Oor Wullie celebrates 80th birthday

SCOTTISH comic-strip icon Oor Wullie is celebrating his 80th birthday.

The spiky-haired loon began his mischief across the pages of the Sunday Post on 8 March 1936.

Since then, he has spent eight decades appearing weekly in the paper getting up to no good with his pals Fat Bob, Wee Eck and Soapy Soutar.

He was also dodging his nemesis PC Murdoch in the fictional town of Auchenshoogle.

To mark the 80th anniversary of his debut, a bronze statue of the spiky-haired schoolboy in his classic pose sitting on a upturned bucket has been unveiled in Dundee, home of Sunday Post publisher DC Thomson.

Former editor Morris Heggie said: “The adventures of Oor Wullie have delighted Scots for eight decades. In that time the mischievous scamp has become a much-loved national treasure.

“We are used to seeing Wullie in the black-and-white world of print but here he is in 3D - in his own fabulous bronze statue. A magnificent tribute to Dundee’s cheeriest son.

“Oor Wullie himself would be delighted that the bronze catches him about to embark on his legendary capers.”

The cartoons came from the pen of Dudley Watkins and was the brainchild of DC Thomson managing editor Robert Low.

Jings, crivvens, is Oor Wullie turning into Our William

They are much-loved across the globe, along with The Broons, who also appear in The Sunday Post, with annuals appearing each year.

Wullie has aged well over the years and has changed very little, still sporting his dungarees and tackety boots.

David Powell, of the DC Thomson archive, believes Wullie “just connects with people and connects with Scottishness”, especially through language.

And language forms part of a statue in honour of the 80-year-old icon.

The statue was unveiled this weekend in the home of DC Thomson, although the wee boy’s appeal across Scotland is summed in the comic strips motto - Oor Wullie, Your Wullie, A’bodys Wullie.

Scottish heritage: for stories on Scotland’s people, places and history >>