Pictured in the newly named ‘Bash Street’ in Dundee on Wednesday 26th February 2014, is Dennis The Menace trying to steal a copy of the sign, with Beano Editor Mike Stirling, right, and Dave Sutherland, who draws Dennis. Photo: The Courier. Reproduced with permission
DC Thomson and Dundee City Council have finally brought ‘Bash Street’ to life, the official street unveiling coming in the same month that the Bash Street Kids celebrate their 60th anniversary.
The Bash Street Kids now have a street named after them. Art © DC Thomson
Named after the mischievous Bash Street Kids, the pedestrianised street – plans for which were approved back in 2012 – will be located in the West Marketgait area of Dundee. The street sign features an illustrated design, believed to be one of the first of its kind in the UK.
One of Scotland’s first-ever illustrated street signs
The Beano Editor-in-Chief Mike Stirling said, “The Bash Street Kids are legends of our past, present and future. By reading The Beano, generations have ‘attended’ school with the characters and kids still follow their adventures every week. It’s truly an honour for kids of all ages, everywhere, that a street is being named after The Bash Street Kids.
Dennis makes off with a copy of the Bash Street sign, pursued by Mike Stirling an veteran Beano artist Dave Sutherland.
“The Beano team are thrilled… well everyone except Dennis. He’s not a happy boy, not at all. He thinks the street should have been named ‘Menace Street’.”
At the unveiling, a cheeky Dennis even ran off with a copy of the sign, hotly pursued by Mike and veteran Beano artist Dave Sutherland.
Bill Campbell, Depute Convener of Dundee City Council’s City Development Committee added, “We have many roads in Dundee named after famous people, famous places and even famous rivers, but I think this is the first time that we’ve agreed to name a street after a famous street!
“The Bash Street Kids and The Beano itself are iconic and it is truly fitting that the city of their birth should commemorate them in this most public of ways. We’ve already got statues of Desperate Dan and Minnie the Minx in the city centre and it’s good to tie in with other comic characters.”
The sign was designed by the consumer products team at DC Thomson and uses classic Bash Street Kids artwork. The ‘Bash Street’ sign features Plug and Wilfred putting their own spin on street art by leaving a couple of interesting messages for Teacher.
Mike added, “It’s great that Dundee City Council allowed us to be creative with the Bash Street sign and feature illustration which reflects the fun and playful nature of The Beano.”
• More Beano antics online at www.beano.com
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Featured News
Related Articles
-
Quantum Leap! We go behind the scenes on Time Bomb Comics flagship anthology
-
Rebellion announces new Battle Action mini series – our guide to the returning strips
-
Exclusive: B7 Media reveals plans for “Tony Hancock – The Lad Himself” audio series and graphic novel
-
Never mind ABBA, look who else is getting back together forty years later! And SHIFT comic magazine has them…