A Nostalgic Glimpse into the Early 80s
What stands out in this photo is how perfectly it captures the early 80s. The velvet curtains, plastic flowers, the old cathode-ray TV, and the glimpse of a metallic purple Ford Escort (the same car I later learned to drive in) are all unmistakably from 1981. In the picture, there’s Pandy the bear, my five-year-old brother Jon, Sooty, and me at seven, our differing hair and skin tones making us an eclectic group. (Like some heroes, I’m adopted.) My dad likely took the photo with his Kodak camera and flash cube, wearing bell-bottomed jeans and sideburns, while my mum, with her beehive hairdo and a drink in hand, was probably nearby.
The outfits we’re wearing were handmade by our gran—my mum’s mother—who was as skilled with a sewing needle as she was in the kitchen, regularly baking chocolate cakes and crafting clothes for special occasions. By this time, the unspoken rules of being the older brother were already set: I got the top bunk, the biggest slice, the front seat, and the role of Batman—all because I was the oldest. Though, in hindsight, an "R" for Richard on my chest might have made more sense.
Pandy and Sooty later got their own knitted Batman and Robin costumes (Sooty, being the oldest bear, took the lead role). Dressed as a seven-year-old superhero, this remains one of my best looks. I’d use it for official photos if given the chance.
The small fir tree on the coffee table marks the season as Christmas. I recall changing into the costumes, returning downstairs, and my dad announcing us to the family as Batman and Robin. "Where are Rich and Jon?" they must have thought. We stayed in character all through Christmas, Boxing Day, and the following week—until gravy, pudding, and Gran’s chocolate cake left their marks on the outfits.
This was long before Michael Keaton’s brooding Batman or Christian Bale’s intense Dark Knight. Our costumes were inspired by the 1960s "Wham! Pow!" Batman, played by Adam West and Burt Ward, which we watched with Dad in the 70s and 80s. I’d say I captured the original’s lighthearted tone well, though I don’t recall Batman wearing brown flannel trousers like mine. It might’ve been too much to ask Gran to knit utility belts or Robin’s green briefs—but knowing her, she would have tried.
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