The Bell Family and YOU!
How well do you know the Bells?
(Go here for answers – no cheating!)
1) What kind of caterpillar does Angus present to Paul at the beginning of the story?
2) What colour dress does Mrs Bell wear to the ballet?
3) Why does Angus show so little interest in his birthday cake?
4) What confession does Jane make to Mumsdad at the zoo?
5) Why does Angus envy his cousin Liza?
6) What do the girls at St Winifred’s have to wear on special occasions?
7) What does Ginnie forget to do when she presents some flowers to Aunt Rose?
8) What makes Esau terribly sick at Christmas?
Make do and mend?! Money in post-war Britain…
One of the most striking things about The Bell Family is how poor the Bells are – they are often forced to go without and make the best of the little they have. This element of the story sometimes feels strange to us modern readers because, although the Bells are poor, they live in a big house and have a cleaner to help them.
In the early 1950s, people tended to have much less spare cash and the price of things like clothes and food was relatively high, compared with today. For this reason we see Mrs Bell dressing her children in hand-me-down clothes, re-upholstering an armchair with the velvet from an old house-coat (a sort of dressing gown) and holidaying at her brother’s house. In addition, after the Second World War, rationing on some essential things continued until 1954, the year this book was written.
Money matters…
So how did the old system of British currency work?
2 farthings = 1 halfpenny
2 halfpennies = 1 penny
12 pence = a shilling (or ‘bob’)
5 shillings = a crown
20 shillings = a pound
21 shillings = a guinea
Complicated, right?! That’s what the government of the 1970s thought too. Britain converted to the current system of money, the ‘metric’ system, in 1971, on a day known as Decimal Day.
How does money in The Bell Family compare to today’s money?
Mrs Bell says she needs 30 shillings for a new dress. In today’s money that is equal to about £120. Today, because of imports from other countries, changes in fashion, and the many other ways the economy has changed, you can certainly buy a dress for less than that.
What can we learn from the Bells?
Although it’s not much fun to be struggling for money the ‘make do and mend’ attitude of the Bell family is certainly admirable and we can still learn lessons from it today. In modern Britain we throw away millions of tonnes of food every year, and we are quite happy to chuck things out when they break, rather than try to fix them. The trouble is that our demand for new things puts a terrible strain on the natural resources of our planet so it is important that we all make a little effort to reduce waste. We can:
Switch off lights when we leave a room
Eat up all our food
Have quick showers or share bathwater
Attempt to fix broken objects
Make new things out of old clothes and discarded objects
Reducing waste is something we should all try to do every day, but if you’re keen to supplement your pocket money too why not try one of these money-spinners…
Ideas for making money just like the Bell children (though no begging!)
If you are over the age of thirteen you could offer your services as a babysitter. Put little notes through the doors of neighbours with children explaining who you are and what service you offer. Make sure you include your contact details and hourly rate.
If you have an especially beautiful or talented pet why not enter him or her into a competition? Keep your eye out for pet competitions in your local newspaper and you just might hit the jackpot, like the Bells did with the gorgeous Esau.
Car washing is a good way to make some extra pocket money. With an adult, knock on the doors of your neighbours and ask them if they would like to have their car washed. Have your buckets, soap and sponges ready in case someone takes you up on the offer. Make sure you do a first rate job of polishing the car till it gleams – the best kind of customer is a repeat customer.
Busking can be a very profitable business. If you have a talent for singing, dancing or playing a musical instrument you could entertain people on the street. Get an adult to accompany you and also check that busking is permitted where you are.
A lemonade stand in your front garden is a great way to make some extra cash. Set up a table with a pretty table cloth, make a big sign, put your lemonade in a nice jug and get hold of some disposable cups. Be ready to greet customers in a friendly, inviting way and you might sell out before you know it…
Who Are You?
Take our quiz to find out which Bell child you most resemble…
1) Your favourite subject at school is
a) music
b) science
c) dance
d) games
2) Your idea of a perfect Saturday afternoon is
a) playing with your pets
b) playing cricket with friends
c) performing on stage
d) getting up to mischief and hatching secret plans
3) Are you most likely to be heard saying
a) ‘A woolly bear caterpillar isn’t a dear little anything’
b) ‘It seems a bit off to miss the coaching nets’
c) ‘You’re the most gorgeous mother in the world’
d) ‘Don’t be so ignorant my boy’
4) Which word best describes you?
a) inquisitive
b) determined
c) graceful
d) forthright
Mostly As: You’re Angus! An animal-lover, a collector and a confident kind of person, you’ll follow along with the pranks but always mean well.
Mostly Bs: You’re Paul! You’re ambitious – you always try to help others whilst working hard at your own projects.
Mostly Cs: You’re Jane! Sensitive, delicate and kind, you see to the heart of things and only want the best for those you love.
Mostly Ds: You’re Ginnie! Abrupt, straightforward and mischievous, Ginnie-types often get into trouble but are lovable for their naughtiness.
Galosh, galoosh!
Here’s some scrumdatious vocabulary from the Bells…
crêpe de chine – a fine, wrinkly fabric, usually made of silk.
ermine – fur from a stoat when it has its pure white winter coat.
organdie – a fine translucent cotton muslin that is usually stiffened and used to make pretty party dresses.
perambulator – a pushchair for babies, now known as a ‘pram’.
potage – thick soup.
red-letter day – in earlier times this meant a church festival or saint’s day; more recently, any special day.
verger – an ordinary person who helps with church services.
whelk – a type of seafood.
Answers to The Bell Family quiz – how did you do?
1) A woolly bear caterpillar.
2) Black.
3) Because he is thinking about ballet and his intention to become a dancer.
4) That she feels terribly jealous of Angus.
5) Because she has lots of pets, including a pony, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats and hens.
6) ‘School whites’ – white dresses.
7) To curtsy.
8) Angus’s chocolate creams.
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Epub ISBN 9781448182732
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Published by Vintage 2014
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Copyright © Noel Streatfeild 1954
Illustrations copyright © Shirley Hughes 1954
Noel Streatfeild has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
The Bell Family was first published in Great Britain by Collins in 1954
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ISBN 9780099583363
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