THE OFFICIAL UK PUZZLE CLUB - Jigsaw Puzzles

The Rober tOpie CollectionMuch of The Robert Opie Collection is currently housedat Opie’s Museum of Memories at Museum of Brands,Packaging & Advertising in London.Built up since 1963, The Collection now contains over500,000 items which together tell the extraordinarystory of Britain’s consumer society, its lifestyle andculture - dramatic changes that have happened as aresult of and since the Industrial Revolution.History of The Collection.Initially, as a teenager, Robert Opie gathered together contemporarypackaging, everything from cereal boxes to cigarette packs. Thefirst item in the Collection was a Munchies pack bought by Roberton Inverness railway station in 1963, when he was 16. A few yearslater Robert’s mission extended to understanding the origins anddevelopment of brands and retailing; he assembled the evidencefrom thousands of surviving examples of bottles, tins, labels, signsand many forms of promotional and advertising material.By 1975 there was enough material for Robert to be invited tostage a one-man show at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.This was entitled The Pack Age; A Century of Wrapping it Up. Thistemporary show was such a success with the public and the mediathat it encouraged Robert to try to create a permanent Museum,and this was achieved in 1984, with the setting up of the Museumin Gloucester. The Collection expanded rapidly when Robertdecided to extend it into further areas of social history - toys andgames, travel and transport, leisure and entertainment, comics,magazines and newspapers - every facet of daily life, includingsouvenirs from exhibitions and major events such as coronations.Ephemera such as postcards, song sheets, posters and brochuresshow not only the story of design and fashion but also the wholestructure and transitional nature of everyday life. The researchRobert undertook was similar to assembling a vast jigsaw whereeach tiny piece contributes to the understanding of the widerpicture. “Some may consider so much apparent trivia to be somuch rubbish,” says Opie, “but it is amongst the fragments of dailyREAD ABOUTRobert Opie CollectionJigs CornerNews & ViewsPreviews –Latest Jigsaws from Gibson 2010ISSUE 53February 2010What a start to the New year! Sincere apologies for some long delays indespatches during January. The whole country ground to a Halt as winter decidedto throw everything it could at us. Hopefully it’s over and we can get back tonormality. Many thanks for your understanding and continued support. Look outfor details of Abbotts Langley JIGFEST. Well worth a visit if you can make it.THE OFFICIALUK PUZZLE CLUBliving that we are psychologically and socially rooted, and this iswhere the impulses of our society can be found.”Many people now recognise that such a wealth of historicalreference provides intellectual stimulation, has social significance,gives aesthetic pleasure, is an education to the young, providesthe evidence from which the student may learn of the past, and isan excursion into nostalgia. Robert Opie concludes:”It is difficult tounderstand why recognition for this part of our national heritagecannot at the moment obtain the status it deserves. It remainsthe poor relative alongside the established works that fill ournational galleries and museums. Our mission is still to change thisperception.”Gibsons a British family company established in 1919 producessome of the UK’s best-loved jigsaw puzzles and games. They arevery proud to be publishing the official Robert Opie collectionjigsaw puzzles.Shopping Basket:Four, 1000 piece puzzles eachtaking a nostalgic look back atwhat might have been in ourshopping basket in the 1940s,1950s, 960s and 1970s.Also available as 250 piecepuzzles presented inbeautiful gifting tins, newfor February 2010.Toy Box Memories:Four brand new 1000 piecepuzzles taking a nostalgicand funny look back at thefavourite toys of the 1940s,1950s, 1960s and 1970s.Sweet Memories:Four, 1000 piece puzzleseach taking a nostalgiclook back at the sweets weremember from the 1940s,1950s, 1960s and 1970s.Also available as 250piece puzzles presentedin beautiful gifting tins.Reader’s lettersOfficial Puzzle selected JigsawsWinning Ways

