On this day in 1938

The Beano, published by Dundee-based DC Thomson has introduced generations of British children to some of the best-known characters ever drawn in a comic strip. These include Dennis the Menace and his dog Gnasher, The Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx, and Roger the Dodger.

In the early 1950s, The Beano was selling close to two million copies of every issue, and, for a long time, it was published alongside The Dandy, which achieved similar popularity.

Comic evolution

The comic has changed greatly over the years to ensure it has remained relevant to changing reader tastes, and several strips have appeared and disappeared during that time. However, Dennis the Menace and Gnasher have had remarkable staying power and Dennis has remained a fixture of the comic since his introduction in issue 452, in March 1951.

In 2011, celebrating Dennis the Menace’s 60th anniversary, the BBC revealed that “The ‘world’s naughtiest boy’ was born in 1951 on the back of a cigarette packet. Within a short time he’d stolen a red and black jumper, revitalised the Beano and inspired a new wave of comic strip kids to shake up post-war, austerity Britain.” He had come into being when the comic’s editor “heard a music hall song with the chorus ‘I’m Dennis the Menace from Venice’ and ordered a character to fit the name.”

Dennis and Gnasher

Dennis’ pet dog, Gnasher, first appeared in 1968, in a strip that saw Dennis find the scruffy pup on the street and enter him into a dog show.

Spin-offs have seen the launch of companion Beano titles, books, television programmes and even, for a while, a Beanoland area at Chessington World of Adventures. The word ‘beano’ itself is defined as a noisy celebration, which seems rather apt for a children’s comic.

 

...and on this day in 1984

All six carriages of a locomotive train were derailed when the engine struck a cow close to Polmont railway station. Part of the cow became wedged under the leading wheels of the front carriage, lifting them up, after which the train, which was navigating a bend, crashed onto its side.

Some of the carriages cartwheeled over one another, and the passengers were thrown around, and even out of the windows. Thirteen were killed and a further 61 were injured.

A memorial to the dead was unveiled at Polmont station in 2009, to mark the 25th anniversary of the accident.