An entry on Lothian Lives dated 14 October 2010 discussed the life and work of Tom Curr, a little known but talented Edinburgh graphics artist.

Curr was also a gifted and highly observant cartoonist, and his work appeared regularly in the Edinburgh Evening News during the 1920s and 1930s. Curr seems to have been a great sports fan, especially football and rugby. It is always worth checking the Monday edition of the Evening News for Curr’s version of the weekend’s big match.

Here are two examples of Curr’s work taken from the Evening News of February 1936. They cover the Scotland rugby international matches at Murrayfield against Wales and Ireland. Both matches, I regret to say, were lost by the Scots. Curr’s style and humour are immediately apparent and the cartoons capture the nature of rugby in those halcyon days, especially his description of ‘Going to the Metch’. Presumably he drew his cartoons as games were being played.

Scotland v Wales 1936

Scotland v Ireland 1936

Does anybody know where the originals of Curr’s sporting sketches are held or if they have survived? I know of at least two in rugby clubs in Scotland. Perhaps you know of others? Please let us know.