'Jemima' from BBC children's television series 'Play School'

Do you remember Jemima readers?

Did you like Play School?

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8104659/jemima-from-bbc-childrens-television-series-play-school-toy-recreational-artefact 

BUSTLIN' IN BARTON ON HUMBER

Yesterday the Missus and me visited the picturesque river town of Barton on Humber in North Lincolnshire, England.

A lovely place, it lies in the lee of the colossal Humber Bridge and nestles on the shores of the wide Humber estuary.

As there were boats, a big bridge and a few old toys in the old school museum I took a few snaps for the blog!

Incidentally, perhaps Barton's most famous son is Ted Lewis, author of the classic gangster novel Get Carter!

DO YOU REMEMBER BBC PLAY SCHOOL OR PLAY AWAY?

Which presenter was your favourite?

BRIAN CANT ATE MY TEA

As part of Operation De-Clutter Moonbase we are parting with LP's.

Some, like Led Zep, are too hard to part with but some, like this, are easy because they weren't mine as a youth..

In the 90's and 00's I bought in TV and film-related records regularly for my toy stall and Ebay shop. I still have lots left.

Here's one you may recall, songs from Play School and Play Away. I must have watched these TV shows when I had my tea around 5pm. Does that sound right?

Can you name the characters on the front cover?

Very nostalgic is the back cover, which hosts a gallery of the TV presenters at the time. So many familiar faces! 

Do you remember of them?

Today we're looking through the mucky window!

brian cant rip

I was really saddened just now to see on BBC News that Brian Cant has passed away.

Brian was one of the main presenters of Play School and Play Away on UK TV. He was also the golden voice behind the famous Trumpton roll-call.

I loved Brian when I was a kid, I thought he was hilarious and could have listened to his zany tales and mad antics all day long. But we all knew he was a gentle soul and doing his best to impart important things whilst having fun, the best way to learn by far.

Presenter, singer, comic, teacher, jester and icon to millions of kids born in the Sixties, Brian Cant was them all, for which we will all be eternally grateful.

So looking through that big round window one last time we bid you a fond farewell Brian.

Keep playing and rest in peace.

DO YOU REMEMBER PLAY SCHOOL ON TV?

Play School was a Kids TV show which aired during the 1960's. I remember watching it a lot as a youngster and I recall it being a sort of British Sesame Street, although I'm unsure of the time-line for the two programmes.

Play School was for smaller children and was essentially good clean fun. Lots of singing, dolls, soft toys, counting, telling the time [analog!] and the like. No fighting and violence here! 

The main gimmick I recall was to do with windows: the show took us through either the round or square window at the start although I have no idea why. I know my Dad used to say through the broken window just at the right moment!

Characters on the show included many different hippified young people, rather like how they were on Magpie. The only one I remember is Brian Cant, who went on to do the similar Play Away and Fingerbobs I think.

Lots of toys appeared as staples: Big Ted, Little Ted, Gemima the doll and Humpty spring to mind. Not sure of they were available as toys in their own right or whether the production team used existing toys.

I did love Play School and it formed an important part of the vast colourful tapestry of my Sixties TV watching.

Did you watch it where you were in the world? Here's a short reminder of its simple old school magic via the modern magic of You Tube.