Twikker

Twikker is a student rag magazine associated with Sheffield University Rag in Sheffield, England. Its name is derived from The Wicker, a well-known Sheffield street crossed at one end by the Wicker Arches railway viaduct. The title is therefore closely tied to the city in which the publication originated rather than to a conventional commercial publishing company or mass-market consumer brand. The magazine's direct predecessor was The Star, first produced by Sheffield Rag in 1926. By 1928, The Star reportedly sold approximately 85,000 copies, demonstrating the scale that university rag publications could reach when they combined student fundraising with topical humour and provocative editorial material. In 1930, the publication was renamed Twikker. Its core purpose was to support rag activities and fundraising while entertaining readers through jokes, illustrations, topical commentary, and material designed to attract attention on and beyond the university campus. Twikker's history reflects changing standards of humour and public acceptability in Britain. Material published from the 1930s through the 1950s could contain casual racism and sexism that would be regarded as unacceptable today. From the 1960s, the publication's humour became more deliberately risqué, while controversies in later decades contributed to the removal or bowdlerisation of offensive themes. During the 1980s, racist and sexist jokes were reportedly dropped or rewritten; one example involved replacing Irish jokes with jokes about mechanical engineers. The publication's approach illustrates the tension between the traditional rag objective of producing attention-grabbing humour and the reputational, institutional, and legal risks of publishing offensive material. Twikker was interrupted by the Second World War. Sheffield Rag was banned in 1942 until the end of the war, but a 1943 edition of Twikker was reportedly prepared by students working by torchlight in a bomb shelter. Regular publication resumed in 1947. This wartime episode is a notable part of the title's institutional mythology and helps explain why Twikker is often described as one of the longest-lasting examples of the student-rag genre, although other publications have made similar claims. The magazine repeatedly attracted complaints and sanctions. The 1938 edition was withdrawn after complaints from leading church figures concerning alleged obscenity. The 1949 edition was reportedly banned by the university for offensive material and later became associated with unusually high resale prices. Its content also upset the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, who traditionally bought the first copy, and the controversy was discussed by Sheffield City Council. The 1950 edition was comprehensively banned, and its editor was sent down from the university. Students responded by publishing an alternative title, Ragout, to raise funds that year. In another important change, Twikker ceased using pin-ups in 1975 after a protest by Women's Liberation groups. The publication also had connections with wider cultural and artistic figures. Hans Kornberg served as editor in 1947, while the 1991 cover was created by the artist D'Israeli. Forewords were written by Michael Palin, Andy Hamilton, and Miles Kington, alongside the traditional foreword from the Lord Mayor of Sheffield. The available reference material does not establish Twikker's current publication frequency, legal ownership, commercial scale, or whether it remains active. It is best understood as a historically significant Sheffield student publication and fundraising brand rather than as an ordinary contemporary magazine company.

Twikker developed from The Star, a magazine produced by Sheffield University Rag from 1926. The predecessor had reportedly sold around 85,000 copies by 1928, indicating a substantial readership for a student fundraising publication. In 1930, The Star was renamed Twikker, a title derived from The Wicker, a prominent Sheffield street associated with the Wicker Arches railway viaduct. The magazine's role was to combine student entertainment with the fundraising objectives of university rag activities. Its editorial style relied on topical jokes, satire, illustrations, and material intended to be sufficiently provocative to increase sales. This approach created a recurring conflict between commercial attention-seeking and changing standards of decency. Content from the 1930s to the 1950s included humour that is now recognized as casually racist and sexist, while later editions became more openly risqué. A 1939 joke referencing Hitler, Prague, the Munich Agreement, and a whisky advertising slogan illustrates the title's use of contemporary political events in its humour. The publication experienced several interruptions and controversies. Sheffield Rag was banned in 1942 during the Second World War, although a 1943 Twikker was reportedly written by students in a bomb shelter using torchlight. Publication resumed in 1947, when Hans Kornberg was editor. The 1938 edition had already been withdrawn following complaints from leading church figures about obscenity. The 1949 edition was later banned by the university for offensive material, reportedly becoming a collectible that changed hands for a pound. The controversy involved the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, who traditionally purchased the first copy, and was discussed by the city council. The 1950 edition was banned outright, and its editor was sent down from the university. Students issued Ragout as an alternative means of raising funds. Over subsequent decades, the magazine's humour changed in response to public criticism and broader cultural shifts. During the 1980s, racist and sexist jokes were reportedly removed or rewritten. The publication ceased using pin-ups in 1975 after Women's Liberation groups protested. These changes indicate an effort, whether editorial or institutional, to preserve the attention-generating character of a rag while reducing material likely to provoke objections on grounds of sexism or racism. Twikker also maintained links with artists and public figures. The 1991 cover was created by D'Israeli, and forewords were written by Michael Palin, Andy Hamilton, and Miles Kington, in addition to the customary foreword from Sheffield's Lord Mayor. The title is regarded as one of the longest-running examples of the student-rag genre, although the available reference does not establish an uncontested ranking or confirm its present publication status. No reliable information in the supplied material identifies a corporate owner, website, current editor, financial results, or continuing commercial operations.

