I just wanted th say how shocked and upset that the wonderful richard carpenter creator of our beloved catweazle has passed away.I was lucky enough to meet and chat with the great man on quite a few occasions and these moments were very speacial to me.I thought of him as a good friend and was thrilled at last years event at brickendonbury when as he was leaving richard shook my hand and said cheers mate.I felt really proud that he called me mate and i shall miss not seeing him although i know he will be among us all at this years event.Love to annie and my thoughts are with you and your family in this very sad time.RIP richard you were a wonderful man a true gent and a brilliant writer you will be sadly missed.

yours very sincerely Ian Baker

Town/City lincoln

Country england

To echo Ian's sentiments above,it is a sad loss to the world of creative writing and to our club. A true gent and my condolences to his wife and family.A new star shines in the night sky now,and he takes with him a weighty tome of original ideas,concepts and whacky notions that very very few will be able to repeat. A man of unsurpassed ideas and dreams has passed away. Pure bloody genius is all I can say. Rest in Peace Richard

Town/City stockport

I am very saddened to hear of his passing, and would like to give my condolences to his wife and family, but whilst he is no longer with us in this life he shall always be with us because of all the good things he has left us with. His memory shall never be forgotten.

May he rest in peace

Town/City Romsey

Country England

I was shocked and saddened at the news. My condolences to his family.
Luckily, he left us with a fine body of work which we all continue to love and treasure. He was, and always will be a star!

Town/City Walton-on-Thames

Country UK

What can I say that has not already been said, just to say what a wonderful, kind, and tallented man you were Richard, I had the opportunity to meet you several times and it always was a pleasure,It is so sad to know that you will not be able to see Catweazlethemovie achieve the big screen, all the more reason that it is made in your rememberence, and so to this end I personally thank-you for the legacy of Catweazle you have left us, my thoughts and prayers go out to Annie and family we all share your sadness love and God Bless, Graham.

Town/City Southampton UK

Country UK

It is very sad news to learn of the passing of Richard. We often hear people say things could not have been possible without a certain person when they die, but without any shadow of a doubt the Catweazle books and the two television series definitely could not have materialised without Richard as they were created entirely by his visionary mind. He was always smiling and so proud of his part in creating the Catweazle legend and coming to the annual conventions year after year. I will remember walking along the country lane outside Home Farm on a sunny afternoon with him to the field where the cars were parked and he was so down to earth and was also fortunate to meet his lovely wife Annie who is a bundle of fun with her lovely bright dresses. I do hope he managed to achieve all his personal ambitions. Our hearts go out to all his family at this very sad time and it is so poignant that it is two years to the week that we also lost dear Robin. Let us hope that this sad news does not leave Geoffrey feeling too bereft. They are gone but unlike a lot of us they won't be forgotten. We have the DVDs to watch over and over. John, London.

Town/City Grove Park/London

Country England

How right you are John and indeed everyone. I do believe he was a very special and superior writer and a splendid man as well. All at the club can be very proud, that you all helped to show him just how much he was thought of and indeed how utterly brilliant Catweazle was. It must have made him very pleased to see that his creation was revered so much and still so after so many years. I have to say that when I was told on Sunday, I was working on this years event and everything seemed to just drain away from me. Such a huge blow seemed hard to recover from. But I have to say that after constantly thinking of him in the two days that have followed, I have gradually thought - No we mustn't let things slip, we must go on bigger and better for his sake and for Annie's, for Robin's sake, for all those wonderful people who have left us that have brought us so much enjoyment and hopefully will continue with us all at the club, and for all the new people that will be introduced to Catweazle in the future. Perhaps now more than ever. The show WILL most definately go on. I am sure that everyone who enjoys being part of the club will agree.I want to make those who have left us and indeed those still with us, all proud of what they mean to everyone, I want to make people that aren't aware of him and his creation, become fully aware of it! Everyone has their own thoughts on this subject, but personally I believe that although we can no longer talk to these people and can no longer have the pleasure of physically seeing them and conversing with them. I believe that somewhere they are still there, still seeing, still listening and watching, and I will carry on with that firmly in my mind.
I hope you will all gather with us in June and make it a great weekend where we will be celebrating an extraordinary man and series. God Bless you Kip, stay with us on the continuing journey through time!

Richard will be sadly missed by all,It's been a very big shock but many great words will be spoken for a very Great Man.
My condolence's go out to Annie and all of Richards family.
R.I.P. Richard...

Town/City Blackburn

I would just like add my voice to those saddened by Richard's passing, he was such a wonderful man. My thoughts of him are filled with his smiling face, he has left behind a great legacy and the fact that there are so many fans of his work is testament to this. Rest in peace Kip Carpenter.

so sad to hear this news of a man who had a huge talent and had total respect from the catweazlefanclub, im thinking of his family and wish them well and also alfie, i alwa looked forward to meeting richard in june every year and this year i will celebrate his life as im sure we all will.