NEWS & VIEWSReaders LettersOur Star LetterThere’s a very friendly puzzle club down Berkshire wayYou simply ring your order in and they send it straight awayI only have one problem; there are such a lot to choosePics of simply everything in all colours and huesYou can start with some smaller ones - 500 pcs or lessThen progress to something larger - I like 1000 bestThey are very time consuming - I can’t tear myself awayI must put one more pc in before I pack awayThey are such great stress busters - problems float wayAs you watch the picture growing and leave chores to another dayMy thanks go to the puzzle club - they are a lovely teamWhat would we do without them, I simply cannot dreamSo Puzzlers keep on puzzling and sooth your cares awayWho cares about the housework - It can wait another dayMiss J Billington - Northampton.What a compliment and gratefully received. We hope that yourfellow members can express the same delight with both theselection and the service. Don’t forget to choose your free puzzleand hope we continue to give you the pleasures described.In response to your request for charities that would benefitfrom our ‘pennies’ I enclose a list of those dear to my heart.Some do get funding through various Medias, but the ones Ihave listed are really struggling with little or no governmentsupport. I for one am very happy to give up my pennies forworthy causes, but would be disinclined to give money tosome of the much bigger organisations with oodles of staffand huge admin costs. Keep up the good work.I have added an additional £1.00 to my order for whosoeveryou decide to support this year.Linda Crailly - Aberdeen.Thank you! We are really grateful for the additionalcontributions and your suggestions. We have decided togive our donations for 2010 to Hearing Dogs for Deaf peoplewho rely on donations to train and place their dogs. We willgive you all more information as the year progresses. Weare also going to use some of our pennies to adopt two owlsfrom the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary-Lanark a Long Eared Owl& Tanga a Great grey owl on behalf of the Official UK Puzzleclub Members. Hope this meets with your approval and you’llcontinue to support these two worthy causes.Preparations for the March Jig fest are going well. It willbe bigger and better this year, the newly-refurbishedCommunity Centre allowing more room - and lookingstreets better! We have a good variety of puzzles, includingfamiliar puzzle artists {Kinkade, Jupp etc. etc.) and somereal collectors’ items. The address is Abbots LangleyCommunity Centre, Manor House Grounds, High Street,Abbots Langley WD50AP. The Vine Health Centre is overthe road and the Community Police Centre is in the samegrounds as the Centre. If you and any friends can get alongon the 20th, it would be good to see you.Best wishes, BrianAnd lastly a big thank you to one very generous memberwho has donated over £40.00 thus far this year by givingour charity fund his Gold Member’s discount.JIG’S CORNERQUESTIONS,INFORMATION& MOREI’M BACK! And according to some– I’ve been missed, but had a great break (includingsome extra days due to the fab snow we had) as Ihope you did too. Although looking at the massiveorders waiting for despatch I think you all got backto ‘puzzling’ very quickly.Q: I received the latest newsletter along with a 2010Ravensburger catalogue. Are we able to order fromthe catalogue and where would I find prices?A: Yes- you can order from all catalogues we produceand prices can be found on the reverse of our orderforms which are sent out with each order.Q: I’ve asked to be on the Auto list for Wasgijs?But not sure whether you need my Credit cardsdetails for payment?A: If you are on Auto Despatch –you will receivedetails of what is outstanding and a request for youto submit payment when you receive the jigsaw/s,which can be done by phone or post. Please ensureyou do send your payment as soon as possible toavoid us having to contact you.And now the info regarding our Charity fund andcontributions for 2009!!Through your generosity and extra pennies wecollected just under £250 which Margaret hasdoubled to make a total of £500. The PDSA will bereceiving a cheque for £400 and we will be sending£100 to The Phoenix Pet & Wildlife Sanctuary –Matlock, Somerset www.phoenixpaws.org.uk.Thank you.WINNING WAYSIssue 53When did Robert Opie first start his collectionof Packaging Memorabilia?Answers by 28th February pleaseWinner will be announced in our April Newsletterand can choose 1000pc Jigsaw or their choice.WINNING WAYS COMPETITION-ISSUE 52Winner will be announced in our March Newsletter

