I never ever did collect all the Thunderbirds cards as a kid. Of the set of fifty, I was missing one card: Thunderbird 3 going through the Roundhouse on Tracy Island.
I would walk the length and breadth of Balham and Tooting High Streets hoping that at least one newsagent would have the packet containing my elusive card.
I had countless multiples of cards depicting the Hood looking evil in a disguise; Tin-Tin looking longingly at Alan Tracy and Parker contemplating, if he ever got sacked by Lady Penelope, where the next bank job might be? But no action shot of Thunderbird 3.
Some days, I’d consume so much bubble gum, after buying these cards, I felt like I’d caught tetanus. The newsagent was glad as I was unable to complain.
The alternative was getting a massive sugar rush: buying packets of sweet cigarettes, to get the card inside the packets. One day, I didn’t get an expected Thunderbirds character, I got Don Bradman (these were the days before sell-by dates).
Had they deliberately rationed them like a 1933 penny; a Queen Victoria Twopenny Blue or a hen’s tooth? Yes, M’ Lady.
Micky's Up blog 
there was a sweet shop on Balham High Street that I passed on my way to school. It had a bubble gum machine that did gum with cards with footballers on; I ended up needing 2 cards: Billy Wright and George Eastham – both way before your time.
If you are ever in need of Thunderbird 3 it is currently resting in my garage ready to spring into action (does T3 spring, I wonder), at a moment’s notice.
As Shaw Taylor used to say “careful how you go out there”.
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A mate of mine mentioned to me that he is still looking for a Peter Brabrook card – so he will be empathetic to your missing collection 🙂
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That would have been ok, except I traded the collection in to but Thunderbird 3.
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