Vole (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Vole was a British
environmentalist
magazine
published between 1977 and 1980. The magazine was intended to have a more light-hearted tone than the other countryside and ecology magazines of the time: the founders' working title for the magazine (shortened when it began actual publication) was "The Questing Vole
", from a nature column written by the hero of Evelyn Waugh
's novel Scoop
- "Feather-footed through the plashy fens passes the questing vole".
The magazine contributed to raising awareness of serious Green politics
at a time when many people's view of the issue was coloured by the BBC
sitcom The Good Life.
Vole was founded in 1977 by Richard Boston
with funding from Terry Jones
. Contributors included:
In June 1980, the Managing Editor of Vole was Charles Alverson
.
The numbering of the issues was slightly unconventional. From September 1977 to August 1978 they were numbered 1 to 12 though number 8 was misnumbered as 7, subscription copies being manually corrected. The next issue was October 1978, Vol 2 No 1 through to Vol 2 No 11 of September 1979 (but dated October). Volume 3 began with No 1 of October 1979 and goes through to Vol 3 No 10 of July 1980. At this point the format changed to a tabloid size for the remaining three issues, No 11, October 1980, to No 13, December 1980. Volume 4 runs from Jan 1981 to September 1981 numbered 1 - 8 and retains the tabloid form.
Vole's ISSN was 140-4571.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
environmentalist
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
published between 1977 and 1980. The magazine was intended to have a more light-hearted tone than the other countryside and ecology magazines of the time: the founders' working title for the magazine (shortened when it began actual publication) was "The Questing Vole
Vole
A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body, a shorter hairy tail, a slightly rounder head, smaller ears and eyes, and differently formed molars . There are approximately 155 species of voles. They are sometimes known as meadow mice or field mice in North America...
", from a nature column written by the hero of Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
's novel Scoop
Scoop (novel)
Scoop is a 1938 novel by English writer Evelyn Waugh, a satire of sensationalist journalism and foreign correspondence.-Plot:William Boot, a young man who lives in genteel poverty far from the iniquities of London, is contributor of nature notes to Lord Copper's Beast, a national newspaper...
- "Feather-footed through the plashy fens passes the questing vole".
The magazine contributed to raising awareness of serious Green politics
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
at a time when many people's view of the issue was coloured by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom The Good Life.
Vole was founded in 1977 by Richard Boston
Richard Boston
Richard Boston was an English journalist and author, he was a rigorous dissenter and a belligerent pacifist...
with funding from Terry Jones
Terry Jones
Terence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
. Contributors included:
- Richard AdamsRichard AdamsRichard Adams was a non-conforming English Presbyterian divine, known as author of sermons and other theological writings.-Life:...
- John ArlottJohn ArlottLeslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
- Pete AtkinPete AtkinPete Atkin is a British singer-songwriter and radio producer notable for his 1970s musical collaborations with Clive James and for producing the BBC Radio 4 series This Sceptred Isle.-Early life:...
, writing about DIY - Tony BennTony BennAnthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
- Jeremy Bugler
- John A Burton
- Paul FootPaul FootPaul Mackintosh Foot was a British investigative journalist, political campaigner, author, and long-time member of the Socialist Workers Party...
- David Helton
- Richard IngramsRichard IngramsRichard Ingrams is an English journalist, a co-founder and second editor of the British satirical magazine Private Eye, and now editor of The Oldie magazine.-Career:...
- Terry JonesTerry JonesTerence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
- Miles KingtonMiles KingtonMiles Beresford Kington was a British journalist, musician and broadcaster.-Early life :...
- Richard MabeyRichard MabeyRichard Mabey is a naturalist and author.He has been called by The Times 'Britain's greatest living nature writer'. Among his acclaimed publications are Food for Free, The Unofficial Countryside and The Common Ground, as well as his study of the nightingale, Whistling in the Dark...
- Richard D. NorthRichard D. NorthRichard D. North, born 1946, is a UK conservative commentator. He worked for The Independent newspaper as its first environment correspondent and then as environmental columnist for The Sunday Times...
- Posy SimmondsPosy SimmondsRosemary Elizabeth "Posy" Simmonds MBE is a British newspaper cartoonist and writer and illustrator of children's books. She is best known for her long association with The Guardian, for which she has drawn the cartoons Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe , both later published as books...
- Ralph SteadmanRalph SteadmanRalph Steadman is a British cartoonist and caricaturist who is perhaps best known for his work with American author Hunter S. Thompson.-Personal life:Steadman was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales...
- Bill TidyBill TidyWilliam Edward "Bill" Tidy, MBE , is a British cartoonist, writer and television personality, known chiefly for his comic strips. Bill was awarded an MBE in 2000 for "Services to Journalism". He is noted for his charitable work, particularly for the Lord's Taverners, which he has supported for over...
In June 1980, the Managing Editor of Vole was Charles Alverson
Charles Alverson
Charles Elgin Alverson is a novelist, editor and screenwriter who has sometimes used the byline Chuck Alverson. He co-scripted the film Jabberwocky ....
.
The numbering of the issues was slightly unconventional. From September 1977 to August 1978 they were numbered 1 to 12 though number 8 was misnumbered as 7, subscription copies being manually corrected. The next issue was October 1978, Vol 2 No 1 through to Vol 2 No 11 of September 1979 (but dated October). Volume 3 began with No 1 of October 1979 and goes through to Vol 3 No 10 of July 1980. At this point the format changed to a tabloid size for the remaining three issues, No 11, October 1980, to No 13, December 1980. Volume 4 runs from Jan 1981 to September 1981 numbered 1 - 8 and retains the tabloid form.
Vole's ISSN was 140-4571.