Tuesday, 13 October 2026

1972, Television: Alcock and Gander

On 5 June 1972, the first episode of the British comedy television series "Alcock and Gander" was broadcast on the ITV network. The series was directed and produced by Alan Tarrant and written by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke. The starring roles were played by Beryl Reid, Richard O'Sullivan and John Cater. The opening theme, "Rollin' Easy", was composed by Peter Milray. The series ran for one season, comprising six episodes.

Norman Chappell as Mr. Entwhistle in "The Safe Breaker"
Edwin Richfield as Sweeney, John Cater as Ernest
and Beryl Reid as Mrs Marigold Alcock in "Husband in a Hurry"
Julie Martin as Collette, Richard O'Sullivan as Richard Gander
and Beryl Reid as Mrs Marigold Alcock in "Soho Is Too Small"
John Cater as Ernest in "Pontoon"
Beryl Reid as Mrs Marigold Alcock, Patrick Newell as Luigi
and Richard O'Sullivan as Richard Gander in "Pontoon"

Synopsis
When Marigold Alcock (Beryl Reid) is widowed following the death of her shady husband, she inherits his decidedly dubious business empire, the Alcock Group of Companies. The business operates from a cramped, shabby two-room office, complete with an executive lavatory, in London's Soho district, directly above a strip club. The company comprises a motley collection of questionable enterprises, including Alcock's Marriage Bureau, Flybynight Tours and Alcock's Detective Agency. It also sells an assortment of obscure products, such as "Tom O'Thimble" lucky gnomes and "Alcock Swiss Elixir".…

Beryl Reid as Mrs Marigold Alcock in "The Strip Club"
Patrick Newell as Luigi in "The Strip Club"
Richard O'Sullivan as Richard Gander in "The Strip Club"
Brenda Kempner as Gladys in "Artistic Books, Soho, Ltd"

Main Cast

  • Beryl Reid as Mrs. Marigold Alcock
  • Richard O'Sullivan as Richard Gander
  • John Cater as Ernest
  • Patrick Newell as Luigi
  • Larry Martyn as First Workman

Opening and Closing Credits

Friday, 9 October 2026

1970, Sport: UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race

The 1970 UCI Road World Championships for professional riders were held on 16 August 1970 in Leicester, England. It was the 37th edition of the event. 95 professionals took the start on Sunday 16 August for a race covering 271.96 kilometres. At the age of 21 in his first season as a professional, Jean-Pierre Monseré won at an average speed of 41.42 km/h.

Jean-Pierre Monseré at the finish
Jean-Pierre Monseré receiving the rainbow jersey

Halfway through the race, Monseré was at the head of a seven-man breakaway that included four Italians: Felice Gimondi, Michele Dancelli, Gianni Motta and Giacinto Santambrogio. Eddy Merckx, the great favourite of the year, remained in the main field and, with 15 kilometres to go, was still a minute behind the breakaway. His attempt to bridge the gap came to nothing. At the finish, he was one of the first to congratulate his young compatriot on winning the title.

Leif Mortensen, Jean-Pierre Monseré and Felice Gimondi

The crowd of around 10,000 warmly applauded the Englishman Les West, who finished fourth. Strong winds made the race exceptionally hard. At one point, the wind threatened to carry away the journalists’ tent, which had to be abandoned. The circuit included two moderate climbs, with both the start and finish at Mallory Park motor racing circuit.

Leif Mortensen, Jean-Pierre Monseré and Felice Gimondi

Complete Results:

