Box of Delights

Jennifer and the flower fairies. Can't remember what it entailed but do remember some of the costumes.

Norman Shelley was also in The Archers as Colonel Danby I was told today. Additionally there is a recently published book about Winnie the Pooh. Apparently it all began with a real bear named Winnie whom AA Milne and/or Christopher Robin saw. It follows the story through all the different developments including the Children's Hour production. Sadly not one of my five old school friends remembered The Box of Delights. I think the highwayman serial may have been called The Spider.

There is a free pop up exhibition about Alice in Wonderland in The British Library, on until mid-April. I found it fascinating and intend to go again.

I don't remember Mrs Kerry, feetlebaum (wonderful name for a cow!) but I can 'hear' that tune in my head so clearly! I realised later that Mompty is 'Mon Petit'. Wilfred Babbage! I'd forgotten that name but remember it now.

"Mompty and Peckham" - actually called "Said the Cat to the Dog" - great fun. Sig tune for that was the 'Popular Song' movement from the Façade Suite (actually a 'soft shoe' tune). I remember that dialect expert Stephen Jack played Peckham, the dog, and wasn't there a cow, called Mrs Kerry?
Oh, and 'Dad' was played by Wilfred Babbage...

I'm still thrilled by that signature tune too feetlebaum.

Mompty and Peckham, Malcolm Saville's dramatised stories, Uncle Mac and David, 'Good night children, everywhere' - we were indeed the lucky ones. Norman Shelley as Pooh - I can still hear his voice in my imagination. He was also wonderful as the rat - sorry, it's late and I can't remember his name -Abner? in the the later audio version of The Box of Delights. Terrific versatility.

I can't remember those series being on the radio, perhaps I am too old but the Box of Delights and the Children of Green Knowe were on TV when my children were young and
I remember that they always led up to Christmas so it was part of the anticipation and the wonder of that season along with the lighting of the advent candles on Blue Peter ( on a covered coat hangar if I remember correctly) oh happy times.

I remember scorching my knees - getting as close to the fire as possible - listening to The Railway Children which was re-named The House With Three Chimneys for the BBC serial. I think this must have been in 1955 which was the only winter we spent in England in between my father's Middle East postings.

Anybody remember the signature tune to the radio Box of Delights?

It was from The Carol Symphony (Victor Hely Hutchinson) - you heard a harp figure and then muted strings with The First Noel over it - as a child it chilled me through and through, such was the evocation of a frosty night! I imagined the stars twinkling through the cold air...
And the thing is - it still does!

@elred - were we not the lucky ones? Children's Hour was so far beyond anything available to today's children - Said the Cat to the Dog, Winnie the Pooh (with Norman Shelley as Pooh) - all those you mentioned (I was mad for The Swish of the Curtain!) - I use to listen, in the winter, by the firelight - it made the pictures in my head that much brighter!

I cand just remember The Box of Delights being on radio, although it didn't make a great impression on me at the time. I loved the TV version and I've got it on DVD. I also loved the TV version of The Children of Green Knowe. A few years ago my son and I tried to find a recording of it. Apparently the BBC had never produced one but eventually my son managed to find someone on ebay who had produced a reasonable DVD of it. I give it a run through every Christmas to get me in the mood.

I remember watching Seal Morning, Sunday teatimes with DD, starring a young Holly Aird and Jane Lapotaire.

Daisyanswerdo, not wanting to lower the tone, but when I saw the title of this thread, I thought you were refering to the Durex Sexlection box in the ads at the side of this page! Sorry, lol.

Deep in nostalgia now, Ballet Shoes, Jennings, The Swish of the Curtain, Toy Town and the Book Reviews!

The Box of Delights, the book, was a sequel to The Midnight Folk. Anyone remember the Children's Hour serial about a highwayman, that also had me fascinated and a little apprehensive!

Sounds like Cole Hawkins, I think. It was all so sinister, against a background of Christmas approaching and the Cathedral. And, of course, steam trains!

Yes I remember the walking into the painting, haven't watched my DVD for a while but I will now. I seem to remember it was a painting with a donkey about to disappear from view on a mountain path?

Good to hear from you, Elrel. You're the only one who remembers the radio version so far.

NanKate, I don't recognise the description of someone walking into a painting as being The Box of Delights. But a lot of amazing things happened to Kay Harker in the story.

It's on utube www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdhiI8XmJQI

Children of Green Knowe not on dvd though, just the books.

Just bought the dvd of the box of delights on Amazon, less than four pounds!

Yes, have never forgotten the original radio Box of Delights. I heard that it was by John Masefield so had his complete works for my birthday, read it diligently from cover to cover. It was his complete poetical works ... It really is a magical story and, as with so many others, perfect on radio.

Thanks for that JamJar

I've just remembered reading this lovely blog post about Lucy Boston and her wonderful home for all Green Knowe fans.
dovegreyreader.typepad.com/dovegreyreader_scribbles/2014/06/the-manor-at-hemingford-grey.html

Oh yes I have the BBC box set, it was a present to me and DD loved it too. It was first shown on television in 1984. Have the books as well, three in the series I think? Going to keep it out and have a nostalgic afternoon's viewing now I've hunted it down.

That's nice Auntieflo it is a lovely story.Box of Delights is set around Christmas, as is Green Knowe, so both would make good gifts for children.Either the books or the tv series.

I loved the TV series of this, used to watch it with ds1, now aged 37!

Bought it on video to watch with ds2.

Although no doubt it wouldn't match up to the CGI effects used today, it's lovely story with Christmas coming up and I would welcome the opportunity to see it again.