Mine has to be the Topper Johnny Seven, which must have been around 1967 or 8. Yep, the One Man Army was and is the most exciting, most memorable Christmas prezzie ever for me and probably for quite a few kids from the Sixties. Like everything it got chucked out at some point so when I had enough pennies saved up I bought another complete boxed one when I was 40!
What's your favourite or best present readers?
It was a book, Biggles of the Special Air Police by the great Captain W.E. Johns, a mix of WW1 stories and post-WW2 Air Police tales. This was in the early 1970s, and an elderly lady, Mrs Bundock, a friend of my Mother's, gave it to me. It literally changed my life. Reading of Sopwith Camels and Albatros scouts sparked my now life-long interest in aviation. That led to building model aeroplane and tank kits, beginning in 1974. That in turn led to writing my first magazine articles - the first was published in good old Airfix Magazine in 1981. Started collecting die-casts in the mid-1990s. I did go through a slow patch for a while, but got back into writing a few years ago. Just about everything in my life today is models and writing, so that book all those years ago changed everything for me. I can not imagine where I would be now, or who I would be, without that book. So, a very big Thank You to Mrs Bundock.
ReplyDeleteGreat memories Paul. Biggles it is!
DeleteThat would be the Major Matt Mason, with Moon Suit and Jet Pack I got back in '68 or '69.
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate Space Age toy franchise, as far as I'm concerned.
Fantastic !
Mish.
Pretty darn fab those toys Mish. I loved the Major too.
Delete4 lane Scalextric I shared with my younger brother. But , didn't stop my older brothers playing with it too
ReplyDeleteha ha, I like that Khusru! I have 2 older brothers too! My Jonny Seven kept them at bay ... for a while!
DeleteDecember 1954 seven year old me received a Hornby Dublo Train Set. A4 Silver King locomotive and two coaches.
ReplyDeleteI was told not to treat it like my other toys, ie breaking them! The set probably cost close to a weeks wages for my dad at the time.
I still have the train set and it will probably be running this Friday.
Biggles books had a similar effect on me as on Paul in NZ, but mine had been a birthday present.
Lovely memories Terran. I hope the wheels are turning on Friday and Northern heights is ready for Crimbo.
DeleteMarx ACW Centennial playset - 1961
ReplyDeleteWhats ACW Ed?
DeleteAmerican Civil War
Delete2nd runner-up, the Marx Flintstonesbplayset ca1963/64
ReplyDeleteYou love Marx Ed don't you!
DeleteOh yeah, my very best favorite :-)
Delete