The beloved author of Postman Pat, John Cunliffe, has died aged 85.
Postman Pat has been a part of many British children’s lives since 1981 when the first story was published. Cunliffe took inspiration from the Lake District when creating Postman Pat’s home- the fictional village of Greendale- with its rolling hills and dales, and small farms and villages.
Pat, and his feline friend Jess, drive about the village delivering letters, working through problems, and getting into the occasional scrape. The stories were commissioned by the BBC to produce a series of animations, which proved popular for over 40 years!
Alice Webb, Director of BBC Children’s, said the world of Postman Pat was “[somewhere] you’d like to be part of – a community that cares, is full of heart and full of fun – and that is a lovely thing to show audiences, both young and old. I count myself lucky to be one of millions of children whose childhoods were enriched by John’s creations.”
A notice of John’s death was published in the Ilkley Gazette:
“John Cunliffe left his Ilkley home in a deluge of rain on 20 September, never to return. Even the skies wept for John, the gifted creator of Postman Pat, Rosie and Jim, and author of many earlier published collections of poetry and picture story books for children.
“John’s last poetry collection, significantly entitled “Dare You Go”, has now come to fruition for John [who] has dared to go and has gone.”