the oceans. Charles Grave (1886-1944) often chose marine travel for his excellent cartoons.

Transcript below:

THE MERCHANT: "But, your 'Ighness, look. Ver' good, ver' real, dam genooine antique!"

THE PASSENGER: "You're wasting your time, Willie. Ah coom from Wolverhampton, where they make them things."

NAVY LARK

In both the ancient and modern world, the tradition of breaking a bottle over the bows of a new ship has very strong ties to religious traditions of blessing and protection. Many ancient cultures had a tradition of sacrificing wine or other liquids (blood, milk, water) to the gods for protection or favour. Champagne became more and more popular throughout the 18th and 19th centuries as a symbol of luxury and richness. As such the ordinary seaman had little chance to sample their delights, as alluded to in this Charles Grave (1886-1944) cartoon.

Transcript below:

BLUEJACKET: “Pull yerself together, ‘Erbert. We licked all the champagne off ‘er bows when she was launched.”