Ivor the Engine

[watervole]

For those who mourn the passing of Oliver Postgate, and for those who wonder who he was and why we should care, here is the first episode of Ivor the Engine.

Listen to Oliver's voice.  He's a born storyteller.  You could remove the animation and still have a perfect story (indeed, my sons listened to this as an audio tape for many years at bedtime).  I love Ivor.  I love the little Welsh touches, the names and the way Oliver lets them roll off his tongue.  And I love the bit at the end, because I love Welsh choirs.

Comments

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

To me, Ivor was the little engine that could.

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

I never twigged that he made all the engine sounds too, when I was little :) Katelyn's going to have to sit through a lot of Bagpuss, Ivor and Clangers over the next few years.. hope she enjoys them as much as I did!

[meltinthemist.livejournal.com]

:) This is very sweet. I've never seen or heard of it because I've completely missed out on British children's stories but Postgate definitely does seem like a born storyteller.

[merrymaia.livejournal.com]

Oh, my goodness. That's just wonderful!!! Would you mind if link to this entry?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

It would be my pleasure for Oliver's storytelling to be linked to from anywhere!

[nmg.livejournal.com]

That's the first *colour* episode. Postgate made twenty-six black and white episodes for Associated Rediffusion before he moved to the Beeb. Many of the stories from the earlier episodes are retold in the later ones, but there are a few that weren't carried across (the explanation of how Ivor got his whistle - from Morgan the roundabout - for one).

[pennski.livejournal.com]

Oooh...are any of those available anywhere?

[nmg.livejournal.com]

I've not seen them on DVD, and I have been looking out for them. If I find them, I'll let you know.

[darkfloweruk.livejournal.com]

I loved Postgate for Bagpuss, the soppy old catpuss.

[raspberryfool.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was sad to read of his passing. There was an interesting documentary about Smallfilms on C4 a few years back, I managed to tape some of it. Ivor, The Clangers and Bagpuss were part of my childhood.