g7uk » british

Classic Colgate toothpaste ad

GS — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:10:59 +0000

A marvellous Colgate toothpaste ad from the early 1980′s based on ‘Baggy Trousers’ by Madness.

And here’s a version for the US market with some of the same kids. But with every trace of Britishness and most of the Madness imagery removed it doesn’t quite ‘get it’ and ends up looking like a dog’s dinner.

Vaughn Lowery ad (video)

GS — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 01:27:53 +0000

Famous across America for being the KMart Joe Boxer underwear guy, now Vaughn Lowery has done a great ad for the Houston Chronicle.

More KMart/Joe Boxer ads featuring Vaughn here and here. How long before we see this talented guy on British TV?

Film of ‘The Avengers’ on location in 1966

GS — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:27:53 +0000

The British Pathe website has some film of Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee filming The Avengers, on location at Beaulieu, Hampshire, in 1966.

Smashing Time, baby

GS — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:39:38 +0000

A sequence from the rarely-seen 1960′s British comedy Smashing Time, starring Lynn Redgrave and Rita Tushingham.

Toad legend that may have inspired ‘One Froggy Evening’

GS — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:54:20 +0000

While looking for the film clip of the Abraham Lincoln statue, I discovered this.

The story of a toad that (supposedly) was trapped in a building cornerstone, but was still alive when found 31 years later. This must surely have been the inspiration for the Merrie Melodies cartoon One Froggy Evening?

Manchester and slavery

GS — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:35:26 +0000

Manchester’s wealth was founded on the cotton industry and dependent on slave-grown cotton. But the city was also at the centre of the anti-slavery movement.

Winner of: Doodle 4 Google – My Britain

GS — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 16:38:41 +0000

View the winners in the competition to ‘Doodle 4 Google – My Britain’.

The competition was open to the UK’s 10 million school children. They were asked to design a Google doodle representing what it means to be British today. See the thirty regional winners here.

There are some wonderful ones.

Why Guy Fawkes night is dreaded by many in inner-city areas of Britain

GS — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 03:18:19 +0000

In Britain, 5th November is Bonfire Night. When it’s traditional to let off fireworks and burn a dummy of Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up Parliament in 1605.

It’s supposed to be fun. A colourful spectacle. But for many people in inner-city areas this has become a time of year that they dread.

The other night, on some spare ground close to where I live, youths and children lit a large bonfire. It was close to houses. They used fireworks like guns, pointing them at head height and shooting them across the neighbourhood. Some of the kids were very young indeed and, though fascinated, were obviously afraid that they would be targeted and ‘shot’ by others.

The fire brigade arrived to put out the blaze but they seemed to be intimidated by the abusive youths. The fire crew didn’t leave the fire engine. In other areas there have been incidents where fire fighters were attacked.

They left and, soon after, returned accompanied by the Police.

The BritishPathe website has some vintage newsreel footage of children celebrating Bonfire Night in 1957 and 1959 at a cinema that is just a few hundred yards from this location. How things have changed.

Wounded British TV reporter was shot dead by US troops

GS — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:47:31 +0000

‘ITN reporter Terry Lloyd was shot in the head by American troops as he was being driven to hospital, the inquest into his death was told…’. The Guardian.

Full story here.

British taxpayers may have lost £8.4bn to VAT fraudsters

GS — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:29:24 +0000

BBC Panorama reports on a European investigation which suggests that a VAT (sales tax) scam may have cost the UK up to £8.4 billion (£8,400,000,000).

The theft comes from so-called ‘carousel fraud’, where crooks repeatedly import and export high value goods such as mobile phones, failing to pay VAT but then claiming it back from the government.

If this figure is true, it amounts to £140 for every person in Britain.