He enjoys the writing of E S Brooks and is collecting Nelson Lee Libraries as well as his Norman Conquest (as Berkeley Gray) and Ironsides (as Victor Gunn) detective novels.

Roger prefers Nelson Lee Library and St Frank’s stories to Magnet and Gem [but we'll soon cure him of that - Ed.]

He has come to the old story papers late in life. At the grammar school which he attended in the 1960s pupils were kept away from “popular” writers (he was once reprimanded when caught reading Biggles) as boys were meant to read only the classics!

Fortunately, Roger found solace in the Eagle (NOT a comic but a “picture strip weekly”!). and has been a devotee of Dan Dare, Luck of the Legion and the others, ever since.

He appreciates the comic art of the 1950s, especially the greats like the three Franks (Hampson, Bellamy and Humphris), Martin Aitchison, Ron Embleton and Don Lawrence. Ken Reid is his favourite “funny” artist.

Now retired, Roger is busy discovering children’s authors he missed - due to those zealous and forceful teachers - such as Malcolm Saville, Monica Edwards, Geoffrey Trease and Violet Needham, as well as Hamilton and Brooks.

Retirement, however, has not quelled his passion for Rupert, who celebrated his 90th anniversary in November 2010. Roger has been a member of the Followers of Rupert since 1984 and writes regularly for the Nutwood Newsletter.

In recent years he has also started appreciating Herge’s Tintin and Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant.

Roger has been a fan of Dr Who from its first episode in 1963, but he disapproves of the new series – “not proper Who!”

He is also a fan of old time wireless – Children’s Hour, Paul Temple, Journey into Space, Hancock’s Half Hour, etc. and claims to be addicted to The Archers [if that's his biggest crime, we won't hold it against him - Ed] Roger has long since abandoned most TV!

Married with one son and a lovely grand-daughter, I enjoy foreign travel - especially Egypt.  

Joint-Chairman for 2009 (along with David Marcus).

Mary Writes:

I joined the wonderfully friendly London OBBC in January 1970 prompted by my interest in the works of Charles Hamilton, particularly his stories in the Magnet in the name of Frank Richards. Contact with Club members quickly broadened my enthusiasm for children’s fiction in general  which now encompasses not only school stories but fairy and adventure tales, illustrated books, both old and new, and, of course, a wide range of children’s story-papers, magazines and comics.

Renewing my acquaintance through the OBBC with the Magnet and the Schoolgirl led to my giving talks and writing about them, and then to co-authoring, with Patricia Craig, the book You’re a Brick, Angela! which was published in 1976. Since then I’ve never stopped writing, giving talks and sometimes broadcasting about children’s books and ‘popular cultures’. Altogether I’ve had twenty books published, the most popular of which are You’re a Brick, Angela! and my biographies of Frank Richards and Richmal Crompton. I’ve produced many features and book reviews for national newspapers and magazines, have written introductions to various books, and have been a consultant editor for Twentieth Century Children’s Writers  and Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers. I edited and produced the Story Paper Collectors’ Digest for twenty-one years and co-edited the magazine of the Just William Society for a decade.

For several years I’ve been a regular judge for the Children’s Books History Society’s Harvey Darton Awards; I am President of the Northern OBBC and the Cambridge Club, and a Vice-President of the Just William Society and of the Friars’ Club. (And all of this sprang from my joining the London OBBC nearly thirty years ago!)

I’ve been married to Alexander Cadogan for 58 years and we have one daughter, who is a primary school teacher. I have recently celebrated my eightieth birthday and, to mark the event, Girls Gone By have published my latest book, Mary Carries On.

It's been wonderful to meet fellow enthusiasts and to be given the opportunity to expand my knowledge of this fascinating man and, of course, have access to the Club Library which contains so much of his work.

Had a 25 year break from Bunter, until fortuitously discovering the brilliant Frank Richards - The Chap Behind the Chums, in 1997, whereupon I found out that Frank Richards was one of many pen-names of the Master! Joined the Club in 1999.

Long live the story papers and the OBBC! I wish there was a club in Edinburgh.