A Postscript for Postgate Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

When Postgate became liable to be called up for national military service in 1943 during the Second World War he declared himself a conscientious objector. After his court-martial he was sentenced to three months in prison. He worked on farms until the end of the war when he went to Allied Occupied Germany and served with the Red Cross in social relief work. His father too had been a conscientious objector during the First World War.

Answer: Peter Firmin

Peter Firmin collaborated with Oliver Postgate for almost fifteen years and helped to produce the characters to go with the Postgate stories. Most memorably to many was his creation of the ragdoll-like Bagpuss. The little girl Emily to whom Bagpuss belonged was based on Peter Firmin's own daughter of that name.

Answer: Bagpuss

In a UK national newspaper poll in 2008 this cat was voted 'the best TV animal of all time'. Although only thirteen episodes of 'Bagpuss' were made and broadcast from 1974 they were regularly repeated until 1987. There are apparently hopes of a remake to be launched in 2009 following the news that a company called Coolbai has acquired the rights to the characters.

Answer: Ivor the Engine

Mr Postgate's work, including Ivor the Engine have been screened on the BBC and ITV in the UK from the 1950s onwards.

The 'Ivor the Engine' series first began life as a set of six black and white films for one of the leading UK ITV companies of the 1950's. This first series (for Associated Rediffusion TV) appeared in 1959. It was succeeded by a further series of twenty six programmes about Ivor over the next four years.



These black and white stories were remade in colour in 1975 for the BBC as a set of 40 films.

Answer: The Clangers

Firmin and Postgate responded to a call from the BBC to create a colourful new series for children by devising the Clangers. Postgate created a near Utopian society and the series was about the gentle lives of the Clangers which they lived in deep space in a hollow planet. The programmes were broadcast over twenty-six episodes between 1969 and 1972.

For many this was a classic children's series which featured tiny bright eyed pink, long-nosed and mouse-shaped creatures. To me it was about cheerful little beings who nevertheless had an irritating penchant for communicating in high-pitched whistles.

Answer: Noggin The Nog

Postgate and collaborator Firmin created a total of five sagas telling of the exploits of Noggin the Nog. Originally these were made in black and white for the UK broadcaster the BBC between 1959 and 1965. Later in 1980, one of these sagas, 'Noggin and the Ice Dragon', and a new one, 'Noggin and the Pie', were made in colour.

Answer: Smallfilms Productions

Oliver Postgate mainly worked in collaboration with the artist and puppeteer Peter Firmin and they became partners in making short animated films. Oliver would write the scripts and narrate the story lines and Peter would design and create the art work and puppetry. They formed the company Smallfilms Productions to produce this work.

Answer: Pingwings

'Pingwings' was broadcast between 1963 and 1967. They more or less resembled penguins and were knitted creations of Gloria Firmin, the sister of Postgate's collaborator Peter. Only eighteen programmes were made and broadcast. In the course of researching for this quiz I have found out that the music was composed by Vernon Elliott.

Answer: The Pogles

In 1964 the BBC broadcast six episodes of Postgate's 'Pogles' stories. However, they were screened only once as the BBC felt that the witch was too scary a character for children.

Answer: Seeing Things: An Autobiography

His own account of his life and views was published in 'Seeing Things: An Autobiography'. It was illustrated by his good friend and fellow creator of Bagpuss, Peter Firmin.

To find out more, a careful search of the Internet will reveal reference sites about Oliver Postgate as well as his own personal website which are well worth visiting. Who knows you may be inspired to write your own quiz.