I found myself doing a fair bit of driving around this morning with only Radio 4 for company. Suddenly I heard a voice that transported me back to early childhood. Oliver Postgate was being interviewed on Desert Island Discs and just hearing his wonderful voice took me once again to the magical worlds of Pogles Wood, The Clangers, Bagpuss, Noggin the Nog and Ivor the Engine. I was only 3 when Pogles Wood was first shown on television and I loved it, it felt safe and magical, but looking back it was very much of it's time. Can you imagine a program today having such blatant sexism at it's heart? Mrs Pogle was known only as wife and her only existence was in the kitchen preparing the next meal for her husband and son. The little me took all that at face value and thanks to my own mum I grew up secure in the knowledge that anything a man can do a woman can do better, we have a distinct advantage - because we read the instructions!!
Who could forget The Clangers and dear old Bagpuss, but my favourites were Noggin the Nog and Ivor the Engine. The tales of the Lands of the North and the wicked plots against Noggin the Nog by his Uncle Nogbad the Bad held me spellbound. Ivor was an engine with attitude, small but not easily ignored (rather like me). Ivor never let his size or his rails stop him enjoying life, he sang in the choir and he even went to the beach!
If this entry has rekindled happy memories you may enjoy this link http://www.smallfilms.co.uk/
No comments:
Post a Comment