Boys from Brazil love a Beano

The fame – indeed, notoriety – of Dennis the Menace appears to be global these days!

Everyone’s favourite naughty schoolboy and his fellow mischief-makers have taken over London arts centre Somerset House for more than four months with the staging of the venue’s latest exhibition, entitled Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules.

A colourful celebration of the largerthan-life Dundee-born characters, the event explores how the iconic weekly title has inspired mavericks from diverse walks of life – while also showcasing a host of artists who revel in their own spirit of rebellion.

If anyone still doubts the extensive appeal of the Beano and its lead strip then they need look no further than the example of Kian Koramshai.

The grandson of one of the stellar members of the DC Thomson comic’s editorial team in the 1940s – Ian ‘Chiz’ Chisholm – is hoping to travel all the way from South America to enjoy a new year visit to the UK capital exhibition, which runs until March 6.

The Menace’s self-proclaimed “number one fan in Brazil”, Kian is the son of Chiz’s daughter Lesley and her Iranian-born husband Jam Koramshai. A successful commodities trader, the father of two is based in the world’s fourth largest city, Sao Paulo, close to the country’s south-east coastline.

Kian’s aunt Maureen Mcrae tells Craigie that it was her late sister who first forged a family connection with the samba nation.

She says: “Lesley left Grove Academy, graduated from Glasgow School of Music, then found herself on a plane to Brazil

where she taught English at IBI, the Independent British Institute, in Brasilia.

“She met Jam, came back to Dundee for their wedding, then spent the next 16 years in Brazil. Karen was their first born, followed by Kian.

“Lesley came back to Scotland for their births to make sure they could have Scotland on their passports. Karen has settled in the south of England, but Kian has returned to the warmer climes of his

childhood, married a Brazilian girl and has two young boys, Nico and Daniel.”

Maureen says the family have devoted a special corner of their Sao Paulo home to the Beano and Dennis.

And no wonder! Their relative Chiz, who was the comic’s chief sub-editor, is credited with having drawn the first-ever rough sketch of the Menace – minus his distinctive red-and-black-striped jersey – on the back of a Player’s Medium Navy Cut cigarette packet in DCT’S Dundee offices, just months before the tearaway’s debut appearance in print in March 1951.

She emails: “Kian has indoctrinated his sons from birth, reading bedtime stories from his collection of Beano annuals and comics. He is so proud of his grandad – great-grandad to Nico and Daniel.”

Maureen adds: “Kian has bought Somerset House tickets in January for his family. Sadly, Lesley died last year so it’s a bittersweet trip for them all.

“They have their fingers crossed they will be able to travel, and perhaps add a visit to Dundee to meet up with Chisholm family relatives.”

An exclusive Beano comic magazine tying in with the London exhibition, which is being curated by artist Andy Holden, is available to order via somersethouse.org.uk

Craigie is most grateful to Maureen for sharing Kian’s fascinating story, and we look forward to hearing more about his own unique Beano adventures.

Brazil-based Dennis the Menace fan Kian Koramshai is hoping to be able to visit the Beano exhibition running at Somerset House in London. Pictured here with his wife and two sons, Kian is the grandson of the comic’s ex-chief sub-editor Ian Chisholm. See story left.

This old photo shows ‘Chiz’ Chisholm with daughter Lesley, son Ian and grandson Kian, who now proudly celebrates his Beano ties in Brazil. See above for the family’s story.