British Pageant / British Traditional

(B and BR Series)

We start this section with an admission of failure!

Our initial intention was to list these two categories separately, as they appear in the book "The Peggy Nisbet Story".   But as we started to photograph our own collection, and to analyse the paperwork we have, it became clear that the numbering and cast of characters of both series had become duplicated, (or even, dare we say it, muddled and confused!)

The "British Pageant" and "British Traditional" series are hard plastic (Styrene) bodied dolls, who share the faces, bodies, and production values of their "Historical" cousins.   Both ranges of dolls were dressed in costumes representative of characters considered to be traditionally "British", (that is, from the British Isles).   (Interestingly, our researches show that amongst the ranks of the "British Traditionals" were listed, (in "The Peggy Nisbet Story, no less!) BR/385 - Southern Belle, and her companion, BR/386 - Colonel in the Confederate Army, so the "British" limits were obviously a bit flexible!).

The difficulty for many Nisbet collectors, (as we have already said), is that the "British Traditional", "British Pageant", (and to a lesser extent, the much smaller "Budget" range), each have a similar cast of players that often overlap, so sorting out who is who, and what group they belong to, (especially if tags are missing), can be a challenge!   As we have seen, even Peggy Nisbet allowed the distinctions between these ranges to become blurred, so there are difficulties ahead!

Shown below are two (incomplete) galleries - The first shows the "British Pageant" (B/Series), and below it is the "British Traditional" (BR/Series) gallery.   The galleries contain a number of characters who are identical in every aspect except catalogue number - (see B/BR 304 Lavender Girl, B/BR 314 Pearly King, and B/BR 315 Pearly Queen).

Our quest to bring some sort of order to this confusion has only just begun, so please do look back from time to time, to see how we are doing!   Even better, if you can help fill in the gaps with pictures of your dolls, please do get in touch!

Update : 25th October 2014 -

Our grateful thanks to Janet and Athol L, for supplying a beautiful picture of their 1967 vintage BR/307 - Turnips and Carrots Ho!   This doll was one of the "Cries of London" series, (issued as part of the "BR/" range), and inspired by some early prints of London street vendors

"British Pageant" (B/) Series

In this section, we will concentrate on providing pictures of members of the "British Pageant" (B/) series, which our researches suggest had between 50 and 55 characters. 

The listing below is in series number order - not all dolls in the series may be represented, but any gaps will be filled when we can find a decent photograph! If you can help fill the gaps, please email us!

Please Note :

Some doll numbers may appear more than once in this listing - This is because there are costume variations we wanted to show

"British Traditional" (BR/) Series

In this section, we will concentrate on providing pictures of members of the "British Traditional" (BR/) series, which our researches suggest had between 90 and 100 characters. 

The listing below is in series number order - not all dolls in the series may be represented, but any gaps will be filled when we can find a decent photograph! If you can help fill the gaps, please email us!

Please Note :

Some doll numbers may appear more than once in this listing - This is because there are costume variations we wanted to show



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News

21st September 2023

 

Important Announcement

 

My dear wife, Christine, passed away on the 8th December, 2021after 8 weeks in hospital. I was by her side, when she slipped away from me peacefully, with no pain or suffering.

 

Chris had been struggling with a slow decline in health, associated with a progressive, untreatable, and ultimately terminal lung disease, and finally succumbed to her old adversary, Pneumonia.

 

We had been friends for 55 years, together as a couple for 50 years, and married just a month short of 48 years, when she died.   

 

This website was Chris's idea, and I did all the technical stuff, to make it work.   After news of Chris's passing reached her close friends in the doll collecting world, I was deeply touched and gratified to hear their tributes to my dear wife, and I must thank them all for their kindness and support.   Ultimately, it was her doll friends that gave me the courage to continue with the website.

 

In the months before her eventual hospitalisation, Chris had outlined a number of additions and changes she wanted to make to the website, and it is my intention to honour those wishes, and to implement the changes we had considered, over the coming weeks and months.

 

I must apologise to all those who have written to us via the website, only to have your emails go unanswered.   Unfortunately, the email system had been hacked aroung the time Chris was going into hospital, and many emails must have been lost, as a result.

 

As you might imagine, I felt completely broken by Chris's loss, and it is only now, almost 22 months after her passing, that I have felt strong enough to even look at the website again.   

 

My aim is to continue with the website, and to implement Chris's aims for her many new ideas as soon as I can.   In the meantime, I have hopefully got the email system sorted out, and I will attempt to answer any enquiries as soon as I can, and to send replies with the same high degree of accuracy that a reply from Chris would have had.

 

From now on, I will be flying solo, whilst my co-pilot and guide will be soaring much higher, (though she is always in my heart, and in my thoughts).

 

My thanks to all our website visitors for your continued support

 

Dave (also known as Arthur), and Chris, (my lost love, Guinevere)

 

Christine Poulten

25th December 1949 - 8th December 2021