By William Heath Robinson – books, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31114550
Since I wrote my last article, I have run into problems with my computer and like a car, it looks like I will need to trade it in for a newer model. However, I have managed a Heath Robinson fix and have decided to write a few words about my latest visit to the Arcade.
Christmas is not far away and Caron and I are scouting antique shops and the like for those extra special presents. But as normal during our searches, we have unearthed things that we like and have purchased these items for ourselves. Caron today found the most wonderful Poole vase which she fell in love with instantly and it now has pride of place in our cottage. I have found various odds & sods the most interesting being a couple of Hoover letter stamps dating from the late fifties. These were sent out to approved suppliers so that they could use these rather heavy stamps for their customer correspondence. One of these stamps shows a single tub washing machine much of its time and the other illustrates a rather bulky Hoover. They are original retro items and although not at all valuable are great fun to own.
As normal, today I gravitated towards the book section and after casting longing glances at a 1763 book of poetry, found an Indian copy of Kipling’s Soldier’s Three priced at one Rupee. This small soft backed booklet dated from 1890 and was in its sixth edition. I purchased it for a pound which was good value. It is really a collection of short stories about British soldiers in Afghanistan during the fading years of the British Empire and their views on a number of subjects including war and their superiors. But what I find interesting about Kipling’s stories are the social observations that he shared as the Empire faded. Although still deep in our blood (even though most of us do not admit it to ourselves), the feeling of Empire never really vanished from our thoughts and this is quite evident at present with the Brexit negotiations and the infighting within the Tory party. This is great fun to watch and almost worthy of Shakespeare at his best.
I wonder what Learoyd, Mulvaney and Ortheris would have made of it all with this country of ours much divided and infighting when a little common sense would have gone a long long way. They would probably have said that nothing has changed much. After all, the war in the Crimea was fought for the thinnest of reasons and could have been over after Alba if the unexpected allied victory had been properly followed up. It was thought that the vanquished Russian army might have been defeated there and then and everybody would have been home in time for Christmas. But as normal, we messed up and snatched defeat (I use this word in a wide sense) from the jaws of victory so not much has changed really in a hundred and sixty years. This said, at least Brexit (whatever your views) has not claimed any lives as yet, although the infighting between Europe and ourselves and within our own shores reminds me of the confusion that existed between Cardigan and Raglan and to a lesser extent, Captain Nolan that led to the madness of the Charge of the Light Brigade. Learoyd, Mulvaney and Orther is would have been aware of this and the many other failings and this is what makes Kipling’s fiction so
entertaining.
History travels in circles and although chameleon like, still shows the same colours beneath.
I will stop here as this short article was supposed to have been about my sickly computer and the joys of early Christmas shopping, but has descended into a rather non festive historical discussion. Caron and I plan quite a few more visits to the Arcade and other establishments in Hungerford before we brave the larger towns. Who knows, we might pass you in the street unknowingly.
Even in Newbury away from the main shopping centre, there are a couple of antique shops which are worth looking up and there are many in other towns near and far.
I will finish now and apologise for the staccato nature of this article which I created using another media. Hopefully, by the time we meet again, my computer will be well (or replaced) and I will be able chat for a little longer.
Happy Hunting
Stuart Miller-Osborne
