Dad was a Lithographic Platemaker

Dad, on a trip down memory lane.

Dad (Reg) was a lithographic platemaker and colour printer, though please don’t ask me to explain the process. This lovely picture was taken of dad when he was 89 at the place in London, where he worked and survived the blitz, as an apprentice printer aged 14. The smell of any printing shop, instantly transports me back to childhood. There was always talk of art work and typesetting and proofs in our house.

Dad also drew things. He designed the logo for my sister’s business and a cartoon to mark the day my son learned to ride a bike. When my daughter, as a small person, wanted a Sound of Music themed birthday party he arrived having created an entire backdrop of mountains! I’ve met other children of printers who have shared similiar stories. I love my hand-drawn certificate, for making Steak and Kidney pudding - his favourite.

I am now wishing I had some of Dad’s printing skills on hand as I grapple with promotional materials for the podcast. However I have the component parts, including a gorgeous drawing, that I know my dad would have loved, to go on a postcard - thanks to Janine Pope. I hope it will make people smile and perhaps they’ll prop it up on a shelf or stick it on a noticeboard. Is it a little old fashioned in this digital age to want something on a postcard - all I know is I loved and have kept, all those hand-drawn cards from dad.

I am also going to a gardening event on Friday so if I can manage it in time, there are about 50 gardeners who could, if I get the postcard onto their seats, hear about the podcast. Watch this space - I’ll let you know how I get on and share a picture of the postcard.

In other podcasting news I am now into the routine of editing one edition per week, whilst gathering images and links to put on the website. This week I have been working on an episode that tells the story of a Passionflower and a grandmother who had a reputation for taking cuttings. My grandmother had the same reputation! She had been known, as she walked through Kensington Gardens on the seafront in Lowestoft, to take a pair of scissors from her handbag and take a swift cutting - for grandad of course.

Discussing this with my sister this week, we were both reminded of one of my formative plant experiences, which happened in Lowestoft. We were staying with my grandparents and were looking forward to a big treat of going to see a film at the cinema. However shortly before we were due to leave, I saw a cacti in the greenhouse and I picked it up! Suffice to say, the afternoon was spent with grandad taking the spines out of my hand, whilst my big sister glowered at me because we now couldn’t go to the cinema. I have never forgotten or forgiven cacti. I wonder if others have formative plant memories?

Thank you as always for sharing this blog and the story of the podcast. Not long now - in fact just 2 weeks to when you will be able to listen to it too. Do check it out on the podcasting apps (Apple, Google, Spotify) if you can and follow it, that would be great. There’s a 3 minute taster to listen to and share but remember episode one will be here on Sunday 2 April.