ON January 19, Barbara Stredder turns 90. She is best known locally as having been the writer of the long-running and popular Friday Fun page for young readers of the Tenby Observer.
One such young reader, Rachel Beer, lived in Carmarthen as a child, and her mum – who was Tenby born and bred – had the Tenby Observer delivered every week.
“I remember the feeling of excitement opening up the paper,” she said. “Had I won a competition? What was the next task Barbara wanted us kids to do this week? How many Friday Fun vouchers are up for grabs if my poem was chosen? I loved it!”
Children entered competitions to collect coveted Friday Fun tokens which could then be exchanged for cash prizes. (Photo supplied)
Former ‘Observer’ editor Neil Dickinson writes:
“Many congratulations to Barbara as she celebrates her milestone birthday.
“It is only fitting that the Observer should recognise this memorable occasion, as for a long time she played an important part in the paper’s long and colourful history.
“Indeed, the many glowing accolades and tributes in this special feature are certainly richly deserved and testament to the affection in which she was held.
“For many years, probably for more years than I care to remember, Barbara put the Fun (with a capital F) into Fridays with her ever-popular children’s page, featuring an eclectic mix of competitions, games, poems, quizzes, letters, stories, jokes, recipes and much, much more.
“Week after week she helped put smiles on the faces of the paper’s younger (and not so young!) readers, and none more so than with her tales, or should that be ‘tails’, of the always amusing antics of her beloved dogs, Benny, Daisy and Dandy.
Dandy – Barbara Stredder’s dog and one of the ‘authors’ of the Canine Capers letters, a regular feature of Friday Fun. (Photo supplied)
“Their canine capers were legendary and garnered a large following of faithful fans, who were always eager to hear the next episode of their mischievous shenanigans.
“You could say, it was a real (doggy) treat!
“But that was just a small part of her long and entertaining contribution to the Observer and its grateful readers.”
Rachel remembers the first time she met Barbara. “I had won a competition and the prize was a trip to Manor House Park. The star guest was none other than Seth Armstrong (Emmerdale Farm).
“What is vivid in my memories is just how lovely Barbara was. She made me feel like the most special girl ever! Made a huge fuss over me and the other winners, and we were treated like little VIP’s.
Barbara Stredder pictured back in the mid-1980s – with young competition winners in Tenby. (Photo supplied)
“I met Barbara several more times over the years. She absolutely loved what she did. It was obvious to me, even as a child, how much passion Barbara had for Friday Fun and wanting to make the kids of Tenby happy!
“One evening, a few years ago, I was visiting Tenby with my family and after spending the day on the beach, I found myself walking past Barbara’s cottage. I saw one of her neighbours outside their house and asked after Barbara. Her neighbour told me that Barbara still lived there.
“Next morning I walked over and nervously knocked on Barbara’s door. Would she still remember me? Barbara opened the door, I said hello, said my name, and instantly Barbara said, ‘Rachel from Carmarthen’. It was truly wonderful to see her again. We were both older, looked different, but Barbara was still the same wonderful, funny, quick witted and kind person she’d always been when I knew her years before.”
(Steps2Health)
Jenny Deverson remembers working on features etc with Barbara for many years at the Tenby Observer, describing her as “a lovely lady to work with.”
Hayley Subbiani adds: “Many happy memories of Barbara, firstly when I opened my shop and she and Jenny did a review piece in The Tenby Observer, then when I was working at The Tenby Observer and she was doing Friday Fun.”
Patrick Ovenden recalls: “For quite a few years Barbara and I collaborated on the Friday Fun page as she took pride in it and looked to me to make the layout more appealing. I had an annoying habit of forgetting to change the weekly challenge – something I could tell was of great importance to her, but she was always forgiving.
“Each week, Barbara would write a letter from the viewpoint of her beloved dog; these letters often raised salient points for locals. Her page had a fan-base that far exceeded the young artists who competed for tokens.”
And Barbara was brightening the lives of youngsters long before she came to live in Tenby.
On the Birkenhead News, the local paper in her native Birkenhead, she was in charge of the children’s section – the League of Chums. Barbara’s page was syndicated in the group’s six other local papers throughout Wirral.
Her connection with the Birkenhead News started around the early 1960s, when she contributed articles which were published. She then sought a job on the paper and was told that the elderly Auntie Gladys, who had run the Chums page for many years, was about to retire. Barbara was offered the job and was delighted to take over. But she did not want to be called ‘Auntie’ – so she became known as Cousin Barbara.
At its peak, the membership of the League of Chums (motto: ‘Chums All!) was huge. Chums could also enrol their pets as Chumlets. It kept Barbara extremely busy. Among her many tasks, she organised competitions, picked out Chums’ pictures, stories and drawings to publish, awarded prizes (including a coveted enamel Chums badge), sent out birthday cards and ensured new members and those with a birthday got a mention in the paper. She was also in charge of the paper’s annual ‘bonny baby’ contest.
(Photo supplied)
One of her best friends from the Birkenhead News days was Eileen Devine, who started on the paper as a junior reporter in 1968. Eileen said: “As a nervous newcomer it was always reassuring to be met by Barbara’s friendly face as I went through the office door.
“Although she was constantly busy dealing with the many demands of the Chums page, she always had time for a friendly chat. The thing that most impressed me about those chats was how Barbara – a brilliant touch typist – engaged in chat without stopping typing.
“Our friendship grew and we enjoyed many social outings, visiting places such as Liverpool, Wallasey and Chester. I also occasionally joined Barbara, a lifelong dog-lover, when she took her dog walking in Birkenhead Park just across the road from her home.
“Barbara has also become a good friend to my husband Tom, a fellow trainee reporter at the Birkenhead News. She was one of the guests at our wedding 51 years ago this month.
“Although Tom and I moved around the country with our careers, I never lost contact with Barbara. Since Tom retired 15 years ago, we have enjoyed travelling from our home in Warrington to Tenby to enjoy Barbara’s company once again.
“I will always be grateful for Barbara’s friendship and hope it continues for many years to come. Happy 90th birthday Barbara from Eileen, Tom and our lovely dog Ted – who I know means so much to you.”
Another picture from the past: Barbara Stredder with young Tenby winners. (Photo supplied)
Rob Scourfield adds to the story:
“Barbara is my cousin, descended from George Powell who came to Tenby from Ludchurch in 1874 as a coachman. I know Barbara is very proud of our family history and she has done a lot of research.
“Barbara’s work for the Tenby Observer followed in family footsteps as her grandfather also worked for the paper before moving to Birkenhead. I understand there were many happy family visits between Tenby and Birkenhead before Barbara achieved her goal of coming back home.
“I recall many chats with Barbara and Aunty Vi on the Marsh Road whilst walking into town from Greenhill – and there so many other cousins in town including Dorothy Powell of Picton Road, Joyce Richards of St Johns Hill and Freda (Gibbon) and Nesta (Davies) of Merlins Gardens – these in addition to my grandparents and uncles and aunts. They all had time to talk and reminisce and I have happy memories of them all.
“My mother Joan has recently passed away, but I know she would want me and my generation of the family to send Barbara our best wishes. She is very lucky to have such good neighbours and friends.”
“Well done and thank you Barbara,” adds Neil. “Congratulations on a remarkable nine decades. Enjoy your celebrations and most of all… have Fun!”
Tenby Observer Friday Fun page wishing its author, Barbara Stredder, a happy birthday. She was a mere 78 years old at the time! (Tenby Observer photo)
Rachel adds: “Barbara, I hope you have a lovely birthday! Thank you for everything you did for me with your Friday Fun contributions. Your dedication and hard work made many children so happy over the years. Lots of love xXx”