Interesting Postcards

Cavendish Hotel
Eastbourne
Tel: 27401
Hotel photograph includes new Devonshire Wing.

These Britons on holiday in Britain are doing what Britons on holiday in Britain always end up doing: making the best of it. On that unforgiving beach, under the relentless scrutiny of older people in deckchairs and in the shadow of the monstrous, unsympathetic new Devonshire Wing, the adults smile and try and look like they're having the time of their lives. To their right, however, their daughter undermines their plucky efforts with a simple but eloquent gesture of abject despair.

The back of the postcard says it all.

Interesting Postcards

Municipal Offices and Royal Parade
Plymouth, Devon

What a fantastic, colourful place Plymouth seems to be! A Technicolor wonderland where there's a bus for every single person in the town. Even the Ministry of Love looks light and modern and friendly, no wonder that lady is taking a moment to soak it up before she flings herself to her death.

Interesting Postcards

Sunset On The River Thames
Published by John Hinde Ltd.
6 Rupert Street, London W.1
Photo: E. Ludwig

Psychedelic night falls in the most wonderful and annoying city on Earth, that London.

Postcards Of Longleat

'In the spring of 1966 the Marquess of Bath and Mr. Jimmy Chipperfield established the first lion reserve outside Africa. One hundred acres of Longleat Park, Wiltshire, is set aside exclusively for a very large number of lions to live in conditions as near as possible to those of their natural habitat. From 10.00 am to sunset every day of the year you can go 'on safari', in your own vehicle, driving amongst and photographing the animals at your leisure'.  

The East African Game Park, Longleat.

'Adjoining the world famous Lion Reserve, another 100 acres of Longleat Park is now the home of the largest herd of giraffe outside Africa together with zebras, antelopes, baby elephants, ostriches and many other African animals and birds. Visitors may get out of their vehicles to photograph, picnic or simply walk about near the animals in this picturesque park which is open every day of the year from 10 am to sunset'.

'One of the most fascinating attractions at Longleat is the new 'Monkey jungle'. Hundreds of African baboons live together in huge family troops just as they do in their native Africa. To have one of these ugly, yet attractive creatures sitting on the bonnet of your car, peering through the windscreen, is a novel and exciting experience and a completely new way to see these animals'.

Marquess of Bath with Marquis the Lion.

Some slightly surreal safari park postcards from Longleat Park in Wiltshire. I like the second one, with the animals gathering at the waterhole, as it seems so staged and unnatural, although, of course, the photographer could have just captured a meeting of the escape committee. The third picture makes my skin crawl (I'm not fond of baboons) and the fourth just makes me laugh.