Comments on: Cockney Beano Time

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 16:27:03 +0000

Please bear with a hopeless American who has never (until now) heard the term “beano”.
Nevertheless, the sheer joy and bonhomie exhibited in these fun photos is hard to top.
A break from the daily cares, the fun of pranks, the off-the-hook whimsy of the various
instruments and props (and costume touches) — this is such a wonderful array of photos!
I can only imagine the sing-a-longs. Sign me up for the next excursion.

By: Marie Pyne nee selby

Marie Pyne nee selby — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 12:45:16 +0000

Thank you so much for putting the old beans photos on I’ve spotted my dad with the straw hat on he died 1969 John selby was his name it certainly has brought tears to my eyes R I P dad thank you all

Marie Pyne
John selby daughter

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 22:29:34 +0000

Coach outings were great fun in the 50s but we usually went the other way. From my country village we would go up to ‘the smoke’ to go to the theatre or pantomimes, including the ice pantomimes of course, does anyone remember them? Or we might go to Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, or Whipsnade Zoo but London was always the most popular destination and outings to the ice hockey were always fully booked. . As we can see here, ladies dressed up for the occasion, and the Princess Margaret shoes, which I have noticed in one photo, were the order of the day, my mother and I both had a pair of those. We also went to Southend to visit the Kursaal where ‘Kiss me Quick’ hats were popular as was the wall of death, and the Christmas lights of course.

Thank you GA for bringing back memories of those happy days of simple pleasures.

By: John Rowe

John Rowe — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 19:41:06 +0000

Beanos were not just an East End tradition. I can recall going on a couple organised by the Joseph Lyon’s factory in Greenford, west London, where my father worked, in the early 60s. The local factories (Glaxos, Lyons, Garners) also put on Christmas parties for children.

Happy innocent days.

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 11:45:22 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

I really enjoyed those pictures. Simple pleasures. No doubt, these folks really treasured their “big day out.” And all dressed up.

Reminded me of the huge group pics my mother had of “shop picnics” in the 30s when she worked in the shoe industry in Lynn, MA. As always, GA, thanks for gathering and sharing these experiences from the past…

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 07:29:40 +0000

This was a tradition from the era when motorised transport made long journeys possible until families could afford their own personal transport (cars). It seems to show a joie de vivre in being able to have a freedom with friends that wasn’t previously possible.

I have a series of photos of my grandad and his brother, both publicans, on a beano with the Hackney Victuallers in an open top charabanc in the early 20s. Unbelievably it was a day trip to Land’s End, a round trip of about 600 miles! I would not normally give credence to what my Dad told me if the evidence didn’t support it – one of the photos is in front of the Land’s End Hotel, another is in Clovelly and the charabanc is crammed full with no space for luggage. It sounds like the beano from hell by our present day standards for comfort but everybody in the photos looks as though they are having a good time.

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 03:35:48 +0000

I would quite enjoy a bus trip that had an accordionist! 🙂