Barrie Tomlinson is among the greats of UK comic history, dating back to when he first joined Fleetway Publications in 1961. Barrie became Tiger editor in 1969 before taking on the same role from the launch of Roy of the Rovers in 1976 (but retaining involvement in Tiger). Those two comics represent the tip of the iceberg for Barrie’s work in publishing but as this blog is titled Cricket Attic we’ll be focusing on Tiger’s hugely significant contribution to the summer game – especially during the ‘70s and early ‘80s.
Part two of this exclusive interview covers the post-1977 era once Tony Greig’s time as Tiger’s first cricket columnist was up:
Cricket Attic: Tony Greig’s departure from the England side meant you were looking for a new cricket columnist and you settled on Geoff Boycott. Except negotiations were tough and they went right up to the time he was due to leave for the 77/78 tour of Pakistan as vice-captain. But you got your man in the end! Geoff became quite the signing for Tiger as he was pictured with the comic around the world and promoting competitions such as for ‘Test Match’ games. You also did a cricket quiz book and annual with him as well as becoming Melchester Rovers chairman in 1984. Not to mention his illustrated ‘Play the Geoff Boycott Way’ coaching series. That must be one of the best player relationships you ever had?
Barrie: The negotiations were tough but we got on well. After all these years I am still in touch with him. I am so pleased his time working with my comics was a happy experience for him. I mentioned in my book ‘Comic Book Hero’ that I once went to Lord’s Cricket Ground to meet Geoffrey Boycott. It was a non-match day and at that time the ground had lots of rules and regulations. They wouldn’t let me into the ground, despite me saying that I had an appointment with Geoffrey and I was from IPC Magazines, a very large publishing house. No entry. I was stuck outside. Then I said “I’m from Tiger!” Immediately, attitudes changed. “From Tiger? Of course you can come in!”
That’s what Tiger meant in those days. Everyone loved the title.
We still keep in touch – here’s a recent photo!
Geoff even played Trevor Francis at Subbuteo with Dickie Bird at the 25th anniversary event in 1979 – quite a trio!
I was pleased to invite so many stars to our Tiger birthday celebrations. The Subbuteo match between Geoffrey and Trevor was something special. As was having Dickie Bird as referee. Dickie was a great fan of Tiger and I always enjoyed listening to his cricketing stories. After the 25th party, I remember we all went out to dinner afterwards. It was a great evening.
Once Geoff Boycott joined the SA rebel tour in 1982 you were looking for another cricket columnist…who better than Ian Botham. I understand some of those negotiations took place in the pub?
It wasn’t because of the rebel tour that we changed writers. It was just time for a change and Geoffrey had already made sure that Ian knew all about Tiger. Yes, I did first meet Ian in a Fleet Street pub!
David Gower was also a big friend of Tiger – writing an exclusive article for the 1979 'World Cup Superstars' poster magazine and putting his name to the ‘Stumped’ cricket quiz from 1982. You also took a famous photo of him in a swimming pool, with a copy of Tiger in hand. What do you remember about working with David?
It was a pleasant experience! At that time, all the England cricket team seemed to know about Tiger.
There weren’t many cricket cartoon strips in Tiger but one was around at the time you started as editor ('The Slogger from Down Under') and there was also one at the end of the magazine's life in 84-85 ('Paceman'). Other characters would also turn their hand to cricket in the summer (especially Billy Dane and Nipper). Why do you think there was never a truly memorable, long-running cricket cartoon strip in Tiger?
We had so many very good, established stories that it was difficult for a cricket story to compete against them. I was always keen for established football stories to feature cricket in the summer. I’m proud of coming up with the idea of Billy Dane having a pair of Dead-Shot’s old cricket boots!
Besides the regular contributors you also had numerous other famous cricketing names involved with Tiger such as Denis Compton, Ted Dexter, Jim Laker, Bob Willis, Phil Edmonds and Brian Johnston. Do any stories particularly stick out from them?
The players whose names you mentioned all came to our Tiger presentation lunches. It was thrilling to meet my boyhood heroes Denis Compton and Jim Laker.
I edited a magazine for Phil Edmonds for his benefit year and that was great fun to do. All the famous people I met during my career were really nice people. Tiger had a good reputation and that made it so much easier!
Thank you to Barrie for speaking to Cricket Attic.
If you want to know more about Barrie’s life in comics here are his two books to date…with a third on the way!
Real Roy of the Rovers Stuff - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Real-Roy-Rovers-Stuff-Story/dp/178531212X/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1655462986&refinements=p_27%3ABarrie+Tomlinson&s=books&sr=1-2
Comic Book Hero - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Comic-Book-Hero-Working-Britains-ebook/dp/B075WTT9KR/ref=sr_1_8?qid=1655462986&refinements=p_27%3ABarrie+Tomlinson&s=books&sr=1-8
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