Memories of Camberwick Green:
wound up and ready to play.
But this box can hide a secret inside.
Can you guess what is in it today?”
Bring back any memories?
Windy Miller & Friends… on Camberwick Green
It’s the start of Camberwick Green… one of my favourite television programmes from when I was young (I used to love Trumpton too… but was never quite so keen on Chigley for some reason).
Camberwick Green also featured one of my own quirky memories (apologies to my sister Jane for divulging this secret, but I feel the need to share it!).
I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This, But Camberwick Green Made My Sister Cry!
If you remember, Camberwick Green started with a character (a different one for each episode) rising out of the aforementioned musical box. This particular Camberwick Green character was the one that the story would revolve around.
At the end of each Camberwick Green story the closing credits would show the character doing the opposite of what happened at the start… i.e. standing on top of the famous Camberwick Green musical box and descending slowly into it.
As soon as this happenend Jane would burst into floods of tears and wouldn’t stop until after the end of the credits.
The strange thing was… she was 18 at the time… (only joking… she was probably 2!)
They Don’t Make Television Like They Used To
As you can imagine, now I have a 3 year old and a 2 year old of my own, I get to watch a lot of children’s TV – predominantly on CBeebies.
Computer Generated Tat
Sadly, with the ‘progress’ made in television production, there is an increasing amount of computer generated animation shown… it all looks the same to me and is pretty bland and dull. Yes, I realise that I’m not exactly the target market but none of these types of programmes seem to ‘hook’ either of our children either. But it really couldn’t be much more different to the classics like Camberwick Green.
With these programmes it seems like the producers have given up on any sort of creativity or quirkiness… thinking that their slick animation is all that is needed. How wrong can they be?
Oh Yes They Do! (but it’s about as rare as hen’s teeth!)
But I’m delighted to say that there is one programme which I think will become as iconic, and fondly remembered, as the classics of my day.
Even if you haven’t got children of your own I strongly recommend that you check it out… it’s brilliant. I just wish they’d make some more because it seems to be a stalwart of the CBeebies schedule… and the BBC just repeat the episodes on a loop (meaning that i have seen some of them at least 10 times or more… they’re still good though, even then).
The animation is brilliant (it couldn’t be more unlike the computer generated stuff if it tried), the creativity in the programmes is stunning (slightly surreal at times and fantastic for it), the interaction between the characters is a joy… and the language used is quirky and charming.
A Treat For You
So my nomination for a current TV programme which is worthy of taking its place alongside Mr Benn, Camberwick Green and Mary, Mungo and Midge in my childhood hall of fame is: Charlie and Lola.
Take a look… it’s on at 6.45am on BBC2 currently. You’ll be glad you did!
What would you nominate to join Camberwick Green in the Childhood TV Hall of Fame? Leave a comment and tell me…
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