Best of British is the UK’s premier nostalgia magazine covering every aspect of life from the 1930’s to today.

Each issue encourages you to:

• Explore readers’ own recollections and memories in our Yesterday Remembered section
• Discover more about days gone past with stories on everything from vintage transport to great Britons and from Christmas traditions to great days out
• Enjoy regular reader favourites such as Treasures in the Attic, 1940’s Post, Postcard from… and of course our Puzzle Page and Crossword

We hope you like reading our magazine as much as we love compiling it. In the meantime here is this month’s letter from our Editor, Simon Stabler

Old School Ties
As I made my way to work this morning, I noticed an unnerving yet strangely reassuring sight; a 2ft tall Paddington Bear sat or (more likely) stood at the wheel of a parked car.

Over the years most of us have come into contact with the cuddly Peruvian stowaway, whether you are a grandparent who bought a toy for a new arrival to the family; a parent who decked out the nursery in Paddington curtains, wallpaper and bedspread; or were the child who received such treats. After almost 60 years, Paddington is still everywhere and with the new film Paddington 2 out in November, he is set to capture the hearts of a new generation.

It’s quite apt that we have young Master Brown on the front cover of this issue, which also has a back to school theme, as I had a teacher who dressed a little like Paddington.

They say school days are the best days of your life but I’m not convinced. However, as Derek Lamb explains in his article on going to grammar school, he was able to open his mind to possibilities that would have been out of his reach just a few years earlier.

We also look at possibly the most famous secondary school in the land, Grange Hill, in an article written by Chris Hallam who, coincidentally, I went to school with.

We also welcome a new regular contributor to Best of British, comedy stalwart Barry Cryer, another former grammar school boy. Every month, he’ll be sharing with us some anecdotes from his remarkable life working with comic greats such as Morecambe & Wise, the Two Ronnies, Kenny Everett and assorted Goodies and Pythons.

I can’t begin to describe what an honour it is having Barry on board and I hope you enjoy reading his column as much as I did discussing it with him.