The early years of Ted’s life were greatly enriched by the launch of two of the most loved children’s comics in British history, The Dandy (1937) and The Beano (1938). Their comic strips featured characters, such as Desperate Dan, Dennis the Menace, and Minnie the Minx, who have entertained several generations of young people. There were also stories about cave people, tales of ostriches and airplane adventures, which are less well known today.

Ted recalls that both The Beano and The Dandy were extremely popular with children from the outset. However, not every child could afford the cover price of two old pennies, and it was common for a popular issue to be swapped between multiple households.

Furthermore, during the Second World War, Ted remembers that G.I.s based in Wymondham gave out free copies of the American comic books, Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman, to local kids. At the time the U.S. comics were produced in full colour, which appeared to be more upmarket and glamorous than the U.K. comics which were printed in black and white.

In Ted’s opinion, the larger-than-life characters of his comics were inspired by the carnivals, circuses and funfairs which were commonplace in Norfolk during the 1930s. Back then it was not unusual for men like Ted’s father to dress up like a clown and to walk on stilts in the hope of earning extra cash or perhaps food from a local fair. Of course, circuses did employ their own performers, but distinguishing the professional from the ambitious amateur was not easy.

Even the medical profession got in the act! The Wymondham GP, Doctor Bampton inherited a circus from his mother. If you visited his big top, the doctor’s maid would lend you a mirror to help you decorate your face. Then you would take part in either a 3-legged or a 6-legged race with the hope of winning a generous portion of baked potatoes and sweetcorn.

However, no carnival would be complete without an outlandish form of transport. Often this was an adapted horse and cart, but also could include unusual bicycles, such as those which were sold at Bailey’s shop in Wymondham. There you could purchase an ex-army bike with oil lamps and a bayonet on the crossbar. Perhaps this was the inspiration for the Batmobile!