1. 1991D'Israeli designs the cover

   Artist D'Israeli created the cover for the 1991 edition.

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2. 1975Pin-ups are discontinued

   Twikker stopped using pin-ups after a protest by Women's Liberation groups.

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3. 1950The edition is banned and Ragout is issued

   The university banned the 1950 Twikker and expelled its editor; students published Ragout to raise funds instead.

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4. 1947Publication resumes

   Twikker resumed regular publication after the war, with Hans Kornberg identified as editor of the edition.

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5. 1942Rag activities are banned during wartime

   Sheffield Rag was suspended until the end of the war, although a 1943 Twikker was reportedly produced in a bomb shelter.

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6. 1938Issue withdrawn after obscenity complaints

   The 1938 edition was withdrawn after complaints from leading church figures.

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7. 1930The publication adopts the Twikker name

   The Star was renamed Twikker, using a name derived from Sheffield's The Wicker district and street.

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8. 1928The Star reaches reported sales of 85,000 copies

   The predecessor publication reportedly sold approximately 85,000 copies, showing the reach of the Sheffield student-rag format.

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9. 1926Sheffield Rag begins publishing The Star

   Sheffield University Rag produced the magazine that preceded Twikker.

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A provocative, locally rooted university rag magazine whose identity combines Sheffield civic references, student humour, fundraising, and periodic controversy.

• TwikkerStudent rag magazine1930

  The main Sheffield University Rag publication, combining topical humour, satire, illustrations, and fundraising-oriented distribution. Its editorial tone historically pursued provocative material to attract attention and sales, while later editions reflected changing attitudes toward racism, sexism, sexual humour, and pin-up imagery.

• The StarPredecessor student magazine1926

  The magazine produced by Sheffield Rag before the Twikker name was adopted. It began in 1926 and reportedly sold 85,000 copies in 1928, forming the publishing and fundraising predecessor to Twikker.

• RagoutAlternative rag fundraising publication1950

  An alternative publication issued by students in 1950 after the Twikker edition was comprehensively banned. It was produced to continue fundraising activity during the dispute.

• 1975Removal of pin-ups

  Sheffield University · United Kingdom

  Women's Liberation groups protested Twikker's use of pin-ups. The magazine subsequently ceased publishing them, marking a visible change in its editorial presentation.

  Outcome. Pin-ups were discontinued.

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• 1975Discontinue pin-up materialStrategy

  Women's Liberation groups protested the magazine's use of pin-ups.

  What changed. Twikker stopped publishing pin-ups.

  Aftermath. The change formed part of the publication's broader movement away from some older forms of sexist presentation.

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• 1950Issue Ragout after the Twikker banOther

  The university banned the 1950 Twikker following controversy over offensive material.

  What changed. Students published an alternative title, Ragout, to continue raising funds.

  Aftermath. Ragout served as a temporary alternative during the publication dispute.

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• 1930Rename The Star as TwikkerStrategy

  Sheffield Rag's earlier magazine had established a readership before the title change.

  What changed. The publication adopted a Sheffield-specific name derived from The Wicker.

  Aftermath. Twikker became the continuing identity of the Sheffield University Rag magazine.

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• 19501950 edition banned and editor expelledControversy

  The 1950 edition was comprehensively banned and its editor was sent down from the university. Students issued Ragout as a fundraising alternative.

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• 19491949 edition banned for offensive materialControversy

  The university banned the edition for offensive content. The issue reportedly provoked the Lord Mayor of Sheffield and was discussed by the city council.

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• 19381938 issue withdrawn over obscenity complaintsControversy

  Leading church figures complained about the issue's alleged obscenity, resulting in its withdrawal.

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• 1991D'Israeli creates the 1991 cover

  The cover of the 1991 edition was created by the artist D'Israeli.

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• 1975Twikker ends its use of pin-ups

  The magazine stopped publishing pin-ups after a protest by Women's Liberation groups.

  Campaign
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• 1947Twikker publication resumes after the war

  Regular publication of Twikker resumed after the wartime ban. Hans Kornberg is identified as the editor of the 1947 edition.

  Product generationLeadership change
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• 1942Sheffield Rag is suspended during the war

  Sheffield Rag was banned during the wartime period. Despite the suspension, a 1943 Twikker was reportedly produced by students in a bomb shelter.

  Other
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• 1930The Star is renamed Twikker

  Sheffield University Rag renamed its earlier magazine, The Star, as Twikker. The new name referred to The Wicker, a prominent Sheffield street.

  Other
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1. Twikker