A little over a year ago, Oliver Postgate passed on at age 83. He left an astounding legacy, in just a few short series, that have had a lasting impact on generations of children. Despite only ever making thirteen episodes of Bagpuss, it remains one of the most popular of British childrens’ programs. The universal appeal of Clangers is undeniable. Your children will soon be running about the house whistling too after watching an episode or thirteen of these. We sat down as a family and watched a ton of them tonight. They remain extremely charming and delightful. My three-year-old son insists that I am the soup dragon; and, his attempts to whistle are beyond charming. Bottom line: each of us found something to laugh at or be amazed by.

Oliver was a conscientious objector to the second world war and a very vocal opponent to the nuclear buildup in Europe in the 70’s and 80’s as well as being an opponent to the post 9-11 clampdown on personal freedoms and the selling of the myth of the global terror network by the far right. One of the last productions that Oliver worked on that received wide distribution was the narration to the documentary of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Alchemists of Sound, which I have watched at least once every year since it was released.

Just recently BBC4 has aired Oliver Postgate: A Life in Small Films, an overview of his astounding life.

Clangers Series One from Amazon.co.uk (cheap! not even 4 pounds!)

Clangers Series Two

Oliver Postgate on Wikipedia

The Alchemists of Sound at Synthopia.

Stephen Fry and Nick Park pay tribute to Oliver Postgate