A Tribute To Ken Reid

When I was a child on the Garden Estate
Of Wythenshawe, Manchester, 40's  AD.
I would wait for my dad each night at the gate
And make for the paper he would read after tea.
 
I would beg to be first with the "Evening News."
He would hand it to me and smile to himself,
Knowing full well what I would peruse,
The "Adventures of Fudge" the Pixieville elf !
 
These charming adventures appeared every night
Drawn by an artist from Salford, Ken Reid.
Stories with pictures to amuse and delight
A generation of kids who loved them indeed.
 
Soon, appeared from dad's office a thick ledger book
For all my Fudge cuttings I'd collected at home.
Then into these pages they were carefully stuck,
Becoming in time a quite weighty tome.
 
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 Fudge was first on the moon,  oh yes!  It's quite true.
 Paving the way for NASA to follow.
 He returned with creatures for Elfin Town Zoo,
 Thirty years before Armstong flew in Apollo.
 
 Mysterious landscapes invented by Ken
 Were the settings for Fudge and his faithful friend Speck.
 And the loveable characters that flowed from his pen
 Accompanied them wherever they'd trek.
 
 To castles and dungeons, through dank murky caves.
 To a world made of toffee, or the land of "Nowhere."
 With Bubbleville water sprites beneath the waves.
 Mournful Mountain, Cragg Valley, the land of "Somewhere."
 
 They would battle with monsters created by Ken,
 Outwitting them all one by one.
 Grasher Cruncher, Mud Muncher, Humbugs, Batmen,
 Porcupeople and Time Imps anon.
 
 Woozle the wood wizard's incompetent spells
 Spread magical mayhem forsooth.
 Whilst poor Speck and Blink feeling, "not quite themselves."
 Put all of their faith in one dragon's tooth.
 
 Poor Mrs. Pinchim startled out of her wits
 When Speck's new invention glides by.
 It leapt from the river, smashed the footbridge to bits,
 Propelling the frightened old woman sky high.
 
 Speck's invention 'Moby Dick' takes to the sea.
 He peddles from Barnacle Bay.
 For the lost Happy Island soon after his tea,
 With 'Laughing Rock' pointing the way.
 
 Then, Fudge turns detective, could Speck be the thief ?
 That's him with the pedlar for sure!
 With Bertie Bun's help it was Fudge's belief,
 Reflect on Speck's movements to learn a lot more.
 Off to Murky Manor go the elves without fear,
 To meet Professor P. Nutt and his travel machine.
 Soon, Claude a tin robot makes them all disappear.
 But when they get back.....where have they all been ?
 
                                                                            ===========0============
 
Week in and week out we kids were spell bound,
With these tales of enchantment so beautifully written.
No thoughts of the time they would not be around,
For childhood seemed endless; we Fudge fans were smitten.
Now the years have flown by, it seems all too fast.
Yet there still preserved amongst books on my shelves,
Is my well worn "Fudge" ledger of Ken's work from the past.
Fascinating stories of two loveable elves.
 
Then a thought crossed my mind, whatever became
Of that talented artist who wrote a good tale.
So then I decided to make it my aim
To retrace some footsteps and follow the trail.
 
And soon I discovered to my utter dismay
That Ken had lain long in his last place of rest.
In Agecroft Cemetery, Pendleton way.
I found there his headstone at the end of my quest.
 
As I stood there in silence and paid my respects,
There on the black marble a circular plaque.
A ceramic of Fudge with both arms outstretched
In friendship to all who fondly look back.
 
Alongside the plaque was the date that Ken died.
February 02 in the year 'eighty seven.
I gazed on the elf at his master's graveside,
Inseperable both, as on Earth, so in Heaven.
 
Now Fudge has a plaque, thought I with a frown,
But where is the artist's who gave so much pleasure ?
So why not for Ken, in his home town ?
A plaque to KEN REID, who spread joy without measure !!

A.Gilbert 1995