Gurning Collection

Les Dawson at Blackpool Beach, Lancashire. 15th July 1984

Customs, Gurning - March 1977. Man in flat cap pulls face for gurning competition

Female Gurner
A woman gurner pulls a truely awful face through a leather ring during the gurning contest at Egremont Crab Fair, Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

Gurning Man used to publicise an anti smoking campaign in California USA

A gurning competitor in the Egremont Crab Fair and Sports which was established in 1267, which makes it one of the oldest fairs in the world. June 1973 P033487

Britains Mr ugly competition, Mel Taylor defending champion and Jack Sutcliffe, a new challenger September 1979

Albert Hansen gets together with models for gurning 1975 exercises which Leslie Adams Susie Juul & Tina Maclead regulary do to tone up their facial muscles

Gurning: Mum you re a scream. Thatis the verdict down in Londons East End when chirpy Ann Dance gets up to her face-pulling tricks

Rustic Sports in an English Village (engraving)
1045540 Rustic Sports in an English Village (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rustic Sports in an English Village)

Stars of the television situation comedy "Hi De Hi"pictured left to right
Stars of the television situation comedy " Hi De Hi" pictured left to right: Paul Shane, Su Pollard and Ruth Madoc posing with their yoyos. 29th January 1982

Mr Bennison demonstrates the winning twist - gurning June 1975

Albert Hansen pulls a face whilst gurning 1975

Gurning champion of Alnwick Joseph Knap 27th June 1983

Gordon Mattinson is in the Guiness book of records for gurning. 21st September 1999

Schoolgirl Valerie Towland won first prize in Bishop Auckland Odeon cinemas competition to find the towns best young gurner

Gordon Mattinson retains the World Gurning title at Egremonts ancient Crab Fair. 14th September 1973

Mr Bennison demonstrates the winning twist - gurning. 18th September 1965

Man with the funniest smile in Belfast. Newspaper seller Dick Quinn. Mirrorpix

Barman Ken Hemming found his face was his fortune when he hit on a novel way to raise money for charity. Ken, 57, works at the Cask and Bottle pub in Union Street, Stratford-on-Avon

Farmers pull faces at sheep sale, SW Scotland
Farmers pull their faces as they watch a sheep sale at Castle Douglas cattle market, Dumfries and Galloway, SW Scotland Date: 1999

Les Dawson and wife Tracey after their wedding 1989

Arthur Bennison showing his gurning expression 1965

Gipsy man pulling a gurning face, Lewes, Sussex
A gipsy man pulling a gurning face, at an encampment in Lewes, Sussex

Gurning Man
A male gurner with his ugly face through a leather ring at the gurning contest at Egremont Crab Fair, Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

A Grinning Match, February 1, 1803. February 1, 1803. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
A Grinning Match, February 1, 1803

Pulling a ridiculous expression
A German man pulls a ridiculous, daft, absurd and frankly rather manic facial expression! Date: circa 1910s

Old Man Gurner
An old man gurner with his ugly face through a leather ring at the gurning contest at Egremont Crab Fair, Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

Dizzy Gillespie meeting baby Gary Colfer at Knebworth, Hertfordshire, July 1982. Artist
Dizzy Gillespie meeting baby Gary Colfer at Knebworth, Hertfordshire, July 1982. The babys aunt and uncle Pat and Tony Shelvington kept the Lytton Arms pub in Old Knebworth

A gipsy man gurning, Lewes, Sussex, 1963

Gipsy pulling a gurney face, Lewes, Sussex, 1964

Street party Gran, Queens Jubilee Middlesbrough - 1977
Street Party Gran. Street party, Queens Jubilee Middlesbrough 1977 1977

Les Grimaces, c. 1823 (lithograph)
XJF872699 Les Grimaces, c.1823 (lithograph) by Boilly, Louis Leopold (1761-1845); Private Collection; (add.info.: The man with the handsomely contorted expression in the upper left is Boilly himself)

The Sexton and Sand Table at Dennington Church, Suffolk. This fascinating tray can now be found in the north aisle of the church (now a village museum)

Isaac the Gurner
This ugly man, famed for his grinning or gurning set himself up as a public grinner. This talent has a long competitive tradition and is still practiced to this day

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"Gurning: The Art of Distorted Expressions" Female Gurner: Breaking stereotypes and showcasing her talent in the world of gurning. Gurning Man's Anti-Smoking Campaign: Using exaggerated faces to spread awareness about the dangers of smoking in California, USA. Les Dawson at Blackpool Beach: The legendary comedian tickles funny bones with his hilarious gurning antics on a sunny day in Lancashire, 1984. Rustic Sports Engraving: Unveiling the age-old tradition as a popular sport in English villages, where locals compete for the title of "Best Gurner. " Customs and Competitions Collide: March 1977 witnesses a flat-capped man pulling amusing faces during a lively gurning competition that celebrates local customs. Farmers' Fun at Sheep Sale: Amidst serious business, farmers let loose by pulling comical expressions while auctioning sheep in Southwest Scotland. Dizzy Gillespie Meets Baby Gary Colfer: Even jazz legends like Gillespie can't resist joining the fun as he shares an unforgettable moment with baby Gary during Knebworth festival, July 1982. Capturing Gipsy Charm through Gurns: Lewes, Sussex becomes home to memorable moments as gipsy men showcase their unique talent for contorting their faces into extraordinary shapes (1963-1964). Street Party Gran Celebrates Queen's Jubilee: Middlesbrough witnesses an elderly lady embracing her inner child by participating in joyful gurning festivities during Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 1977. Egremont Crab Fair and Sports Tradition Lives On. A dedicated competitor gives it their all at one of England's oldest fairs since 1267 - showcasing incredible facial distortions amidst laughter and cheer. Stars from "Hi De Hi" Bring Laughter.