The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Election success
“The cartoon which became an institution in the Dundee evening paper prompted a brief comeback by Busy Bella here on the Craigie page,” writes Fraser Elder.
“As a fond fan of the wee busybody I managed to unearth a strip which was published to celebrate the general election on October 25 1951. Here the ghostly images of politicians of the day – Anthony Eden, Winston Churchill (the former Dundee MP) Aneurin Bevan, Clement Attlee and Herbert Morrison – are ‘canvassing’ for our heroine’s benefit in a snap election which was to bring a sensational post-war U-turn at Westminster.
“After their landslide victory in 1945, Labour were deposed by the Tory party with Churchill returning to 10 Downing Street for a second time and consigning Attlee and his party to what would be 13 years in opposition.
“In Dundee, Labour held firm as Tom Cook claimed his first election success in the city’s East constituency. But he tragically died in a road accident in 1952 and was replaced by George Morgan Thomson, later Lord Thomson of Monifieth.” and I was born in the British Military Hospital at Moascar.
“As you can see by the photograph, I also have a similar cigarette case. The one I have has no name on the case but it has a map of Africa on the back.”
Scottish in origin, and the family were unquestionably part of the plantation migration.
“It is reasonable to assume that the Scottish contingent were responsible for the naming of the hills, which would have originally been Irish Gaelic. Whether these Scots were from Perthshire is less obvious, and it is more likely that the song of the same title was the source.
“I visited Bessy Bell hill one morning and found that the slopes were the home of an SSE wind farm! I have since visited the bower beside the River Almond, and the painting is truly a manufactured image.”
River Earn. The officer shouted ‘follow me,’ and waded into the river and crossed to the other side to find the men waiting for him as they decided that it was easier to cross on the bridge.
“The leader was not amused! Dad’s Army indeed.”