We met last week after our summer holiday and everyone was happy to see ladies who we had not seen for a couple of months.
Our speaker this month was Martin Lockwood and his subject was Saucy Seaside Postcards. He went on to explain that the first postcards were printed in Austria in 1868, but by 1870 pre-paid postcards which cost a halfpenny, had arrived in Great Britain. In 1872 pictures were allowed on the front along with the message but leaving the back clear for the address.


Samples of saucy postcards
It wasn’t until 1903 that the address and message could be put on the back in the format we all recognised.
Donald Fraser Gould McGill was a very interesting character and one of 7 children. He was a naval architect and started designing pictures, which at the time, were deemed saucy if not rude, to go on the front of the postcards. He made 12000 designs, mostly in colour and was less than complimentary about large ladies and vicars.
Not all postcards were saucy. Seaside towns started advertising with pictures of their resorts encouraging holiday makers to come to their town. The Great Eastern Railway had a card with a train on the front with the slogan Travel By Train.
Martin showed us a picture of a card of Southend depicting the pier and people promenading along the front.
Many cards were made to boost the morale of the soldiers in both World Wars. However, in the 2nd World War the cards were censored as the government was concerned about public morality.
Lots of cards had censored stamped on the back and shops were raided by the police and cards were removed and destroyed.
Martin finished his talk by saying there is a museum dedicated to Donald Fraser Gould McGill on the Isle of Wight, and although he is buried in an unmarked grave there is a blue plaque on his house.
His artwork is valuable and some of his postcards are very collectable and quite quite sort after.
Everyone remembered the excitement of receiving and sending cards from our holidays.
We also thanked the ladies who are knitting red poppies for Remembrance Day. They will be on sale in the foyer in ASDA.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 22nd October in William De Ferrers at 7pm and you would be made very welcome.