Town/City marlow, bucks

Firstly, on behalf of my eldest daughter Nicole ( fan member ), my wife, youngest daughter Rachel and myself, may we offer our deepest condolences and symapthies to Annie. John could not have put it better. I had the privelege of meeting and talking to Richard at the 2010 Catweazle Convention. We chatted beside the moat at Brickendonbury, and I brought up some of his previous great works such as Dick Turpin and Robin Of Sherwood. Such was the thoughtfullness and compassion of the man, he revealed to me that he had written to Richard O'Sullivan, now sadly residing at a Lord Delfont care home for actors. This wasn't boasting, as it was me who brought up the subject of how sad it was Richard ending up there. Naturally, I told him, Catweazle was his greatest work, and if I recall, I called it Top Of The Pops - he was vey flattered.

He then spoke to my daughter Nicole, then aged 4, and said to her - you are a very young Catweazle fan, and asked her what her favourite scene was. She told him it was Catweazle in the bath. She then opened up and chatted away to him as if she had known him ages. Richard's CV in great writing was second to none, and like Geoffrey, should have been acknowledged with an MBE or OBE years ago. But sadly, it wasn't to be. I just hope the obituaries in the papers in the next few days, will give him the respect he deserved, as one of Britains greatest screen writers. He even chatted away to my wife Anne, when she told him, Black Beauty was her favourite programme as a girl. The list is endless of what Richard wrote - Catweazle, Ghosts of Motley Hall, Dick Turpin, Robin Of Sherwood, I could go on forever.

That glorious sunny day in June in 2010 will stay with me forever. We even got chatting to Richard's lovely wife Annie. The photos of the two of us beside the moat, will be cherished by me forever. He will be soreley missed. Deepest sympathy again, to Annie.

Albert, Anne, Nicole and Rachel Thompson. Belfast. Northern Ireland.

Town/City Belfast

Country Northern Ireland

There's not a great deal I can say that hasn't already been said by other members, except to say that I was devastated by this awful news, and my thoughts and prayers are with lovely Annie and the family. I first met Richard in 2006 on my very first Catweazle weekend, and I remember thinking what a friendly and unassuming person he was, with absolutely no pretensions or snobbishness at all. I just went for a quick autograph, and he started chatting to me as if he had known me for years. Of course I met both him and Annie at subsequent events, and it was such a pleasure to be in their company. The truly talented ones are always the most modest. Sad though we are, we must keep our happy memories of Richard alive, and in this way we will never lose him - just as we have done with our beloved Robin. As you so rightly say Carol, the show must go on, as Richard would have wanted it to, and our club will go from strength to strength. God bless, Richard - you'll always be with us in spirit.

Town/City Shipley, West Yorkshire

Country England

My first meeting with Richard and Annie came in 2008 and remember sitting with them in The Queens Head after the fete and just chatting as you would with any of your dearest friends.
When they had to leave, I was given the warmest of hugs and kisses from both. So lovely.

A nicer man you couldn't wish to meet. I don't think I can put anything else on here that others don't already know about him but what I will put is a link that was given to me by another club member and written by someone who follows The Catweazle Club profile on Twitter.

http://ladydontfallbackwards.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/richard-kip-carpenter-1933-2012/



Goodbye Richard. Thank you for the wonderful memories and say hello to Robin for me. R.I.P

Sue xx

Town/City Fareham

Country United Kingdom

We just heard the sad news of Richard.
Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
When we met him at Hexwood and at Brickendonbury,
he was very kind and it was a pleasure chatting with him. He was proud that so many people come together
year after year to celebrate Catweazle and his work.
He did not only answer questions, he was interested in his fans as well and he loved talking about the filming of Catweazle. We will never forget him.
Jürgen, Sandra and Elkin

Town/City Wetzlar

Country Germany

I was shocked and saddened to hear the news about our beloved Kip. My immediate thoughts turned to Annie to whom I send my heartfelt condolences. I count myself fortunate to have spent time over the years at Hexwood, chatting with the creator of 2 of my favourite TV shows of all time...Catweazle and Robin Of Sherwood...and having been able to thank him in person for these shows which have always meant so much to me. He was always so friendly and interested in what you had to say or ask........a truly wonderful man who will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
ExmoorDougWeazle

Town/City Exmoor

Country England

What sad news, our deepest sympathy to Richards family at this time. A gifted talent as the treasures he created show . I met Richard at Brickendon last year, but felt i had known him years. what a gent greatly missed by us all im sure ,but never forgotten.x

Town/City FAIR OAK

Country ENGLAND

Very sad.
The same feeling when Robin Davies died.
Again I ask myself: why now?

My condolences to his family.

