Vintage Ice Lolly Wrapper Guide Published

A new 96-page book, "Fancy a Nobbly Bobbly? Or a Jelly Terror? The eye-popping guide to the greatest ice lolly wrappers ever," has been published, celebrating a significant collection of vintage British ice lolly wrappers. The book, compiled by Jonny Trunk, a pop culture collector, writer, DJ, broadcaster, and record-label owner, features designs spanning decades and referencing popular culture icons such as Fonzie, Elvis, and the Daleks, alongside specific lolly brands like Mini Milk, Seaside Saucy, and Freak Out. This publication stems from Trunk's discovery seven years ago in Stockport, where he encountered the extensive collection of John Townsend. Townsend, who grew up in an orphanage in Surrey, began collecting ephemera in his youth, starting with milk bottle tops and expanding to cigarette and tobacco cards by the 1950s. He continued to amass a vast array of printed materials throughout his life, a passion that filled his entire five-bedroom house, caravan, and summerhouse with items including fizzy drinks cans, sweet wrappers, crisp packets, cereal boxes, flyers, and cigarette cards. Townsend passed away in 2016, leaving behind this comprehensive archive of printed ephemera. The book aims to provide a nostalgia-inducing journey through the visual history of ice lolly packaging in Britain, reflecting broader social and cultural trends of the last half-century. Jonny Trunk's work in preserving and presenting such niche collections highlights the value of ephemera as a historical and cultural artifact. The collection itself represents a unique intersection of consumerism, design, and popular culture, offering insights into childhood memories and the evolution of branding and advertising in the UK. The book's detailed examination of these wrappers serves as a visual archive for enthusiasts and historians alike, capturing a specific, often overlooked, aspect of British heritage. The publication is described as a "nostalgia-inducing delight," underscoring its appeal to those who experienced these brands firsthand or are interested in retro design and cultural history. The scope of Townsend's collection, meticulously documented and now presented by Trunk, offers a rich tapestry of graphic design and marketing from a bygone era, making it a valuable resource for understanding the visual landscape of British popular culture.