The Teds

‘In early 1954, on a late train from Southend, someone pulled the communication cord. The train ground to a halt. Light bulbs were smashed. Police arrested a gang dressed in Edwardian suits. In April two gangs, also dressed Edwardian-style, met after a dance. They were ready for action: bricks and sand-filled socks were used. Fifty-five youths were taken in for questioning. The following August Bank Holiday the first ‘Best Dressed Ted Contest’ was held. The winner was a twenty-year-old greengrocer’s assistant. The Teddy Boy myth was born.’ Originally published in 1979 The Teds is a classic of British documentary photography. It is a vivid and absorbing book combining image and text to tell a fascinating story that spans some three decades. Chris Steele-Perkins is a member of the prestigious MAGNUM photo agency. His work has been published and exhibited world-wide and he has won several major awards, including the Tom Hopkinson Prize (1988), the Oscar Barnack Prize (1988) and the Robert Capa Gold Medal (1989).