Hello Jurgen, I probably feel like all the other members, "WHY", why was this great man taken from us right at the point that he would eventualy see his dream come true,we are all feeling the pain and sadness that Annie and the family are going through, that is because at the Catweazle Club it is run as a family, we share the good times as well as the sad.Your feelings are shared, why was Robin taken at such a young age? we don't have an answer, but we do have the wonderful memories left us by Richard for us to enjoy and keep alive, let us lift up our spirits and keep Catweazle as Richard would have liked it, we must not forget poor Geoffrey he has lost a dear friend, as Carol said the show must go on.

Town/City Southampton UK

Country UK

I wept when I heard the news. I loved the man. Even tho I didn't know him hugely in person, his spirit was seared into mine because of the love I had for his creations. We are all unique, but he was a genuine one off and a gift to all who were touched by his works - which is an awful lot of people! Technology can be cold and cruel, but it can also bring people together. Writing to each other by email, or even the birth of the club on the Internet, are both excellent examples. Kip's triumph was to take the new medium of TV and infuse it with an innocent charm, wonder and magic that came from a previous age. Without him there would have been a gaping hole in our culture. In my opinion - he had to exist - the universe simply demanded it.

I've got to be honest and say that I am not one bit surprised that he has not been given greater recognition. I'd rate him as one of the most important fiction writers of the last century, but the fact this passes most people by doesn't surprise me. And I think the reason he isn't more widely recognised and appreciated is all part and parcel of why we can believe he is so important. Because what he did runs against the spirit of the age. This is his value, and also part of the price he paid in anonymity. He didn't sell out - but he knew we loved him which I'm sure is what he really cared about rather than the opinion of the world at large, even if further recognition would have been nice, and was definitely what he deserved and what he was owed. At least he got his Bafta.

Carol and Gary and everyone did a huge amount for him to feel valued and loved for his work. That's no small thing. I think we can all be very proud. And we are all going to have one hell of a reunion on the other side!

X

Town/City Glasgow

Country UK

Hello Graham.
Yes you are right. The show must go on.

Richard Carpenter thanked me personally for helping to keep the spirit of Catweazle alive with my board game.
This meant an awful lot to me and has been a great motivation to continue.

Town/City Kassel

Country Germany

Catweazle was made before I was born. I have YouTube to thank for enlightening me on the quality kids shows of the late 60's & early 70's. It was 'Robin of Sherwood' that first introduced me to 'Kip' Carpenter's talent. British TV writers seemed to have a great interest in ancient folklore at the time: Fat chance finding shows like 'Catweazle,' 'Children of the Stones,' 'Escape into Night,' & 'The Moon Stallion' for today's kids. Fantasy shows today seem to be just straight fantasy, with very little reference to actual folklore history (Discworld & Harry Potter being arguable exceptions).

Admittedly many of the kid shows done in the late 60's & 70's would be considered a bit on the cheesy side today, but the writing and storylines still hold up even if their "special FX" do not.

On a totally different tangent, I also mourn the loss of Cosgrove Hall animation, the UK's biggest animation studio. To me that's like Disney Feature Animation shutting down.

Seems like the suits are squashing all the magic out there. TV producers/writers of Richard Carpenter's calibre are a vanishing breed. He will be sorely missed.

Town/City San Francisco Bay Area

Country USA

Heather you are right, I consider myself so very lucky to have been born when I was. To see all those wonderful childrens programs that we grew up with, that left such a mark and wonderful memories and adventures in our minds and such that we were allowed to wholeheartedly get into without any fears or restrictions of health and safety, political correctness and the like. I mourn for those times along with the passing of the man that made it all possible.

Just wanted to let you all know that a group of us Robin of Sherwood fans grouped together and raised enough money in Kips honour to plant an area of Sherwood Forest , hence forth to be called Kips Wood . We felt this was a fitting tribute to the man himself . :)

Town/City Loughborough

Hi Karon,
Yes I wrote to someone in your group saying it was something that we tried to do but was unsuccessful. So I am really pleased that you have managed to do it. It is a great thing to do as I know he loved the woods etc. It is also nice to hear that you were able to raise the money to do it. I know by experience that it is a difficult thing to do. One day perhaps we could have a really big get together for Kip - Robin Of Sherwood and Catweazle party - two of his (if not the two best)creations of his.
I hope that you continue as a club and keep the spirit of Kip and indeed Robin alive. Best Wishes to you all.

If, as Catweazle fans you would like to add a tree to Kips Wood, you are more than welcome . I think the cost per tree is less than £20 and its all done through the Sherwood Forest Trust who are a charity and delighted to help in anyway possible . I am a fan of all of Kip's work and I will try to join your fan club soon too having just found you :)

Hi Karon
I would personally LOVE to add a tree or two and I will be happy to ask other members to do the same. It would be great to make the area much bigger if it is possible, and a lovely place to visit. You would be most welcome to join us of course. Would you like to email me on carol@cotthouse.freeserve.co.uk
with any information about the Kip's Wood project, where it is what we can do and how to do it etc. I will put it on our newsletter which is going out in the next week or two.
Best Wishes
Carol