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.