Many thanks to Graham for a follow up to his article, “The Pit”, that generated so much interest. This time he sends something quite different – extracts from an Abingdon Rag Mag called Murk.
The first edition is from 1962 where the writers predict what The Rag Procession in 1968 will look like.
The third edition of Murk is from 1964.
The fourth edition is from 1965. Graham says a lot of the jokes would create offence in this politically correct era. Here are a few carefully selected …
Also of interest are the adverts …
I assume the Rag Mags are from the newly formed Abingdon College, but Culham College was still going strong in the 1960s so I could be wrong.
Oh my goodness, remember the 1962 edition… Jack & Jill etc, etc. Think it may have been something to do with the Harwell apprentices.
A.E.R.E. apprentices had a lot to do with it.
I still tell these rhymes from Murk ( and no offence meant….. )
Mary had a little lamb
It was full of fun and frolics
It tried to jump a five-bar gate
and ruptured………
The boy stood on the burning bridge
His lips were all aquiver
he gave a cough, his leg fell off
and floated down the river.
Mary Mary quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
and a giant virginia creaper which attacks you as you walk up the path. (or something like that!)
Jack and Jill went up the hill
There was no-one in the vicinity
Jack came down less half a crown
and Jill less her v….elvet scarf.
Isn’t it funny how these rhymes from over 50 years ago stick in the mind. (rather sad really!)
I was an apprentice at Harwell ’64 – ’69 and the Rag Weeks were terrific. Always great to participate in the Abingdon Beer Race (but not so the ‘regurgitation’ process afterwards), the attempts to pass a piano through a small hoop and the bed race from Harwell to Abingdon. Wouldn’t be tolerated now as the fun police would kill it off (can’t have people enjoying themselves can we!!?). Remember all of the above poems and occasionally quote to my family (yeah yeah Dad)
Regards
Ray Hutt
Anyone feel free to contact me on birchfen@gmail.com.
Ray Hutt
A rather (well, *very*) belated reply so maybe of relevance now, but I’m just going through my father-in-law’s old photos and have found a bunch that I think were probably from the 1962 rag week starting off at UKAEA Harwell if anyone’s interested. Admittedly a fairly small bunch, at most a dozen, but the slides are still in reasonable nick.