Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe this week was about children’s TV, and he ended with a great little tribute to Oliver Postgate:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uAftt3Unzo

I had the privilege of meeting him in Bristol while promoting “Seeing Things”‘ publication several years ago, and he was (as ever) a charming, intelligent, humane man, with an imagination of truly wondrous quality. I heard him voice Bagpuss’s yawn before a delighted audience of several generations, stroked the saggy old cloth cat’s besmirched yet warm fur, and patted Professor Yaffle on his distinguished wooden head. My copy of “Seeing Things” is signed by Oliver, and now more than ever is treasured.

A decent fellow is a fine description, but he was and will ever be so much more. Gentle, courageous, imaginative – “genius” is an overused word, but he is and always shall be a genius.

And Clinton’s suggestion is a great one. Maybe the petition to Downing Street should be started now to make it happen.

All of the best to you, Oliver, wherever you are. And thank you.

Such a lovely beautiful man. Deserving of all our hugs. Last time I heard him was on ‘The Russell Brand Show’ on Radio 2 where he took Brand’s overdubbing of Professor Yaffle on that Nickelback “rock star” song (amongst other things, comparing the previous week’s guest Richard Dawkins to the carved wooden bookend in the shape of a woodpecker for example) in good humour by speaking in Yaffle’s voice as soon as he was on air. He may have considered his work as being the worst animation but I beg to differ. I believe he and Peter Firman should be praised to the hilt as great filmmakers. Place them amongst Lotte Reinhegger and Nick Park and Peter Lord.

Also a political figure with his involvement with CND and his writings for The New Statesman. He also wrote one of the best modern autobiographies this side of Michael Powell’s ‘A Life In Movies’ and Frank Muir’s ‘A Kentish Lad’. My favourite part of ‘Seeing Things’ was his reading of a Winnie The Pooh extract during his Quaker wife’s funeral.

One thing I am kicking myself over and that is my ‘Pingwings’ DVD. After watching a few episodes I decided to watch some more. Slightly drunk I pulled out the disc too hard from the box and it split down the middle. I have only myself to blame.

Dare I say it, but I’d love to see a tribute to him at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Well why not? The stage could be decorated with props and characters from Smallfilms, songs provided by Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner, clips and full episodes could be shown on a screen, a small chamber orchestra could play the music of Vernon Elliot and the whole event could be joint introduced and compered by your good self and Johnny Trunk.

Oliver Postgate. A decent fellow.