From the DC Thomson archives: a tribute to Chick Checkley

A caricature of Chick Chickley by Gordon Livingstone, featured in DC Thomson's 'Achtung Commando' by Peter Richardson.

A caricature of Chick Chickley by Gordon Livingstone, featured in Peter Richardson’s fanzine ‘Achtung Commando’.

 

Commando editor Calum Laird kindly sent us this tribute to the original editor of the war comic Chick Checkley, which he found in a 1971 edition of the DC Thomson staff magazine.

The portrait of Chick above is by Gordon Livingstone, whose mother was Livingstone’s godmother and who drew some 360 issues of the title.

“The death took place on August 24 of MR CHARLES E. W. CHECKLEY, Editor of Commando picture story and Star love-story libraries.

Mr Checkley, who was 63, was on the editorial staff for almost 48 years.

He was educated at Harris Academy, and became a sub-editor on The Vanguard, Adventure, Family Star, Red Star and Red Letter, moving to the picture-story libraries in 1959.

Mr Checkley served in the R.A.F. from 1941-1946.

He was a keen golfer, being a member of the Carnoustie Caledonia, Carnoustie Mercantile, Scotscraig and Press Clubs. He was a former captain of the Broughty Club, Monifieth. He had holed-in-one six times.

In the 1930s he played for Stobsmuir in the Midlands Tennis League. He was a member of the men’s doubles team which reached the final of the Scottish Cup.

Mrs Checkley was formerly in the Art Department at Meadowside.
Mr Checkley’s father, the late sergeant-Major Charles Checkley served 28 years in The Black Watch, and before settling in Dundee, he was colour-sergeant instructor in Arbroath, Carnoustie and Montrose. He also instructed Dundee High School Cadets.”

 



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