Camberwick Green

1 9 6 6 (UK)
13 x 15 minute episodes

Camberwick Green burst on to BBC1 on 3rd January 1966 for a run of 13 episodes.  Two other series followed; Trumpton (1967 - also 13 episodes) and Chigley (1969 - again 13 episodes). They were all part of the Watch With Mother series of children's programs. Even though there were only 36 episodes made they remain one of the most popular children's programs ever made by the BBC. This is not surprising given the excellent scripts, songs, and animation.  All the scripts were written by Gordon Murray (Alison Prince co-wrote Trumpton) and the songs by Gordon Murray and Freddie Phillips. The animation was handled by Bob Bura and John Hardwick.

The other major factor in the success of these series was the inspired casting of Brian Cant as the narrator. He brought Trumptonshire to life, in narrating the stories, speaking the words of the characters, singing the excellent songs, and - in Camberwick Green and Chigley - talking to the characters directly. Each of the series had their own particular locations. Camberwick Green never strayed too far from the village green, Colley's Mill or Pippin Fort.

Trumpton was firmly based in and around the Market Square, and Chigley seemed to rely on travelling from Winkstead Hall via the Chigley Pottery to Treddles Wharf, with just enough time to get back to the Biscuit Factory for the six o'clock whistle. 

The landmark buildings included a Fishmongers, Bakery, Chemist, Post Office, a Dairy, a Windmill, Farmer Bell's farm and Pippin Fort. - Camberwick Green has been described as "the posh bit of Trumpton". The series (along with Chigley and Trumpton) were filmed in stop-frame animation (in the same manner as The Magic Roundabout). 

At the start of every episode a musical box would play and out of the rotating top would pop the "secret" of that particular episode. It was always a character from Camberwick Green (and was more often than not, Windy Miller!). What was the story with Windy Miller? Every time Farmer Bell couldn't sell his eggs to any of the shops in Trumpton it was because Windy Miller had undercut him by flogging off his cheap "home made" ones. When the dairy smashed all it's milk bottles by accident it bought cheap milk from (yep you guessed it) Windy bloody Miller . . . He even had a special arrangement with the army from Pippin Fort . .  . Was Windy Miller the original Del-Boy Trotter?!?

EPISODES

Peter the Postman   Windy Miller   Mr Crockett, the Garage Man Dr Mopp  Farmer Jonathan Bell   Captain Snort

Paddy Murphy   Roger Varley the Sweep  PC McGary  Mr Carraway, the Fishmonger   Mr Murphy the Baker   Mrs Honeyman and her baby