Will Dundee Get A Real Bash Street?

(Updated 11/12/12): Class 2B of Bash Street School, otherwise known as The Bash Street Kids, have been entertaining us in The Beano since the strip first appeared under its original title of When The Bell Rings in the issue dated 13 February 1954. Beano editor George Moonie was inspired by the antics of the children of the High School Of Dundee, the playground of which could be seen from the windows of the Beano office, and he passed the idea to artist Leo Baxendale whose imagination did the rest.

The street and school as seen in the comic do not exist in reality in Dundee but with the major redevelopment work that is going on in the city at the moment the opportunity has arisen to name a new street and the proposal that will be going in front of Dundee City Council is that it should be called Bash Street.

The consultation letter from Dundee City Council's Street Naming and Numbering Team states: "There is a proposal for a children's soft play area withinthe former works buildings off West Marketgait. As part of this development DC Thomson is in discussions with a local developer re licensing the Beano IP within thebranded children’s soft play centre. Planning consent has been granted for thesoft play centre.

"The Bash Street Kids will feature heavily in the new centrealongside Dennis the Menace, Gnasher, Minnie the Minx, Roger the Dodgerand The Beano logo. Dundee City Council has received a request from DCThomson to allocate the name Bash Street to the street adjacent to 142/144 WestMarketgait which currently has no name. This is to tie-in with the proposed newbuild and to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of The Beano in 2013 in the comic’s hometown."

The as yet unnamed new street is beside a Travelodge hotel off West Marketgait and between the West Port Roundabout and Guthrie Street where DC Thomson used to have their printing works. Indeed the area is only a short walk from DC Thomson's Courier Building and the High School Of Dundee itself.

At the moment the name is at the proposal stage however Councillor Fraser MacPherson, who represents the area in the city council, has stated on his blog, "I think this is a superb proposal." He goes on to say, "Dundee having its very own Bash Street seems very appropriate and I'm very pleased that Bash Street will be in the West End Ward!"

There are more details of the High School Of Dundee's connection with The Bash Street Kids over on Bear Alley.


Update, 11th December 2012: The BBC reports Dundee Council has now approved these plans. See: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-20672645

Truffle Shuffle launches Thunderbirds t-shirt range

Truffle Shuffle and Peter Black Footwear and Accessories have recently launched Thunderbirds lines either directly or in partnership with retailers.

Truffle Shuffle's "Classic Thunderbirds" inspired line of T-shirts for men and women, and sweaters for men, all featuring various characters from the series. The products are available now exclusively online from www.truffleshuffle.com and include Lady Penelope, Parker and Brains t-shirts and a Virgil Tracy Thunderbirds fancy dress costume.

Peter Black Footwear and Accessories, who also hold licenses for Marvel-related products, Wallace & Gromit and Top Gear, has released a limited edition gift line for men, exclusive to Marks & Spencer, including sound key chains, wash bags, mugs and egg cup sets.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment, which licenses Thunderbirds, is apparently in discussion with a number of other potential licensees as it grows the licensing program for the Classic Thunderbirds brand.

What's intriguing us of course is that the franchise is being defined as "Classic Thunderbirds", suggesting a "New Thunderbirds" is still on its way...

 

Gosh London's 'Phoenix Activity Day' kicks off at 1.00pm today

Back on Free Comic Book Day, Gosh Comics in London got a bunch of artists to come in with their pencil cases, draw all over their windows then sit down at the big Gosh! table and drew cartoons with kids all day. Sarah McIntyre (Vern & Lettuce) was one of those amazing pen-wielders and has some pictures over at her blog.

If you missed it, then never fear, because today (Saturday 3rd November) Gosh are doing it again, this time to promote stellar weekly kids’ mag The Phoenix.

If you’re yet to pick up a copy of The Phoenix, Gosh urge you do so so forthwith for the benefit of your wee one, especially if you’re still mourning the loss of the much-loved DFC. "As they say on their website, it’s aimed at 8 to 11 year olds but they’ve got fans as young as three and I’ve seen dudes in suits buying it for themselves," a Gosh spokesperson declares on the fab shop's blog. It’s full of weekly strips, long-running stories, one-off strips, competitions and all sorts, by the likes of Jamie Smart, Dave Shelton, Nick Abadzis, Kate Brown, Simone Lia, Chris Riddell and more, for £2.99 a pop."

this afternoon frm 1.00pm, Gosh Londn play host to three Phoenix artists – Neill Cameron, Lorenzo Etherington and Gary Northfield who will be there to agan plaster the shop's windows in cartoons and ink.

If you’re aged between 6 and 13, come on down and draw some stuff with people who get to draw stuff as their actual job. It’s free! And you can ask them how to be a cartoonist. They’re captive and have to be nice to you.

• Gosh London is at www.goshlndon.com online

 

Largo Winch Artist Philippe Francq Signing In London

Belgian artist Philippe Francq, best known in the UK for his Largo Winch series with writer Jean Van Hamme published by Cinebook, will be doing a signing in London later in the month.

The French Bookshop in South Kensington, who had a signing event with Jean Van Hamme in 2010, will be hosting Philippe for a signing on Saturday 24 November 2012 from 1130 to 1300. He will be signing the latest French Largo Winch hardback, Colere Rouge, which is the recently released 18th book in the series and the second part of the story begun in Mer Noire. Neither of these latest two Largo Winch books have been translated into English by Cinebook.

There are more details of the signing at The French Bookshop's website.

Largo Winch reviews on downthetubes:

• See Venice... / ...And Die
• Golden Gate / Shadow
• The Price Of Money / The Law Of The Dollar