Jane Matthews

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Girls and Dolls

It's not only little girls with pigtails who like dolls. Big girls with fashionable hairdo’s also like 'em. Take, for example, pretty JANE MATTHEWS.

Jane really loves dolls and has a collection that would fill any nursery. Big ones, small ones, cuddly ones. English ones, Dutch ones, French ones.

The fact is, Jane loved dolls even when she was only so high and has never grown out of them. And they come in all shapes and sizes.

We'd say that Jane is quite a doll herself. When she gets married her husband will find that in addition to Jane he's got a houseful of others.

We don't think any of them will have quite the same measurements as Jane herself, but they all look mighty cute.

Before we forget, Jane's measurements are worth recording. She tapes up to 37"-24"-36". Inches like those add up to quite some doll in her own right! And she lives at Barnet, within a long stone's throw of the London she loves.

Spick Extra No 14 - Summer 1961

Pam Horton

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No Wonder Dad Fell In

We were living it up on one of the Norfolk Broads, although Mum said cooking beans all day was hardly her idea of life at its most ecstatic. Dad said try some bangers, then, at which mum hit him over the head with the bean ladle and said "Well, I tried one how did it feel?"

Dad didn't even know she'd hit him; he had his eyes glued to Pam Horton's Water Ski Spectacular.

“What incomparable skill," he breathed, his teeth grinding on his glass of local brew, "what verve, what execution, what a covey of utterly divine Aquamaids."

"You swine," said Mum, "you ought to be locked in the scuppers." Mum always talks like that when Dad starts reaching for his binoculars.

"Go and cook the beans," said Dad, jamming the binoculars against his glazed eyeballs. "Damn it," he added, "I can't see a thing, I'm all steamed up.' "Break your father's leg," said Mum, handing me an iron mallet.

Fortunately for my peace of mind - I'm a very sensitive child - that wasn't necessary. And no wonder.

No wonder what? No wonder Dad fell in and saved me from taking sides. As he got his binoculars focussed on the Aquamaids they came dancing over the water in a French Can-Can act and when Dad saw how absolutely delectable, they looked in close-up he crumpled at the knees and fell in. Mum leaned over the side and shouted, "How do you feel now, you old fool?"

"Blind me," murmured Dad, "it's a lovely way to go."

(Dad's impressionable mind apart, the Water Ski Spectacular is all it claims to be. On the left is PAM HORTON herself, the inspiration behind the aqua displays, and if Aquamaids are all like this you can't wonder Dad wants their autographs.)

Beautiful Britons No 135 - February 1967

Maureen Carson

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Well, That's What They're Wearing

"Excuse me, but I'd like one of those for my wife," said Mr. Casket, pointing to a nicely packaged corset on the lingerie counter.

"Yes, of course, sir," said the salesgirl, who happened to be MAUREEN CARSON, "and I'm sure you'll just love her in it."

"Half a mo," blushed Mr. Casket as he suddenly saw an illuminating illustration on the box, "is that all of it? Because if it is my wife will be more out of it than in."

"Well, that's what they're wearing, sir," said Maureen. "Ye gods, all this and the atom bomb," said Mr. Casket, "it doesn't half make one goggle."

Maureen smiled. She owned one of the corsets herself and as you can see it's designed to make everyone goggle, and in the nicest way, what?

Beautiful Britons No 232 - March 1975

Bridget Cole

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Bow Belle

My interest in this charming locality (said the man behind the glass of whisky) is that of a visitor agog to probe into its historical associations and to find out whether such associations have any influence on certain of its inhabitants today.

Well, seeing you been and bought me a pint (said the geezer behind the glass of bitter), I ain't going to be abductive.

I think you mean obstructive. Naturally, any co-operation you can give me I shall be excessively grateful for. Perhaps, for instance, you could tell me when the bells ring out?

Eh?

The bells of Bow. It is my desire to listen to them and define the limits of the sound. In that way I shall discover the exact area relevant to my further investigations on Cockneys.

Eh?

