‘Christmas Camp’ extract taken from the Courier dated 24th January 1962
An extract about the Durham University Air Squadron holding a Christmas Camp at Royal Air Force station in Ouston, from the 24th January 1962 edition of the Courier.
To find out more about the history of the Courier, visit here.
Click here to view this December article in full. The Courier archive has also been digitised and is available online here.
Illustration from ‘Christmas Tree Land‘ by Mrs Molesworth, 1891, titled ‘See, Rollo,’ cried Maia; ‘see, there is our Christmas tree.’ (Chorley 133)
Illustration taken from ‘Christmas Tree Land’, by Mrs Moleswoth. Illustrated by Walter Crane
‘See, Rollo,’ cried Maia; ‘see, there is our Christmas tree.’
And there it was – the most beautiful they had yet seen – all radiant with light and glistening with every pretty present child-hearted could desire.’ (pg. 221)
The story tells of two children, Rollo and Maia, who arrive in a land of Christmas trees and their adventures in the white castle, the fir-woods, the mysterious cottage and many more.
This book is part of the Sarah Chorley Collection.
‘Skating and Sliding‘ front cover, by J.G. Wood et. al (796.91 WOO)
‘Skating and Sliding‘ by the Reverend J.G. Wood and other writers is an example of the series which also treated such subjects as cricket, manly exercises, fireworks, swimming and conjuring. This particular manual takes learners through the history of skating, putting skates on, how to start from the inside edge and progresses to various skating figures, such as the Dutch Roll and the Figure of Three. It quotes three maxims attributed to renowned skater Robert Ferguson: “Throw fear to the dogs”, “Put on your skates securely” and “Keep your balance”!
Skating and Sliding is from the 19th Century Collection. To read more about this book, click here.
‘King Pantomime at the Playhouses: Four Holiday Pieces’ from Illustrated London News, 1904
Page from Illustrated London News, Vol. 125, 1904 (030 ILL), dated 31st December 1904
The page contains sketches by Ralph Cleaver of costumes for 4 pantomimes. Left to right as follows:
“Red Riding-Hood” at the Coronet Theatre
“Red Riding-Hood” at the King’s Theatre, Hammersmith
“Aladdin” at The Kennington Theatre
“The Forty Thieves” at The Fulham Theatre
Illustrated London News is part of our 20th Century Collection. You can find this volume and other Illustrated London News here.
Honour envelope from letter sent by Thomas Baker Brown to his father on Christmas Day (TBB/1/1/1/1/114-8)
Honour envelope letter sent by Thomas Baker Brown to his father on Christmas Day, dated 25th December 1916.
Thomas Baker Brown, born 22nd December 1896, a soldier who fought in World War I. In December 1915, Thomas Baker Brown was serving in the ‘Clerks Platoon’ for the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers at a training camp at Scarcroft School, York. As a soldier, or “tommy”, training would begin with basic physical fitness, drill, march discipline and essential field craft. Tommies would later specialise in a role and Brown received training in bombing, signalling and musketry. He suffered from poor eyesight and was issued with glasses. After failing to be transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, Brown was placed into the signalling section and later drafted to France alongside his brother George, as part of the 2/6th Northumberland Fusiliers, 32nd Division.
By the 1st August 1916, Brown was moved to the 21st Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish 37th Division) and was sent on his first journey to the front line trenches. Later, in March 1917, Brown was awarded the Military Medal for his ‘heroism’ and ‘bravery’.
In 1918, he was taken prisoner by German soldiers and placed in a prisoner of war camp in Dülmen and later transferred to Limburg.
Find the letter in our collections here. Explore the rest of the Thomas Baker Brown collection here.
‘Winter’ illustration from Kate Greenaway’s 1892 Almanack (030 GRE)
Beautiful Winter illustration taken from Kate Greenaway’s Almanack for 1892 – Engraved by Edmund Evans – Published by G. Routledge & Sons
Catherine Greenaway (1846 – 1901), known as Kate Greenaway, was an English children’s book illustrator and writer. Her most popular books are Under the Window (1879), Kate Greenaway’s Birthday Book for Children (1880), Mother Goose; or, The Old Nursery Rhymes (1881), and A Painting Book (1884).
Her almanacs ran from 1883 up until 1897, with no 1896 issue being published. Each almanacks included a Jan-Dec calendar, beautifully drawn illustrations and short poems. Her almanacs were sold throughout America, England, Germany and France and were produced with different variations and in different languages.
Kate Greenaway’s Almanacks are from the 19th Century Collection. Find her 1892 almanack and others here.