[Andrew999]

Happy 124th birthday (he died in 1969) to Dudley. He brought us Lord Snooty and those fabulous Scottish creations - Oor Wullie and the Broons.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudley_D._Watkins

It's Lord Snooty that sticks in my memory though:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Snooty

With identical twins Snitch and Snatch - another pair for our growing catalogue of twins in comics

[crashryan]

The first time I'd ever heard of Lord Snooty--and the last, before the Internet opened the world of British comics to me--was when the Bonzo Dog Band's Intro to the Outro introduced "Lord Snooty and his pals tap-dancing."

[The Australian Panther]

The first time I'd ever heard of Lord Snooty--and the last, before the Internet opened the world of British comics to me--was when the Bonzo Dog Band's Intro to the Outro introduced "Lord Snooty and his pals tap-dancing."

Well remembered! That would then be my only exposure to Lord Snooty.
The Intro and the Outro by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcrUuCDFLOQ

And since it was right there and I can't resist the Bonzos - if you ever wondered where that band got its name from, wonder no longer!
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - Death Cab For Cutie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKXsrWrmbAg

 

Enjoy!

[crashryan]

I loved the Bonzos. I learned of them when their LPs showed up at the college radio station where I was working. I especially liked Gorilla and Tadpoles, which enjoyed a strong 1920s influence that faded in later albums. Tadpoles was the first place I heard "Jollity Farm," long before I encountered Jack Payne. On occasion I can still be heard reciting Mr Apollo's credo. Incidentally, until this very day I had thought Mr A was saying, "Five years ago, I was a four-stone apology." But the lyric sites say it's "Five years ago, I was a poor student at college," which doesn't seem half as funny. But they both end the same: "Today, I am two separate gorillas!"

[paw broon]

Of course DDW was celebrated for much more than The Broons, Oor wullie and Lord Snooty.  His text strip versions of Kidnapped, Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island and Oliver Twist are excellent.  He did many, many action strips as well as funnies. I was given Kidnapped as a young lad and thought it the most exciting thing I'd ever read. 

[crashryan]

I looked at some samples of Watkins' Treasure Island over at Lew Stringer's old blog, and you're right. Very nice work. Watkins was Mr Versatility.