Tag Archives: Period story

Secret School

Bunty,

Plot

Victorian teacher Hannah Gilbert is running a secret night school for urchins at Howard Academy. They appreciate her lessons far more than her day class (a class full of spoiled brats from the wealthy classes) and her lessons are helping them to improve their chances in life. But Hannah will be dismissed if her secret is discovered. When it happens, Hannah is determined to keep teaching her urchins and starts looking for other avenues for it.

Notes

Appeared

  • Secret School –  Bunty:  #1930 (7 January 1995) – (?)

The Healing Hands of Hanni

Mandy, ,

Plot:

Hanni Todd, a gipsy orphan had a great gift for  healing animals. The local animal doctor feared Hanni would take away all his customers, and had forced her to go into an orphanage where Hanni pined for her freedom. Mistress Crow, the matron of the orphanage, over-worked and under-fed the children, and used the orphanage funds for herself. One day Hanni was sent to treat a horse that  belonged to Sir Oliver Christy, a man of great influence. She decided that if she could cure the horse, and earn Sir Oliver’s gratitude, she would tell Sir Oliver what was going on at the orphanage.

healing hands of hanni

Notes:

Appeared:

  • The Healing Hands of Hanni – Mandy: #467 (27 December 1975) – #480 (27 March 1976)

 

Who is Sad Sally?

Mandy, , ,

Plot:

In Victorian times, Sally is an orphan with no memory of her past and unable to speak. She is taken in by Mrs Crabstick, a beggar woman. But Mrs Crabstick runs a den of thieves and exploits Sally’s inability to speak for begging purposes.

Sally

Notes:

Appeared:

  • Who is Sad Sally?  –  Mandy: #546 (02 July 1977) – #556 (10 September 1977)
  • Reprinted – Mandy: #1228 (28 July 1990) – #1239 (13 October 1990)

 

Little Miss Busyfingers

Mandy, , , , , , , ,

Plot

It is the end of World War II. All the other evacuees have left the Larches, home to Misses Daphne and Edith Burntree. Vi (Violet) Lambeth has stayed on because the housekeeper, Mrs Porter, is kind to her. But then the Misses Burntree sack Mrs Porter and start using Vi as an unpaid servant. They also get rid of the piano Mrs Porter left Vi as a gift, so Vi has to find other ways of playing the piano. And Vi has to contend with bullies at school as well.

busyfingers

Notes

  • Text Story
  • Spot Art: Tom Hurst

Appeared

  • Little Miss Busyfingers –  Mandy: #1232 (25 August 1990) – #1243 (10 November 1990)

 

Have I Been Here Before?

Mandy, ,

Plot

Diane Dawson and her family move into Parfitt Court. Diane begins to have disturbing dreams in which she relives the hard life of Meg Hardy, who had once worked as a kitchen maid at Parfitt Court. Worse, Diana finds that she seems to experience parallels to her dreams in real life, such as falling ill of a fever while she dreams that Meg does and is in danger of death.

Before

Notes

Appeared

  • Have I Been Here Before? –  Mandy: #1224 (30 June 1990) – #1238 (6 October 1990)

 

The Secret Scholar

Mandy, , ,

Plot

In Victorian times, Lucy Seaton takes a skivvy’s job at Marlowe Seminary for Young Ladies to secretly glean as much education as she can in order to sit a scholarship that she promised her dying parents she would do her best to win. But she has to contend with the tough skivvy life, spiteful snobby schoolgirls and hard senior staff.

Scholar

Notes

  • Artist: Dudley Wynne

Appeared

  • The Secret Scholar –  Mandy: #1204 (10 February 1990) – #1216 (5 May 1990)

 

Emma’s Umbrella

Mandy, , ,

Plot

In 1900, Ivan’s Umbrella Shop is renowned for his beautiful personalised umbrellas, with the owner’s name inscribed on the handle. The last umbrella Ivan makes is inscribed with the name “Emma”, after the daughter he and his wife never had. The umbrella passes through a succession of owners over time, and each time it does so, it changes their lives.

Umbrella

Notes:

  • Writer: Alison Christie (Fitt)
  • Artist: Norman Lee

Appeared

  • Emma’s Umbrella –  Mandy: #983 (16 November 1985) – #990 (4 January 1986)

 

The Door to Yesterday [1967]

Mandy, ,

Plot

Kerry Hollis is staying with her Aunt Mabel for a holiday. She comes across a wardrobe and finds it is a time travel device, but only to the years 1985, 1885 and 1785. When Kerry goes to 1785 she finds its inventor meant it to take people to the future, in 1985. But instead it goes the other way, taking people from 1985 to 1885 or 1785. Kerry starts using the device for time travel to the past, but this gets dangerous for her when she is accused of witchcraft.

door

Notes

Appeared

  • The Door to Yesterday–  #39 (14 October 1967) – #47 (9 December 1976)
  • Reprinted – Mandy: #546 (02 July 1977) – #554 (27 August 1977)
  • Reprinted – Mandy: #978 (12 October 1985) – #985 (30 November 1985)

 

Bonny and Belinda

Mandy, , ,

Plot

Twins Bonny and Belinda live in a Victorian Orphanage. The wealthy Langleys adopt Bonny because they like her spirited nature but leave Belinda because she is shy. Bonny and Belinda will not be parted, so Bonny smuggles Belinda into the house, where Belinda can pretend to be Bonny at times and enjoy the Langley luxuries.

B&B

Notes

  • Artist: Dudley Wynne

Appeared

  • Bonny and Belinda –  Mandy:  #966 (20 July 1985) – #982 (9 November 1985)

 

Meg Among the Slaves

Mandy, , ,

Plot:

In Victorian times, Meg Jackson applies for a sewing job at Hamble’s, the poshest store in London. She ends up at Hamble’s seamstress school, but discovers that Mr Jones the manager and his sister are cruel employers who make their apprentices work in appalling conditions. Then Meg begins to suspect Mr Jones of stealing from the store.

Meg

Notes:

Appeared:

  • Meg Among the Slaves – Mandy: #195 (10 October 1970) – #208 (9 January 1971)
  • Reprinted – Mandy: #586 (08 April 1978) – #598 (01 July 1978)
  • Reprinted – Mandy:  #958 (25 May 1985) – #971 (24 August 1985)