Rnk

Rider

Team

Time

1

Monseré Jean-Pierre

Belgium

6:33:58

2

Mortensen Leif

Denmark

0:02

3

Gimondi Felice

Italy

,,

4

West Les

Great Britain

0:03

5

Rouxel Charly

France

0:05

6

Vasseur Alain

France

0:09

7

Godefroot Walter

Belgium

0:18

8

Verbeeck Frans

Belgium

,,

9

Bitossi Franco

Italy

,,

10

Vianen Gerard

Netherlands

,,

11

De Vlaeminck Roger

Belgium

,,

12

Wolfshohl Rolf

Germany

,,

13

Krekels Jan

Netherlands

,,

14

Guimard Cyrille

France

,,

15

Altig Rudi

Germany

,,

16

Janssen Jan

Netherlands

,,

17

Basso Marino

Italy

,,

18

Dancelli Michele

Italy

,,

19

Tschan Jürgen

Germany

,,

20

Ottenbros Harm

Netherlands

,,

21

Lasa Miguel María

Spain

,,

22

Pijnen René

Netherlands

,,

23

Raymond Christian

France

,,

24

Barras Sid

Great Britain

,,

25

Simonetti Mauro

Italy

,,

26

Dolman Evert

Netherlands

,,

27

Spahn Erich

Switzerland

,,

28

Kisner Peter

Netherlands

,,

29

Merckx Eddy

Belgium

,,

30

Pettersson Sture

Sweden

,,

31

Pettersson Gösta

Sweden

,,

32

Wright Michael

Great Britain

,,

33

Riotte Raymond

France

,,

34

van Katwijk Jan

Netherlands

,,

35

Pfenninger Louis

Switzerland

,,

36

Rebillard Daniel

France

,,

37

Poulidor Raymond

France

,,

38

Saéz Ramón

Spain

,,

39

Motta Gianni

Italy

,,

40

Ritter Ole

Denmark

,,

41

Bernardino Firmino

Portugal

,,

42

Pettersson Tomas

Sweden

,,

43

González José Antonio

Spain

,,

44

Santambrogio Giacinto

Italy

,,

45

Jolly Brian

Great Britain

,,

46

Vifian Bernard

Switzerland

,,

47

Puschel Dieter

Germany

,,

48

Streng Ernst

Germany

,,

49

Gandarias Andrés

Spain

,,

50

Adorni Vittorio

Italy

,,

51

Wagtmans Rini

Netherlands

,,

52

Zoetemelk Joop

Netherlands

,,

53

Horton Danny

Great Britain

,,

54

Rub Kurt

Switzerland

,,

55

Glemser Peter

Germany

,,

56

Aranzabal Jesús

Spain

,,

57

Delisle Raymond

France

,,

58

Thalmann Erwin

Switzerland

,,

59

Van Springel Herman

Belgium

,,

60

Azevedo José Silva Gonçalves

Portugal

,,

61

Berland Roland

France

,,

62

Pettersson Erik

Sweden

,,

63

Perurena Domingo

Spain

,,

64

Porter Hugh

Great Britain

,,

65

Huysmans Jos

Belgium

,,

66

Zilioli Italo

Italy

,,

67

Pacheco José Luis Oliveira

Portugal

,,

68

Pintens Georges

Belgium

,,

69

Bölke Winfried

Germany

,,

DNF

Gilmore Graeme

Australia


DNF

Kelliher Toni

Australia


DNF

Maloney Gordon

Australia


DNF

Lawrie Bill

Australia


DNF

Johnson Gordon

Australia


DNF

Jiménez Giovanni José

Colombia


DNF

Frey Mogens

Denmark


DNF

Kunde Karl-Heinz

Germany


DNF

Peffgen Wilfried

Germany


DNF

Head Peter

Great Britain


DNF

Hoban Barry

Great Britain


DNF

Wiles Geoffrey

Great Britain


DNF

Lewis Colin

Great Britain


DNF

Pereira José Machado

Portugal


DNF

Leite Joaquim Magalhães

Portugal


DNF

Moreira Joaquim

Portugal


DNF

Lasa José Manuel

Spain


DNF

Tamames Agustín

Spain


DNF

Jiménez Nemesio

Spain


DNF

Ocaña Luis

Spain


DNF

Zandegù Dino

Italy


DNF

Van Lancker Alain

France


DNF

Bruyère Joseph

Belgium


DNF

Spruyt Jos

Belgium


DNF

Schutz Edy

Luxembourg


DNF

Miller Leonard

Bahamas



Wednesday, 7 October 2026

1969, Car Spotting: Grote Koppel, Amersfoort, Netherlands

Left to right
Volkswagen 1200/1300 (Type 1, Beetle), Simca 1100, Opel (Olympia) Rekord (P1) or Opel 1200, Opel Kadett B, Renault R4, Volkswagen 1200/1300 (Type 1, Beetle), Renault Dauphine, Auto Union 1000, Simca 1301/1501, unidentified car, Volkswagen 1600 TL (Type 3).

Monday, 5 October 2026

1968, Cars: Fiat Range

Fiat 500

  • Berlina (F), 2-door Saloon, RR, L2, 499 cc, 13 hp / 16 kW, 95 km/h
  • Berlina Lusso, 2-door Saloon, RR, L2, 499 cc, 13 hp / 16 kW, 95 km/h
Fiat 500 Berlina (F)
Fiat 500 Berlina Lusso

Fiat 600 (D)

  • Berlina, 2-door Saloon, RR, L4, 767 cc, 18 hp / 23 kW, 110 km/h
Fiat 600 Berlina

Fiat 850

  • Berlina Normale, 2-door Saloon, RR, L4, 843 cc, 25 hp / 29 kW, 120 km/h
  • Berlina Super, 2-door Saloon, RR, L4, 843 cc, 27 hp / 31 kW, 125 km/h
  • Special, 2-door Saloon, RR, L4, 843 cc, 34 hp / 46 kW, 135 km/h
  • Familiare, 4-door Mini-Van, RR, L4, 843 cc, 25 hp / 29 kW, 100 km/h
  • Sport Coupé, 2-door Coupé, RR, L4, 903 cc, 38 hp / 51 kW, 145 km/h
  • Sport Spider, 2-door Cabriolet, RR, L4, 903 cc, 38 hp / 51 kW, 150 km/h
Fiat 850 Berlina
Fiat 850 Special
Fiat 850 Familiare
Fiat 850 Sport Coupé
Fiat 850 Sport Spider

Fiat 1100 (R)

  • Berlina, 4-door Saloon, FR, L4, 1089 cc, 35 hp / 39 kW, 130 km/h
  • Familiare, 5-door Estate, FR, L4, 1089 cc, 35 hp / 39 kW, 130 km/h
Fiat 1100 Berlina
Fiat 1100 Familiare

