Grimbledon Down
Encyclopedia
Grimbledon Down was a comic strip
by British
cartoonist Bill Tidy
, which ran in New Scientist
magazine from March 26, 1970 until March 26, 1994.
The strip was set in a fictitious UK
government research lab
. Grimbledon Down's scientists engaged in all sorts of questionable research—such as the production of antipornography, grossly disgusting pornographic
film
s which were intended to turn off the audience's sexual drive
and thus save the World
's civilisation from catastrophic overpopulation
. Another frequent feature was attempts to create or distribute Nu-Food, an artificial foodstuff made with processed human waste.
Very little of Grimbledon Down's internal organisation was ever revealed, but the person in charge was evidently a recurring character named Treem (no first name given), a moustached dark-haired man in a chalk pinstripe business suit. Treem was apparently not a scientist, as the scientists tended to wear white lab coats, but he was clearly scientifically literate, and often got into detailed technical discussions with his staff.
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
by British
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...
cartoonist Bill Tidy
Bill Tidy
William 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...
, which ran in New Scientist
New Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
magazine from March 26, 1970 until March 26, 1994.
The strip was set in a fictitious UK
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...
government research lab
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
. Grimbledon Down's scientists engaged in all sorts of questionable research—such as the production of antipornography, grossly disgusting pornographic
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s which were intended to turn off the audience's sexual drive
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
and thus save the World
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
's civilisation from catastrophic overpopulation
Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth...
. Another frequent feature was attempts to create or distribute Nu-Food, an artificial foodstuff made with processed human waste.
Very little of Grimbledon Down's internal organisation was ever revealed, but the person in charge was evidently a recurring character named Treem (no first name given), a moustached dark-haired man in a chalk pinstripe business suit. Treem was apparently not a scientist, as the scientists tended to wear white lab coats, but he was clearly scientifically literate, and often got into detailed technical discussions with his staff.