Les Barker-Bill Tidy connection

Subject: Les Barker-Bill Tidy connection
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 15 May 03 - 03:52 AM

Am I the only one to notice that Bill Tidy (UK cartoonist who invented the ruthless folk danceres The Cloggies) has called his autobiography "Is there any news of the Iceberg?" ?
The cartoon on the cover with this caption just has a polar bear in the queue for news of Titanic survivors and proves the old adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" as it encapsulates what Les Barker wrote in his great song.
BUT....
Did Les get his idea from the Tidy cartoon?
OR...
Did Bill get the idea for the cartoon from the Les Barker song?
His wonderful Cloggies strips suggest Bill is well steeped in the folk tradition in t' North.

Just curious....

RtS

Subject: RE: Les Barker-Bill Tidy connection
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 May 03 - 04:34 AM

The cartoon came first I believe - you could always ask him yourself..

I would, but he's still not recovered from the attentions of myself and Lady P at Hastings the other week.

LTS

Subject: RE: Les Barker-Bill Tidy connection
From: GUEST,Santa at work
Date: 15 May 03 - 05:39 AM

The cartoon was in Punch shortly after the disaster - great minds using a common source, I think.

Subject: RE: Les Barker-Bill Tidy connection
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 May 03 - 03:48 PM

From the man himself:

"The cartoon came a long time before the poem.

Les"

LTS

Subject: RE: Les Barker-Bill Tidy connection
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 16 May 03 - 03:16 AM

Thanks, Liz, I thought that would be the case.

RtS