I-Spy

You were not a properly equipped child of the 60s if you didn't have

a collection of I-Spy books.

In black and white for 6d

or full colour for 1/-

 these were produced by Big Chief I-SPY 

at the News Chronicle Wigwam

in Bouverie Street, London E.C.4.

Actually Big Chief I-SPY moved about a bit over the years 

and could also be found at

Wigwam-by-the-Water, Upper Thames Street.

Anyway, all you needed to become a member of the I-Spy tribe

was sixpence, or 1/- or 2s.6d

depending on how early you were born

and then

you would receive an I-SPY membership pack with

a badge, (an Open Sesame to all kinds of places),

a Tally Card, and a Book of Secret Codes

for decoding messages in the News Chronicle & Daily Dispatch,

News Chronicle, or Daily Mail

again depending on your generation.

In one book there was even a secret sign 

but they seem to have dropped that later.

But of course the main point of all this 

was to be a member of a Great Tribe

of explorers, discoverers, trackers and spotters.

Between 5 and 30 points were awarded

depending on scarcity, for each entry.

A philosophical attitude was encouraged,

'Some days are better than other. You may get a run of blank ones. 

And then along comes a real red-letter day - 

you spot the very thing you've been wanting for months. 

And your score takes a great leap upwards.

Don't expect to be lucky EVERY day'.

Finally, when you reached 1,500 points your record was to be examined 

by a teacher or parent and signed off as being genuine,

before being sent in (with a 3d stamp for its return)

to claim your

Order of Merit, with the Big Chief's Seal.

I never got as far as this, even though 

I may well have been tempted to cheat a little with my spotting 

as I was not a very patient child.

  I heard on the radio this morning that

they have been re-issued by Michelin.

Now you must collect 1000 pints before you can join the club

and I don't think you get a badge or a secret code anymore

but it doesn't surprise me that these little books

could prove to be as enduring as their creator

Charles Warrell, who died when he was 106.