Joining TOM JACKSON to discuss the postcards from their pasts are actor and writer MIRANDA KEELING mirandakeeling.com (The Year I Stopped to Notice) and illustrator and author IAN BECK ianarchiebeck.co.uk (The Light In Suburbia, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road). We discover the eccentric postcard messages of Glynn Boyd Harte, consider a family mystery from 1910, learn how to wear the minimum of clothes, and hear a story of loss inspired by an art postcard. Meringues, paths in the grass, disgruntled cats, dolls houses and sunsets. And a card from Uncle Fester – Wish you were here?
Promotional postcards for Miranda’s book, The Year I Stopped to Notice.
Clovelly Harbour, 23 August, 1970, “SUN HAS JUST APPEARED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. RAINED NON STOP SINCE TUESDAY AND UP TO NOW HAVE ONLY WORN MY SLACKS.”
A Doll’s House c. 1895, York Castle Museum, 9 July, 1984, “It’s quite a walk from town to digs & parking is expensive & scares, so feet are on the hot side when we get back. Its the minimum of clothes. I’ve even donned shorts (long ones!). People were just wandering into river fully clothed today then drying off in no time.”
Ian’s first card from artist Glynn Boyd Harte: Sunset from Brier, Isles of Scilly, with a characteristically wry message.
Miranda’s 1910 postcard of a cat in basket. Family heirloom or something picked up in a junk shop?
Castlerigg Stone Circle, Nr. Keswick, The Lake District, “Thank you For The Directions we Followed them stringently and we are injoying owr Hollyday in North Africa very much. LOTS of nice Photo’s most of which I found in a magazine in a newsAGENTS. LOTS OF LOVE, UNCLE FESTA.
Ian’s second card from Glynn Boyd Harte: The Open Air Theatre, Porthcurno – a strange figure sits enthroned over the rocks…
Miranda’s card of ‘A Line Made by Walking’,1967 by Richard Long. Miranda used the postcard as a prompt for a writing project, and it has acted as a springboard for her novel-in-progress.
North Beach, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, 30 May, 1990, “Just been to phone you, glad I could hear you. I meant to tell you we found the ice cream shop and we both had strawberry boats they were luscious £2.60 each.”
A musical postcard: Mother and Daughter from Ersekcsanad.