Oliver Postage RIP

I, like many of my generation probably, have been feeling rather melancholy today, as one of the people who shaped the TV of our childhoods, Oliver Postgate has died. He created Bagpuss, Noggin the Nog, Ivor the Engine and The Clangers among others, all of which were staple parts of my childhood.

He had a lovely calm voice that always transports me back to those more innocent times when I almost believed that a saggy old cloth cat could come to life with a yawn, that breadcrumbs and butterbeans could make chocolate biscuits, that an old wooden bookend could be a professor, where Norse myths came alive, where a steam train in Wales had a Dragon living in the firebox and when small knitted creatures could live on the moon. What a brilliant imagination he had, somehow instinctively knowing what would entertain kids of all ages. You only have to look at how his creations have endured in the popular consciousness of my generation to see that. It's a testament to all he got right that you can still buy Bagpusses and Clangers in the shops and that kids are still falling in love with his creations to this day. How the BBC must regret not commissioning anything from him after 1987 when the older shows have shown such longevity.

My favourite of his shows was Noggin the Nog. It tends to get forgotten a bit these day, but its blend of cheap animation and magical, mythical adventure stories had me gripped when i was small. I remember the books with their amazing plates from the adventures and the Noggin being all heroic and fighting dragons in the icy tundra. I'd love to see it again and be taken back to that time.

And best of all, unlike some of our heroes, he seems such an unassuming man in the interviews he gave- aware later in life of all the joy he gave to us kids back in the day, but not at all big headed, just grateful to be appreciated.

So a big hand from me, and I hope he's still telling stories somewhere.

Bagpuss gave a big yawn and settled down to sleep. RIP Mr Postgate.