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2018-09-27 21:05:42 UTC
:-(
From BBC.com ...
Postman Pat and Rosie and Jim author John Cunliffe dies
-------------------------------------------------------
The creator of children's TV show Postman Pat has died.
Tributes have poured in for 85-year-old John Cunliffe,
who was also the writer and star of Rosie and Jim.
The author was born in Colne, Lancashire and lived in
Kendal, Cumbria. He took inspiration from the Lake
District when creating the show's fictional village of
Greendale.
The first episode was broadcast on 16 September 1981
and the animated series has appeared in more than 50
countries.
The family said Mr Cunliffe died at home after a short
illness.
The notice of his death was published in the Ilkley
Gazette and read: "John Cunliffe left his Ilkley home
in a deluge of rain on 20 September, never to return.
"Even the skies wept for John, the gifted creator of
Postman Pat, Rosie and Jim, and author of many earlier
published collections of poetry and picture story
books for children.
"John's last poetry collection, significantly entitled
"Dare You Go", has now come to fruition for John [who]
has dared to go and has gone."
Director of BBC Children's Alice Webb said Postman Pat
had been a "hugely popular" character on the BBC for
nearly 40 years thanks to the genuine charm and warmth
John imbued in the characters that populate Greendale.
"It's a world you'd like to be part of - a community
that cares, is full of heart and full of fun - and
that is a lovely thing to show audiences, both young
and old.
"I count myself lucky to be one of millions of children
whose childhoods were enriched by John's creations."
Organisers of the Ilkley Literature Festival have also
paid tribute to the writer.
A statement posted on Facebook said: "John, who was a
long-time Ilkley resident, became patron of our
Children's Festival when it started in 2003 and
delighted children and parents at many festival events
over the years."
Rachel Feldberg, festival director, said the festival
was "honoured" to have him as patron.
"I have wonderful memories of events he did with us.
His work, particularly Postman Pat, was iconic for
everyone who grew up reading, watching and loving
those characters and will continue to delight children
for generations to come."
She added: "Our thoughts are with John's wife and
family at this time."
Fiona Movley, chairwoman of the Harrogate International
Festivals, tweeted it was "sad news" the "gifted
creator John Cunliffe has died".
She added the notice was "very fitting".
Crime writer Lin Anderson tweeted: "My youngest son
loved Postman Pat. As did I.
"I knitted him a jumper with Postman Pat on it. He
never wanted to take it off. Thank you John Cunliffe."
Prisons Minister Paul Goggins once claimed his family
was the inspiration for the Postman Pat character
Mrs Goggins, who works in Greendale post office.
He said his uncle Edmund Goggins worked with
Mr Cunliffe, who later lived in Ilkley in West
Yorkshire, as a teacher in Manchester and probably
was the inspiration for the name Goggins.
<https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-45666642>
From BBC.com ...
Postman Pat and Rosie and Jim author John Cunliffe dies
-------------------------------------------------------
The creator of children's TV show Postman Pat has died.
Tributes have poured in for 85-year-old John Cunliffe,
who was also the writer and star of Rosie and Jim.
The author was born in Colne, Lancashire and lived in
Kendal, Cumbria. He took inspiration from the Lake
District when creating the show's fictional village of
Greendale.
The first episode was broadcast on 16 September 1981
and the animated series has appeared in more than 50
countries.
The family said Mr Cunliffe died at home after a short
illness.
The notice of his death was published in the Ilkley
Gazette and read: "John Cunliffe left his Ilkley home
in a deluge of rain on 20 September, never to return.
"Even the skies wept for John, the gifted creator of
Postman Pat, Rosie and Jim, and author of many earlier
published collections of poetry and picture story
books for children.
"John's last poetry collection, significantly entitled
"Dare You Go", has now come to fruition for John [who]
has dared to go and has gone."
Director of BBC Children's Alice Webb said Postman Pat
had been a "hugely popular" character on the BBC for
nearly 40 years thanks to the genuine charm and warmth
John imbued in the characters that populate Greendale.
"It's a world you'd like to be part of - a community
that cares, is full of heart and full of fun - and
that is a lovely thing to show audiences, both young
and old.
"I count myself lucky to be one of millions of children
whose childhoods were enriched by John's creations."
Organisers of the Ilkley Literature Festival have also
paid tribute to the writer.
A statement posted on Facebook said: "John, who was a
long-time Ilkley resident, became patron of our
Children's Festival when it started in 2003 and
delighted children and parents at many festival events
over the years."
Rachel Feldberg, festival director, said the festival
was "honoured" to have him as patron.
"I have wonderful memories of events he did with us.
His work, particularly Postman Pat, was iconic for
everyone who grew up reading, watching and loving
those characters and will continue to delight children
for generations to come."
She added: "Our thoughts are with John's wife and
family at this time."
Fiona Movley, chairwoman of the Harrogate International
Festivals, tweeted it was "sad news" the "gifted
creator John Cunliffe has died".
She added the notice was "very fitting".
Crime writer Lin Anderson tweeted: "My youngest son
loved Postman Pat. As did I.
"I knitted him a jumper with Postman Pat on it. He
never wanted to take it off. Thank you John Cunliffe."
Prisons Minister Paul Goggins once claimed his family
was the inspiration for the Postman Pat character
Mrs Goggins, who works in Greendale post office.
He said his uncle Edmund Goggins worked with
Mr Cunliffe, who later lived in Ilkley in West
Yorkshire, as a teacher in Manchester and probably
was the inspiration for the name Goggins.
<https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-45666642>