Rupert's Centenary
Rupert is over 100 years old
As most of you are well aware, 8th November 1920 was Rupert's first appearance
He first appeared, in the pages of the Daily Express, onthat date, and still looks pretty good for his age!
In the lead up to Rupert's Centenary in 2020, and (because of delays due to the pandemic, continuing throughout this year) many celebrations took place. We leave some information here for you:.
Rupert Exhibition in Canterbury
The "The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge" in Canterbury put on a Rupert Exhibition
Situated at 18 High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RA, the museum is part of Canterbury Council's Museums and Galleries Department.
For more details check the Museum's website: rupert-bear-centenary-exhibition/
New Steiff Ruperts
The Danbury Mint website informs that Steiff have created a special centenary Rupert. He is 11 inches (28 cm) high, with white fur and has a 22ct gold plated badge pinned to his jumper that states '100 years'. It is a limited edition of 5,000 and costs £225.
A later release was a Mary Tourtel Rupert, in the first Rupert livery!
This link to Danbury Mint should give more information:
https://www.danburymint.co.uk/
Also spotted on the Bear Garden website is a musical Rupert, 13 inches (33cm high).
It apparently plays Jackie Lee's Rupert the Bear. He will retail at £250.00.
Rupert Pins and Charm Bracelet by Danbury Mint
To celebrate Rupert's Centenary, Danbury Mint released a set of pins featuring Rupert and his chums and subsequently,
a charm bracelet with Rupert and his chums as the charms.
The link below, to the Danbury Mint website, should give more information.
Follow this link: DanburyMint.Centenary-coins
An Article from the amazing Dust Jacket Magazine
The December 2020 edition of the magazine of the London Old Boys' Book Club - The Dust Jacket - featured an article written by the Followers own Roger Coombes.
We thought you would like to read the article, and we are grateful both to Roger and to Vic, the Editor of the Dust Jacket for their permission for its reproduction here.
Click the icon
Three-day Rupert Birthday Celebratory Spread in the Express
There was a brilliant three-day feature on Rupert in the Daily and Sunday Express, covering his birthday weekend - 6th, 7th and 8th November - three pull-out coloured supplements.
Several Members of the Followers were featured, with photographs showing their amazing Rupert collections. there was a great article about the Followers' annual Fun Days, and a superb new story by John Harrold.
A Special Treat for Members
Members of the Followers of Rupert who have attended Warwick in the last two or three years will be familiar with Howard Smith and his wonderful presentations about Rupert, and with his book Rupert, the Bear Facts.
Howard is a lecturer, historian and author and he has revamped and updated his presentation Rupert the Anthropomorphic Bear, to celebrate the Little Bear's centenary.
Especially for members of the Followers, Howard arranged for there to be an exclusive private listing of the presentation, on the Members' side of the website for a two-week period: 6th to 19th November 2020, which was much enjoyed..
Countryfile Magazine December 2020
In the December issue of Countryfile Magazine; there was a super article about Rupert and an interview with the Followers' own John Beck.
Cuddly 12 inch Rupert
Produced by Rainbow Designs, a new soft Rupert approx 12 inches high, released around 24th November 2020.
Three page Rupert Birthday Celebratory Spread in Best of British Magazine
The Magazine Best of British, November 2020 issue, included a very interesting three-page feature about Rupert, entitled Feisty Little Bear - Happy 100th birthday. It had plenty of illustrations and was well worth a read.
Frog Song re-released
The Frog Song was re-released.
It was noted in a double-page spread in the Daily Express 2 October 2020.
Rupert pins from Danbury Mint
Danbury Mint are releasing a set of Rupert pins.
An advert for the pins in the Daily Express on 8 October 2020 mentioned the Followers - and our logo!
North West Rupert Exhibition
Boris Johnson permitting, the Portland Basin Museum in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, is due to re-open its doors on Wednesday 14 October 2020.
We are told that among the exhibits will be a celebration of our own Rupert Bear.
Anyone planning to visit the museum will have to pre-book through the museum website and can do so through this link:
Entry to the museum is free but due to Covid 19 restrictions capacity is limited and entry is by timed ticket.
Apparently it is planned to run the exhibition for four weeks.
Rupert - 100 Years of Stories
The Rupert Index - 100 years of stories, by John Beck and Pamela Stones, is now available.
It is fully illustrated, with all colour images shown in full colour, and includes many interesting new facts.
Cost is £25.00 including UK postage and packing, £35.00 incl. p+p outside UK.
Send a cheque to the Followers of Rupert Secretary, John Beck, or e.mail him with your details and pay by PayPal. Details on the form:
The book has been very well received:
"What a superb book. Many thanks."
"I [was] taken aback by the scope and detail throughout its pages. It's monumental!"
"A magnificent tribute for Rupert's Centenary birthday year."
"A great piece of work."
Limited Edition Celebratory Rupert Stamps from Buckingham Covers
who say ...
Join us as we mark the centenary of the Rupert Bear’s first appearance in the Daily Express in 1920.
This limited edition first day cover features the full-set of eight new Rupert Bear stamps and Canterbury postmark and is a tribute to Rupert’s creator and illustrator Mary Tourtel. Rupert is Britain’s longest continually running newspaper strip and continues to be hugely popular to this day.
We are delighted that Buckingham Covers is supporting the Followers of Rupert
Follow this link to place your order Buckingham Covers
Royal Mail Rupert stamps for 2020
On 3 September 2020, the Royal Mail issued the official set of Rupert Stamps.
These are on sale at Post Offices or direct from Royal Mail (check their website), and can also be purchased in a presentation pack that includes interesting facts about Rupert (including a mention of the Followers), and a set of postcards featuring the stamps. All items are ideal for your collection or posting requirements.
The set is made up of four pairs of stamps, each pair featuring two illustrations from one of Rupert’s adventures - Rupert's Rainy Adventure (1944), Rupert and the Mare’s Nest (1952), Rupert And The Lost Cuckoo (1963) and Rupert's Christmas Tree (1947)
To find out more, follow this link: royalmail.stamps/rupert-bear
Stuart Trotter in Penzance
The current Rupert illustrator, Stuart Trotter, has been commissioned to produce a poster for Penzance, as St Michael's Mount has featured in a Rupert Annual, and to celebrate Rupert's Centenary.
The artwork will be unveiled at Penzance Railway Station on Saturday 25th April at 12.30 pm. Why not pop along and say "hello" to Stuart.
We are sad that this didn't happen - because of the pandemic.
The Oldie Magazine
The Oldie magazine celebrated Rupert's centenary year with the March 2020 issue by featuring him on the front cover, and with a piece in Gyles Brandreth’s Diary in the magazine.
A Celebration of Favourite Stories
We have heard that Egmont, in addition to a Rupert Annual for 2020, have produced a lovely hard-backed book with eight of Alfred Bestall's stories. The book is available on Amazon - but beware!!
This book is actually a reprint of 'Rupert, a Collection of Favourite Stories' published in 2007. The 2007 version was in a slip-case and the 2020 version may have some extra introductory pages, but the stories are the same. The 2007 version is available on eBay.
If you have any news about other events, special issues etc.,
please let us know so that we may share it on here.
The Followers of Rupert Bear
The official Rupert Bear Society Websites
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The Followers of Rupert are grateful for permission to use the images on this website.
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