I took heart
When I was young there was a wonderful art program where a crazy old man would make giant pictures using coloured sand, concrete or whatever else took his fancy. It was whimsical, informative, educational like no other art lesson would ever be and downright fucking awesome. And the crazy old man's best mates were talking plasticene dolls. Every week this lovable, delightful, mad old man would invite his audience to submit their pictures for his 'gallery'. A hastily-constructed showpiece of childish artistic talent.

So one week I did. Because, after my dad, he was the best man in the world.

Here's what happened.







Now £2.50 in book tokens may not mean a lot*. But that doesn't matter. I had my picture on Take Hart with the legendary Tony Hart. I got called up to the front of my school assembly to talk about it and, having been asked what type of picture it was - and never having been in front of a microphone before, stood on tip-toes, hands gripping the sides of the lectern and boomed "IT WAS A COLLAGE" into the mic.

"COLLAGE!"

"COLLAGE!"

"COLLAGE!" echoed around the school hall. I was known as collage-boy right up until I changed schools two years later.

It was, sadly, much later that I noticed the signatures on the letter and "gummed insert" didn't match. I personally hope the one on the letter is the real one, it's more flamboyant, has his name after it and is on beeb-headed paper. The stupid insert was delegated to some drone. Though, I suppose, they could both be genuine. One done with care, one rushed.

Anyway, I submitted a pic to Tony Hart's Gallery. And won.

*Footnote time. This is the book I bought with my £2.50



It had Jabberwocky in it. And Ogden Nash. And The Brothers Grimm. It probably remains the best £2.50 I've ever spent. And I was 8.
(R. Jimlad twitter.com/sirmarkymark, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 4:50, 14 replies)

Oh and apologies....
...If I've screwed up the image posting rules. I'm a QOTW'er, not a Boarder. I tried to do it right.
(R. Jimlad twitter.com/sirmarkymark, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 4:55, closed)

i think that only applys to the main board?
Please dont quote me on that though
( jakedamusss I understand, and dont care., Fri 29 Apr 2011, 5:38, closed)

Looks like the sig on the letter was right :)
www.tonyhart.co.uk/guestbook/guestbook_images/tonyhart.jpg

Tony Hart was a genius who encouraged more kids to get into art and design than anyone I can think of. Nice one to you for achieving something so brilliant.
( Fr_Jerry_McGwier looked over both shoulders at, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 6:25, closed)

Fantastic
I have waited years for that mystery to be solved! Cheers :)
(R. Jimlad twitter.com/sirmarkymark, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 14:48, closed)

You're welcome :)

( Fr_Jerry_McGwier looked over both shoulders at, Sat 30 Apr 2011, 3:43, closed)

COLLAGE!
I'm assuming you don't have an old photo of it?
( SigmaX0 Dear Die Hard. You rock!, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 7:53, closed)

Sadly not
The old VHS recording we had of the programme was lost years ago.
(R. Jimlad twitter.com/sirmarkymark, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 14:51, closed)

That is
genuinely awesome. I am honestly jealous. I sent about 40+ pictures in (all shit in retrospect) and never a whiff. Well done. When youre 70 you can take that in to Antiques Roadshow or something.
( I have run out of coke is a little sweaty, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 8:57, closed)

Thanks
I think I just got lucky. IIRC Tony made a giant collage in that episode and my pic, well... IT WAS A COLLAGE! *collage* *collage*
(R. Jimlad twitter.com/sirmarkymark, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 15:29, closed)

I Don't
have an artistic bone in my body - but I admire those that do.

But you won TONY FUCKING HARTS SIGNATURE! - Fuck the book token. Tony Hart. Signature. On a letter addressed to the 8 year old you.

#winning.

Cheers
( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 12:55, closed)

"Cheers"
:)
(R. Jimlad twitter.com/sirmarkymark, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 14:53, closed)

That's a lovely story.
Well done you and take a click.
( Pig Bodine., Fri 29 Apr 2011, 13:23, closed)

Thank you :)

(R. Jimlad twitter.com/sirmarkymark, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 15:29, closed)

Beautiful, good work.
(Mitchell Gant, Fri 29 Apr 2011, 20:20, closed)