At a recent promotion in Ipswich I was allowed to interview Malcolm, and at the end he let slip that he had another complete collection to his name - The Gnomen. As webmaster of the Eggbert and Friends Collector's Club I felt obligated to dig around for some more information on these elusive creatures. With very little to go on, I searched high and low, far and wide, through thick and thin, and finally unearthed a stash at a little gift shop in furthest Erdington. They had quite a few left! I decided to get an example of each one (they had 14 out of 18).
Having found nearly the whole collection I couldn't then NOT put them on the website. After all they are in many ways Friends of Eggbert. Arguably, anyone who claims to have a complete collection of Eggbert and Friends must have at least one Gnomen, (though of course you lose points for having a plush Eggbert!).
Apparently the GNOMEN were available briefly in 1995, and although they sold well to retailers, the public remained unimpressed. They retired after about a year, and now live in blissful quietude behind the potting shed in Malcolm's Garden.
Malcolm says he has spent some time behind the potting shed (!) and he's persuaded one or two of the Gnomen into going along with him to the next promotion. Apparently most of the Gnomen are now too shy to leave their home, but he's discovered some that have never been out of St. Ives, and they are rather keen to see how the other half lives.
For generations in the human quest for progress, Gnome habitats have been destroyed and threatened and, although Gnomes have a reputation for secretly helping humans, they spend a lot of their time looking for a safer place to live.
In recent times they have lived in the gardens of kindly folk. You can tell which gardens these are because they have the greenest lawns, and the best tended shrubs and the most delightful peaceful atmospheres.
But now the use of pesticides of plants and crops have affected our birdlife and butterflies...and of course the Gnomes.
In the depths of their despair, they heard of a Gnome family who had lived safely and happily for years in the houseplants of a human family, THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED - The news spread like greenfly on a rose bush and now Gnomes are moving into the homes of friendly folk all over the country....
Malcolm Bowmer was brought up in the rural village of Annesley in Nottinghamshire in the heart of Sherwood Forest. As a child, he spent many happy hours in the woods and fields around his home known as the 'Robin Hood Hills'.
Malcolm's interest in ancient folklore and legends was fostered by the stories his Welsh grandfather, who was also a prize winning gardener, told him about Gnomes. He gave Malcolm a little plot of his own and taught him how to grow vegetables, starting a life-long passion for gardens and ... Gnomes!
He also liked drawing and painting and he first sculpted with plasticene, given to him by his Dad. He's been sculpting ever since with great success. Firstly with 'Eggbert and Friends' and now with 'The Gnomen'. He's in great demand and has recently been commissioned to sculpt a model of Truro Cathedral for H.R.H. The Princess of Wales.
Malcolm lives with his family, houseplants AND Gnomes in St. Ives, Cornwall.
| Gnabber | 10.5 |  |
Although he lives in the largest houseplant pot he can find, Gnabber spends all the daylight hours on golf courses watching for golf balls landing. He then rushes out, grabs the ball, and hides it in the rough. So the next time you lose either a ball or tee you'll know it has been 'Gnabbed' ... But check your largest houseplant pot when you get home It might just be there! |
| Gnachos | 7.5cm |  |
Gnatchos is the Gnomen's Mexican cousin. Gnachos tends your cacti with the greatest of care but MUST take a siesta every day. He prefers sunlight, dry conditions and ... tequila! |
| Gnasher | 9cm |  |
Gnasher bashes, slashes, and Gnashes his way through all types of plant pot foliage with his chainsaw - a real jungle buster |
| Gneat 'n' Tidy | 9.5cm |  |
Gneat 'n' Tidy is an expert Clipper and Topiarist and can clip anything or anybody out of a hedge with his hand-held shears. A sheer genius! |
| Gnealer | 7.5cm |  |
Gneeler is a border dweller and will be found gneeling with his trowel, weeding and tidying the houseplants around your house at all times of the day and night. |
| Gnetwork | 9.5cm |  |
Responsible for fences and boundaries. Gnetwork goes around with his wire clippers and roll of netting protecting vulnerable blossoms. |
| Gniagra | 7cm | |
Hygienist and enforcer of Annual Baths. Gniagra makes sure the every Gnomen has a bath at least once a year - whether they need it or not! |
| Gnitty Gritty | 6.5cm |  |
He likes to get down to it - trenches, ditches - whatever. If there's a hole, Gnitty Gritty will be at the bottom...digging! |
| Gnobbler | 7.5cm |  |
Keeper of the Undergrowth and eradicator of 'undesirables'. Gnobbler searches out any unwanted growth - and gnobbles it! |
| Gnose-dive | 6.5cm |  |
The lowliest of the Gnomen and although Gnose-dive is always trying to get to the bottom of things and investigate the down-side he's OK really - deep down! |
| Gnostradamus | 9cm |  |
Soothsayer to the entire Gnomen Family and predictor of vegetation and houseplant growth. Gnostradamus consults the runes and predicts your vegetable yield and the tomato growth in your greenhouse |
| Gnourish | 9.5cm |  |
Head Chef and Catering Manager. Gnourish makes sure that all Gnomen have a balanced diet. You can smell his charcoal grill three plantpots away! |
| Gno Water | 7.5cm |  |
Gno-water is the bringer of gentle reminders to houseplant neglectors with just a little 'dry' humour ensuring that you do not forget to give your plants a drink. |
| Gnozzle | 12cm |  |
Gnozzle is in charge of the Gnomen Water Board and is a very kind Gnome indeed. He wields his hose generously to ensure that even the largest houseplants in your house have all the water they need. |
| Tarzan-Gnome | 8cm |  |
Tarzan-Gnome swings from plant to plant, dangling from a vine and if you listen carefully, you can hear his famous jungle call as he falls off. Aaah-a-ah-a-ah-a-aaaah!! |
| Gnick-nick | 7.5cm |  |
The crime rate will be very low amongst your houseplants because Gnink-nick is the custodian of the law in the land of the Gnomen. He keeps a special eye on Gnome Brew drinkers and once booked a snail for speeding! |
| Gnome Brew | 9cm |  |
Picker of hedgerow fruits and fermentor of fine wines. Gnome Brew gathers the fruits he needs and, using a secret recipe, brews delicious and potent alcoholic beverages using the Still hidden in your plants. |
| Gnomad | 10.5cm |  |
Wanderer and map-maker to the Gnomen community. He surveys and charts all human homes and travels far and wide seeking out the best places to live |
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Malcolm Bowmer ST IVES |
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