The team at Skye and Lochalsh Archive is looking forward to the relaunch of a popular cartoon character collection when “The Rebirth of Angus Og” comes to the island’s Staffin Hall on 30th March.
Visitors to the event are promised to rediscover the wit, charm and general hilarity of Angus Og.
Catherine MacPhee, High Life Highland’s, Skye and Lochalsh Archivist who is responsible for the Angus Og project explains, “Many people will fondly remember the original Angus Og cartoon strips which appeared in the Daily Record from 1960 to 1989. Angus Og and the other colourful characters who live in the fictional Isle of Drambeg in the Utter Hebrides were created by cartoonist Ewen Bain.
“Ewen was born in Maryhill, Glasgow being the youngest of the three children of John and Flora Bain from the Isle of Skye. This meant that Ewen spent every summer of his childhood in Staffin visiting family, assimilating island life and absorbing many tales that are reflected in the adventures of the residents of Drambeg.
Catherine goes on, “In 2019, Skye and Lochalsh Archive Service were both delighted and honoured to be gifted a collection of original Angus Og drawings by Ewan’s daughter, Professor Rhona Flin.
“The team was absolutely over-the-moon that the first public reappearance of these cartoons in 30 years will be here in Staffin, the inspiration behind the landscapes of the fictional Drambeg and, we suspect, many of the stories that lie behind Angus’s adventures.”
The event, which takes place from 7-9pm on 30th March will be run in partnership with cartoon expert Professor Laurence Grove of Glasgow University and Frank Quietly, one of Scotland’s leading contemporary comic book artists who has created work for major titles and household names such as ‘Judge Dredd’, Marvel’s ‘X-Men’ and DC Comics’ ‘Superman’ and ‘Batman’.
Catherine MacPhee continues, “We really are inviting everyone to Staffin Hall to view some of the original cartoon strips, to share memories of reading Angus Og or, for some, maybe to discover Angus and his tales of Drambeg for the first time.
“Those who manage along will have the opportunity to discover more about the importance of Angus Og as a reflection of Scotland’s social history, where it sits within the lexicon of European comics traditions and to help shape how the collection could support the future development of Skye and Staffin. The event will also offer an opportunity to mix, mingle and meet fellow Angus Og fans as well as giving every child (and adult) a chance to create their own comics at our drop-in creation station.
Catherine MacPhee, Skye and Lochalsh Archivist concluded: ‘This promises to be a fun-filled evening for all the family, and we look forward to meeting many fans of Angus Og – old and new’
There will be refreshments and home baking from The Hungry Gull on the evening.