The bells of Bow. I want

This ain't Bow, me lord, this is the Elephant and Castle. Still, seeing you done me a favour with this pint, I'II do you one. Here's a picture of a corking bow belle. Only she wears hers in her hair. Name's BRIDGET COLE. Lives at Crawley in Sussex. Rides a lovely gee-gee. What's your name, guv?

Cedric. What's yours?

Mine's a pint. Same again, your highness.

Beautiful Britons No 153 - August 1968

Susan McKay

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Sandy Sue

Down among the sand dunes SUSAN McKAY found time to lie in the sun. It was a pity she'd left her bikini on the coach, for although you can brown some of yourself in a light dress, you can't cover the same amount of area as you can in a bikini. Especially the itsy-bitsy kind.

Nonetheless (as they say in those slightly archaic novels) Susan looks very attractive in a light dress and those frilly garters are just as likely to turn a head as a bikini.

"Hey, you're looking"

Yes, well - well, as a matter of fact - well, we wondered if you'd seen our dog.

"Did it have shaggy hair, just like you? And floppy ears, also like you?"

Well, no.

"Then go away or I'll call my bloodhound to bite you."

You can't mean that. Couldn't we take just one picture of you while we're here? You look divine. Smashing in fact. "Oh, you and your big blue eyes. Just half-a-dozen, then." Could we make it one over the eight?

"You've already had that I can tell from the empty bottles."

Beautiful Britons No 80 - June 1962

Veronique Vendel

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Glamour Girl

They do say it takes a Parisian girl to radiate real glamour, and in this case up pops the girl with the cute-eyed look, VERONIQUE VENDEL, currently a wow on the stages of Paris. Veronique spells glamour with a capital G, and we'll go along with that.

There are various ways of wearing a sweater and Veronique knows them all. It's something you're born with, isn't it?

Anytime you aren't doing anything, pop over to Paris to see Veronique in her current show. If you don't have time to visit Versailles, don't worry.

Span No 84 - August 1961

Susan Smith

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The Simple Things of Life

After devoting several years to modelling SUSAN SMITH decided to opt for the simple things of life.

A husband, a home, and a garden.

It's worked out very nicely, and that's one in the eye for the social anarchists for a start.

Wouldn't it be peaceful if they all went and lived on a desert island and drove each other round the twist?

Then we could all enjoy the simple things.

Beautiful Britons No 205 - December 1972

Jean Aston

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Victoriana Was Never Like This

Victoriana was bric-a-brac, red flannel and whacking great pieces of furniture. It still is. Only people collect it now instead of throwing it away.

Victoriana was music-hall.

The music-hall featured girls in funny tights and yards of lace, and sometimes male impersonators in top hats.

A girl like JEAN ASTON looks great in a top hat, but you couldn't include her in any Victorian set-up.

The top hat would have been approved but not the skimpy undies, they'd have locked her up and sent out for a dress that reached to her ankles.

Oh well, san fairy.

She's acceptable in this modern age. And she only sings and dances for amateur shows. There's always a rush to fill the seats, of course, a because a lovely amateur can be an audience's idea of sheer delight.

Beautiful Britons No 192 - November 1971

Rosanne Stuart

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Winner All The Way

Finalist in and winner of umpteen beauty competitions is ROSANNE STUART, new discovery in our field of photogenic Scots and right at the top in vivacity and vitality. Rosanne is noted for her smile, her charm and, of course, her lovely legs. These are the first photographs we've commissioned of her, but we hope to bring you more of this lovely lady, so don't go away.

Span No 127 - March 1965

Sara Stuart

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Eye-Catching Deb

Coming out with the rest of this year's high society girls might have made SARA STUART a little remote from us. But Sara is essentially a friendly girl, enchanted by all that keeps a philosopher down on the ground and a sputnik up in the air. Life is the keynote of Sara's interest in each day as it arrives, she loves the Beatles and is mad about Sir Malcolm Sargent. Also, she's one of the most eye-catching gals in the place.

Span No 134 - October 1965