H. Tamblyn-Watts is an artist I've meant to jot down some notes on for ages. A year ago I did a bit of research into the Tamblyn-Watts family tree to see if I could discover where the name originated and published the results back in July 2007.Harold Tamblyn-Watts is a name recognised by quite a few researchers into British comics. At the time my interest was his work on 'Out and About with Uncle Ben' for Jack & Jill (1962-64) and 'Katie Country Mouse' for the same paper, which he took over drawing from Philip Mendoza in 1964 and would draw for many years. To most British comics' collectors and to the much larger group of Gerry Anderson fans, he is inextricably linked through his work on 'Supercar' for TV Comic in 1961. He also contributed illustrations to Eagle Annual and Girl Annual, so he touches base with many collectors. In the mid-1960s he also drew 'The Pingwings' for TV Playland.
Harold William Tamblyn-Watts was born in Settle, Yorkshire, on May 5, 1900, the son of Thomas Massey Fisher Tamblyn Watts, a Westcliffe-on-Sea-based author and publisher who produced a number of books in the 1920s and 1930s, ranging from The Home Electrician (1927) to Wonderful Plants. Harold was educated at Southend School of Art and worked as Studio Manager for the Emmett Group in 1935-48. He exhibited watercolours and illustrated numerous books, especially nature and animal books for young children.He lived in Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, where he died in November 1999. He was survived by a son, Graham. He was predeceased by his wife, May, and a second son, Stuart.
Tamblyn-Watts, who served in both World Wars, earned a brief local infamy in Shirley when a neighbour complained about his bagpipe playing and had to practice on Shirley Hills; the incident was reported in a national daily newspaper.
Illustrated Books
The Young Naturalist by Sir John Buchan-Hepburn. London, Chapman & Watts, 1949.
(* My thanks to Michael Breeze for photos of Tamblyn-Watts' paintings. The painting immediately above, 'Sweet Peas', was painted by Tamblyn-Watts as a wedding gift for Michael's parents in 1938.Further information about Tamblyn-Watts' artwork for Supercar can be found at the Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History website.
Supercar © AP Films/TV Publications Ltd.; Katie Country Mouse © Look and Learn Magazine Ltd.)
I went to both primary and secondary schools with Harold's son, Graham, and knew the family quite well. Harold was tall with ginger-ish hair (Graham had VERY ginger hair, as did elder brother, Stuart). The family lived at 25, Bennetts Way, Shirly, Croydon in a semi. Harold had a small studio upstairs at the back of the house and kept the notorious bagpipes on the piano stool in the front room. Stuart was a keen chess player and had a beautiful carved ivory set in green and white. Harold was a pleasant but slightly eccentric man who always called me by my surname. Old school, I suppose. I remember May Watts quite well but she died when Graham was still at school.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your memories, Keith. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI would like to contact Graham again after many, many years. I believe he may now live in South Croydon.
ReplyDeleteKeith send me an email to mukdahan74-thing01@yahoo.com and I will let you have his address
ReplyDeletemichael breeze
Thanks Michael ... I traced Graham and we met last summer in a school reunion. It was good to see Graham again after 50 years! Thanks again. Keith
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