Just heard news of the death of Geoffrey Bayldon yesterday, at the age of 93. One of my favourite actors, he was best known, I'm sure, for his fantastically animated and utterly convincing portrayal of Catweazle, the eponymous time-travelling character in what has to be one of the best children's TV programmes ever made. Who could forget electrickery, the telling bone, Castle Saburac and Touchwood the toad? And "Nothing works"! I'm sure its magic rubbed off on many of us of a certain vintage and may explain a lot...
He was known for many other parts too, not least the Crowman in Worzel Gummidge as well as a teacher in the superb film To Sir With Love; he even played the role of a butler in the tea party scene in Marc Bolan's Born to Boogie.
RIP Geoffrey. Fare thee well.
He had a long and successful life, but I'm still genuinely saddened to hear of his passing. A part of my childhood gone. I'm pretty sure that my Dad never used the word telephone after 1971 - for the remaining 35 years of his life it was always known as the telling-bone.
ReplyDeleteI agree; as you say, his life was long and successful, but I still felt that sadness when I heard the news, inevitable though these things are. It's as if he should be immortal, really, just "always there"! I'll be re-eatching all the Catweazle episodes with gratitude.
DeleteHaha, love that about your Dad and the "telling-bone". A phrase that still sometimes slips out here too.
I meant re-watching. Although "re-eatching" has a certain Catweazly ring to it!
DeleteSad news but what a great chap. Loved 'Catweazle', loved him with Marc and didn't realise he was in the wonderful 'To Sir, With Love'. Now I want to see that again. RIP.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Yes, good idea, time to watch the film again.
DeleteA real blast from a much simpler past - Oh to go back to those days! Bought the film To Sir With Love recently after writing about the song - didn't click he was in it but will revisit it now and look out for him.
ReplyDeleteRIP Catweazel
The setting of Catweazle is so simple and idyllic too - I think it resonates so strongly because it reminds me of my own childhood freedom in a fairly rural area, being able to roam the fields with my friends in Summer, no adults or phones, no restrictions except to be back in time for tea - and half-hoping to find a Catweazle of our own (who would not of course was somehow never going to be at all scary like a real man/tramp!)
DeleteYes must remind myself of Geoffrey Bayldon's part in TSWL. I don't remember much about him in it (too distracted by Sidney Poitier!)
I too lived on the edge of a village with fields on either side so long days spent roaming the countryside only coming home for meals. I am afraid my daughter just didn't have the same childhood at all which makes me sad.
DeleteAs a heads up I am having a little break from posting new stuff over at my place - It turns out the new paperless office is not for me and I'm stuggling with spending just so much time glued to computer screens. Also I think I may have been oversharing a little too much of late so time to reign it in a bit (unusual for me I know!). Good to drop by your fine place for a bit of light relief from the real world however. Keep the faith!
Ah Alyson, have just logged on as you've posted this - I am sorry to know that you're struggling a little with the situation at work and I can completely get it (and was speaking to some friends on Friday about their new paperless, hot-desking office regimes, and it was quite a revelation!)
DeleteI don't think you've been oversharing as such (certainly no more than I ever have!) but I do understand how it is to get those occasional wobbles, and have experienced them myself and deleted posts from time to time or got cold feet generally. Also, taking a break from posting completely is nothing unusual (have done it many times, but I always leave the blog live so I can come back to it whenever I feel the need); I think we all know how sometimes other things just take priority and this would not be the fun pastime it is if it started to feel like a chore or obligation. So, yes, just take the pressure of yourself however you need to - we'll still be here, and any time you need or want to write on yours or others' blogs, it will always be a pleasure to see you.
This American feels he missed out on something pretty special as a lad.
ReplyDeleteAh, Catweazle - and Geoffrey Bayldon - were very special and very British, a shame you didn't have it there -although if you get chance to watch it on youtube or DVD then I'd definitely recommend it as an adult too!
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