Allen Brady & Marsh

Gotta Lotta Bottle tea towel in Japan.

If anyone wants to re-record the Woolworths music here's the melody.

Just some of the claimed 650 ads for Woolworths produced annually.

In ABM's final trade ad (from 1984), the line "Let The Train Take The Strain" is featured, which is said to date from 1968. However, this is the only time in any collateral/marketing material that this famous line is claimed. Does anyone have any background as it seems strange that this line was not a constant part of ABM's PR.

Peter Marsh on camera in the 1979 BBC programme, The Persuaders.

1979: The 'MAD MEN' of 1970s LONDON ADVERTISING | The Persuaders | World of Work | BBC Archive A ruthless world of firings, self-confessed egotists, headhunters... and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees?!Charlotte Allen takes a probing look inside the London ...

Is anyone able to shed light on this? After the divorce from Pat Phoenix, Marsh married…who? The records say Marjorie Watkins. Many of the obituaries say Nicolette Grey. Are they one and the same? Thanks for any insight.

John Gardner and Terry Stead. 1981.

Roger Watts. Worked on Harp when it was first won. Left to join Ogilvy in Hong Kong.

Some of the Woolworth team 1982-3. Can see Bernard Gill, and David Found.

Gordon Medcalf. Holder of the shortest stint as a CEO at ABM. Likely followed by David Gray.

Children eh?

Guppy 'going to prison for a very long time' in pounds 1.8m gems fraud Darius Guppy, the old Etonian friend of Earl Spencer, the Princess of Wales's brother, was yesterday found guilty of a pounds 1.8m Lloyd's insurance swindle.

A spokesman speaks on behalf of ABM. It is said that no one other than Peter Marsh (and sometimes Rod Allen) were allowed to be 'spokesman' (or women). This because Marsh wanted tight control over the Agency's public face. Source: Tuesday 23 November 1982. Wolverhampton Express and Star

Bookseller 18 June 1999.

Phil Judd reminded us of this tragedy in 1981 when Andrew Newton was killed in an accident. Source: Daily Mirror. 20 January 1981. Andrew lived in a flat on Lambole Road NW3

Despite improvements in the quality of the work (see earlier posts for examples) ABM was closed down and merged with Lowe Howard Spink in 1991.
The trade press had a field day and posited various reasons why the agency had come to an inglorious end. These included a feckless management; a disdain for clients; an unhappy internal environment; and the ghost of Marsh.
Then there was Interpublic who were said to be dismayed at ABM's financial controls but as importantly couldn't see what role the agency could play in their UK operations. (Other than being just another agency.)
One example of the trade press' analysis is seen below with this Marketing Week article from April 1991.

Work for the Midland Bank won two silver Lions at Cannes in 1988 - for the launch of their Vector bank account. Please add credits.

Midland Bank Commercial: Sue | Catalogue | History of Advertising Trust A woman is shown sitting at a desk. Her husband comes in from work as she checks the time, it is 20 past midnight, she shakes her head. He complains about...

Client Midland Bank. A D&AD winner in the Single Radio Commercials category, 1989. Writer: Jonathan Budd. Music and radio production: Victor Lewis Smith. Budd later moved to Lowes and then JWT.

The work from the last few years. Please add stories and credits.

The work from the last few years. Please add stories and credits.

ABM client list. 1968.

Patrick Henry and Associates. 1965. The forerunner to ABM.

Details of John's funeral:
The cremation is private but later a Thanksgiving Service at 12.00 noon on February 8th. at St. Patrick’s Church, Park Hill Road, Wallington SM6 ORZ.
Margaret, his wife, welcomes friends & colleagues who remember John fondly, but please ensure you message Dave Coombs (John’s son) on Facebook (he had commented below) so that the family can plan accordingly

Another photo of John at the first British Rail Awayday held at Boulogne. 1980. The late Geoff Snowball on far left; the others are BR clients.

Just in case this was missed

Watch Enterprise - Allen, Brady & Marsh Advertising - BFI Player Cameras! Lights! Clapperboard! Documentary about the UK's top ad agency in 1979, Allen Brady & Marsh, and its quirky Chairman Peter Marsh.

A dry - or is it wet run - for Imperial Leather. Princess Margaret in the bath wearing her tiara, 1962. Photo taken by her husband, Antony Charles Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon.

Two photos of John at a British Rail/ABM darts night. One with Ross Furby the lead BR client; and with Jlily, a secretary in the BR account group. Date: 1982.

John Coombs died last week, aged 90. He had been ill for some time and died from a heart failure. If details of his funeral are announced we will pass them on.

Yesterday's lunch with some of the BR group - all of whom started at ABM in 1979. Graham Thomas. Keith Bolton and David Hall.

Message from Andy Clarke...Hello, I found this when clearing out my Dad's home. He worked in the studio 1979 - 88. As an art student, I came up to the Furnival St office during the summer, just to hang out, trace some lettering on the Grant Projector! My Dad's in a care home now and doing well.

Glad to hear that Paul Clarke is thriving. Pass on our best wishes.

Alan Trevor has asked ‘anyone remember Keith Bloxham?’