PREVIEWSBrand New Range Of Traditional & Collectable JigsawsFrom Gibsons Please Allow Extra Time For DeliveryA selection from 1000pc ranges at £12.00G7008 - 1940s Toy Box MemoriesG7009 - 1950s Toy Box MemoriesA selection from 1000pc ranges at £12.00G7010 - 1960s Toy Box MemoriesG7011 - 1970s Toy Box MemoriesG6047 - YorkshireG6046 - LondonG6025 - National Gallery- MasterpiecesG6026 - National Gallery- ImpressionistsNew 500pc Jigsaws - EXTRA LARGE PCS(68.5cm x 49cm): £12.00New 500pc Jigsaws (48.5 x 34.5cm) at £8.00G3017 - Brighton BoundG3018 - Gone FishingG3021 - Teddy Bears PicnicG3022 - Granny’s GardenG3032 - Springtime MarketG3019 - Venetian SerenadeG3020 - Playtime at PourvilleNew 636pc Jigsaws – (68.5 x 32cm) at £9.00250pc Jigsaws (44 x 30.5cm) Pieces are 60%Larger than normal - Ideal for those of you withsight & handling difficulties. £7.00G4006 - Landing the CatchG4007 - The CunarderG4008 - Making Light WorkG2115 - Seeding the CropG2116 - Cocktail CalamityMany many more in the enclosed 2010 Gibsons Catelogue available from the club (Prices as those illustrated)January Bonus Buys-Limited Quantities all at £6.50. (Limited Quantities still available - See January newsletter)

OFFICIAL PUZZLE CLUB SELECTED JIGSAWSTwo views of The Port of Whitbyby Terry Harrison - from Gibsons2010 collection. 2 x 1000pc in onebox available at £20.00Morning Delivery by Artist DerekRoberts - Nostalgic Village Scenefrom Gibsons 2010 collection1000pc available at £12.00And A Taste of Summer -The Great British SummerSale comical image by DickBogie - Collectable range of5 titles from Gibsons availableat £12.00To order The Port of Whitby and/or Morning Delivery and/or British Summer Sale or any of the other products featuredin this issue complete the Order form below and send with your remittance payable to: The Official UK Puzzle Club The OfficialUK Puzzle Club, PO Box 3351, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 2WE. (If you don’t want to spoil your newsletter, simply put yourrequest on paper)Code No/DescriptionG5010-Port of Whitby 2 x 1000pcG6043-Morning Delivery-1000pcG7012-Great British Summer Sale-1000pcG7008-1940s Toy Box Memories - 1000pcG7009-1950s Toy Box Memories - 1000pcG7010-1960s Toy Box Memories - 1000pcG7011-1970s Toy Box Memories - 1000pcG6025-Nat Gallery-Masterpieces - 1000pcG6026-Nat Gallery-Impressionists-1000pcG3021-Teddy Bears Picnic -500XLG3022-Granny’s Garden-500xlG3032-Springtime Market-500xlG3017-Brighton Bound - 500pcG3018-Gone Fishing - 500pcG3019-Venetian Serenade - 500pcG3020-Playtime - 500pcG4006-Landing the Catch - 636pcG4007-The Cunarder - 636pcG4008-Making Light Work - 636pcG2115-Seeding the Crop - 250pcG2116-Cocktain Calamity - 250pcShopping Basket-(Sweet Memories-(Title:Postage & Packing orOptional Next Day CarrierYear)Year)Price20.0012.0012.0012.0012.0012.0012.0012.0012.0012.0012.0012.008.008.008.008.009.009.009.007.007.0012.0012.00Quantity Value£3.50£6.00NameAddressPostcodeTelephoneEmailMembership No.Gold Members- Please deduct 10% from prices, excl p&pTotal ValueI enclose cheque/postal order for value £made payable to the Official UK Puzzle ClubPlease debit my Credit/Debit card for £ Card Type Master Card Visa Maestro/Solo*Card No:Issue No: Security Code :Valid From: Expiry Date :Signature:Please allow up to 28 days for delivery*Please attach cardholder’s details if different from aboveContact us:Official UK Puzzle Club, PO Box 3351, Wokingham, Berks RG41 2WE Telephone: 0118 978 9599 Fax: 0118 979 5077Email: mb@jigsaw-puzzle-club.co.uk or sales@whispers.co.uk Web Address: www.jigsaw-puzzle-club.co.ukBarneys Newsbox holds one of the largest puzzle selections available and caters for ALL sizes. Tel: 01539 435627Another great website with lots of manufacturers we don’t yet deal with available through the club or directwww.jigsawpuzzlesdirect.co.uk,For Trevor Mitchells Fine Art originals and prints visit: www.nostalgicart.co.uk or telephone Trevor on 01274 589053General Sales: Tel: 0118 978 9599 Helpline: retailers in your area, and general membership enquiries. Tel: 0118 978 9599