The Reed Family Picture Album (as drawn by Les)

Left: Henry Melmoth ("Harry") Reed as a youth.

Above: Harry Reed once scored 137 at cricket.

At the foot of the "M" page, several of his offspring reminisce about their father.

Bob with appropriate cheers and boos (and a few punch-ups) plays a one-man/two-team game of football.

The real thing.

Hoops.

Cricket in the street.

"Jock" from Jack & Son displays his acrobatic prowess after Miss Pledger had left the soap on the step. "I musta slipped", says Jock.

Ron singing one of his delightful baritone ballads accompanied by Els and Dot on the piano.

Bob's finale as a cook and Ern's as a fire fighter.

Rex and his well-worn track.

Top: Rose and Harry taking a stroll in the country.

Above: Harry Reed and his sons Ron, Len, Les and Syd.

Harry Reed was ever the keen sportsman.

Crayfishing back-beach pools.

Above: Such a nice drawing ... Here is the cut-off.

One of the Reeds would telephone an acquaintance.
"'Scuse me, but is your house on Sydney Road?"
"Er ... Yes, it is."
"Well could you please move it. We're trying to get the Coburg tram through!"

REG SINGLETON

A different kind of joy floated in with Reg. And when I say "floated", to me (that is Les) that is just how it seemed. A classical mind: the Arts at his fingertips. A public schoolboy which just suited him in every way in his grown life. He shall be depicted as a Wesley boy. But if I remember correctly, the cap was purple with a golden lion. And I can't draw lions. So Reg shall always be wearing a Wesley cap with a "W" on it.

STAN BINCH

A jolly fellow Stan: he fitted in nicely with everyone and had a placid nature. Put his heart and soul into everything. Stan's outstanding gift for the cartoonist (that is, Les) was his black-and-blue blazer. So he will always be wearing that.

Bobby always spoke fondly of Kevin Sullivan. But he does not appear in the drawings, so I wonder if he might have been R.C. and therefore anethma to a good C. of E. family like the Reeds?? Anyway, the young scoundrels (Bobby and Kevin) found a bottle of Van der Hum Creme de Menthe in Kevin's home. They drank it, and replaced the contents with green-coloured liquid. Mr Sullivan (Kevin's father) never found out.

Years later, the young men returned safely from their overseas adventure in WWII. Mr Sullivan was overjoyed and decided that this was the perfect time to open the long-treasured bottle of Creme de Menthe, to celebrate their homecoming. Red faces all round, that time!