I’ve been looking online at the superb Old Higsonians beermats from the late Sixties-early Seventies.
The older drinkers among us may remember they were issued by Higson’s Brewery and featured many wittily-named Merseyside characters as Famous Old Higsonians.
These included the teddy boy Rock Ferry, the musician Phil O’Monic, the Frenchman Pierre Head and the Liverpool supporter Ann Field.
There were also a couple of scruffs called Birk ’n’ Head (see picture).
But I seem to remember similar cartoon characters, called Berk ’n’ Ed, or Burke ’n’ Ed (or other variations) being featured elsewhere much earlier.
I vaguely recall a cartoon strip called Birk ’n’ Ed in the Birkenhead News, or possibly the Liverpool Echo. And I am sure two characters with a similar name were featured in one of the old comics – possibly Film Fun, or a later comic called Buster.
As usual, old age may be playing tricks with my memory. But if anyone remembers these earlier incarnations, I’d be interested to hear.
"The number of characters in the collection of the Old Higsonians Family Album beer mats is 26.
1. Pierre Head 2. Albert Dock 3. Penny Lane 4. Doc Road. 5. Rock Ferry 6. Lord Street 7. Gwladys Street 8. Ann Field 9. Victoria Monument 10.Stanley Park 11.Phil O`Monic 12.Clayton Square 13.Otto Spool 14.Kirk Dale 15.Count Erode 16.Birk N Head 17.Belle Vale 18.Olive Mount 19.Norris Green 20.Liz Card 21.Mag Hull 22.Wes Derby 23.Wallace E Tunnel 24.The Great Crosby 25.Mossley Hill 26.M.62"
Plus a few they missed - Lee Park, son of Stanley Al Irton, and - Higsterminate featuring a Dalek..
n.b. I think you were right about a cartoon strip..
Last edited by Norton; 10th Mar 20166:43pm. Reason: Link added