Fiat 124

  • Berlina, 4-door Saloon, FR, L4, 1197 cc, 44 hp / 48 kW, 140 km/h
  • Special, 4-door Saloon, FR, L4, 1438 cc, 51 hp / 56 kW, 150 km/h
  • Familiare, 5-door Estate, FR, L4, 1197 cc, 44 hp / 48 kW, 140 km/h
  • Sport Coupé, 2-door Coupé, FR, L4, 1438 cc, 66 hp / 71 kW, 170 km/h
  • Sport Spider, 2-door Cabriolet, FR, L4, 1438 cc, 66 hp / 71 kW, 170 km/h
Fiat 124 Berlina
Fiat 124 Special
Fiat 124 Familiare
Fiat 124 Sport Coupé
Fiat 124 Sport Spider

Fiat 125

  • Berlina, 4-door Saloon, FR, L4, 1608 cc, 66 hp / 89 kW, 160 km/h
  • Special, 4-door Saloon, FR, L4, 1608 cc, 73 hp / 99 kW, 170 km/h
Fiat 125 Berlina
Fiat 125 Special

Fiat 1800/2300 (B)

  • 1800 Berlina, 4-door Saloon, FR, L6, 1795 cc, 59 hp / 71 kW, 153 km/h
  • 1800 Familiare, 5-door Estate, FR, L6, 1795 cc, 59 hp / 71 kW, 150 km/h 
  • 2300 Lusso Berlina, 4-door Saloon, FR, L6, 2279 cc, 75 hp / 86 kW, 160 km/h
  • 2300 Lusso Familiare, 5-door Estate, FR, L6, 2279 cc, 75 hp / 86 kW, 160 km/h
  • 2300 S Coupé, 2-door Coupé, FR, L6, 2279 cc, 95 hp / 110 kW, 190 km/h
Fiat 1800 Berlina
Fiat 1800 Familiare
Fiat 2300 Lusso Berlina
Fiat 2300 S Coupé

Fiat Dino

  • Coupé, 2-door Coupé, FR, V6, 1987 cc, 158 hp / 118 kW, 210 km/h
  • Spider, 2-door Cabriolet, FR, V6, 1987 cc, 158 hp / 118 kW, 210 km/h
Fiat Dino Coupé
Fiat Dino Spider

Fiat Campagnola

  • Campagnola A, off-road vehicle, 4WD, L4, 1901 cc, 60 hp / 45 kW, 110 km/h
  • Campagnola C Diesel, off-road vehicle, 4WD, L4, 1895 cc, 46 hp / 34 kW, 95 km/h
Fiat Campagnola

Saturday, 3 October 2026

1967, Belgian Comics: Les Aventures de Dan Cooper, Fantôme 3 ne répond plus!

In 1967, the album "Fantôme 3 ne répond plus !" was published by Le Lombard as part of the comic series "Les Aventures de Dan Cooper". Dan Cooper was created by Albert Weinberg for the youth magazine Tintin/Kuifje in 1954, as an answer to the popular Buck Danny series published in Spirou/Robbedoes. The main character is Captain Cooper, a Canadian pilot serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), who began his career flying a Hurricane with the 261th Squadron in Malta during the Second World War.

Fantôme 3 ne répond plus !
- full colour
- publisher: Le Lombard
- Dutch title: De avonturen van Dan Cooper, Spook 3 antwoordt niet meer ! (Le Lombard, 1967)
- never published in English
- drawings by Albert Weinberg
- story by Albert Weinberg

Dan Cooper
Pierrot and Dan Cooper

The main characters in this album are Dan Cooper, J.J. Walker, Powell, the dog Schavuit and Pierrot.

Synopsis
After a demonstration flight in Finland involving a new radar-guided missile, Dan Cooper is approached at a cocktail party by the enigmatic J. J. Walker, president and managing director of "Moonlight Pictures"…

J.J. Walker
Schavuit
Dan Cooper, J.J. Walker and Powell

Vehicles

  • FV214 Conqueror Tank
  • unidentified armoured fighting vehicle
  • Dassault Mirage III
  • Ford Galaxie 500 (1964)
  • Chevrolet Impala (1962)
  • Arado Ar 196
  • BAV 485 (ZiS-485 or ZiL-485)
  • Yakovlev Yak-12
  • Mikojan-Goerevitsj MiG-19
  • T-34 Tank
  • Mil Mi-1
  • Soechoj Soe-9
  • CF-5 Freedom Fighter
  • Volvo Amazon (Volvo 120 Series)
Arado Ar 196
BAV 485 (ZiS-485 or ZiL-485)
CF-5 Freedom Fighter
Chevrolet Impala (1962)
Dassault Mirage III
Ford Galaxie 500 (1964)
FV214 Conqueror Tank
Mikojan-Goerevitsj MiG-19
Mil Mi-1
Soechoj Soe-9
T-34 Tank
unidentified armoured fighting vehicle
Volvo Amazon (Volvo 120 Series)
Yakovlev Yak-12