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2023
New Blu Ray Box set - released 18th September
For those with very long memories,Camberwick was released as a complete series blu ray way back in 2011.
But there was nothing for either Trumpton or Chigley ... until now. A whopping 12 years later.
With a choice of buying each series seperately or as a box set .... with updated dvds available too.
Sadly,a quick intial dip into the Camberwick blu-ray left us somewhat disappointed with the picture quality.
But basic product details are on the dvd page,pending a proper review in due course.
A quick bit of in-house news ....
This site's URL has officially changed to trumpton3.com.Largely as a result of a change of listing policy by Google.
Exactly the same site as before.Just a shorter name.
And the site's entire main font has been changed to the one you're reading here.
It's just as mainstream as its predecessor.But provides a more flowing,pleasurable reading experience.As well as being more adaptable to all the different types of viewing hardware we all use today.
In short .... a modern upgrade. And let's hope it is !
2019
The death of Alison Prince,who co-wrote the scripts for Trumpton
Her daughter is quoted in some obituaries as follows ....
" Because Trumpton was on TV it received a very high profile and she received a lot of attention for it.
She remained fond of it, but sometimes she would sigh a little and say 'I have done so many things, when you have been as prolific as I have there is always going to be one thing which sticks out and that's what you get remembered for".
"But it was part of a huge canon of work in children's literature which she produced and she was proud of it all.
She did keep all the scripts she wrote for Trumpton, and she loved all her writing." End quote
Personally I think the constant reminders would have driven me quietly up the wall.
Trumpton was indeed only a tiny part of her output .... it was just a co-writer credit based on someone else's idea .... she only got a small,one-off fee of £15 per script .... and "War and Peace" it wasn't !
Maybe if I'd got 5% of the merchandising at least I'd be slightly more inclined to smile sweetly the five thousandth time someone brought it up.
But God bless her for clearly being so much nicer about it than that !
2016
A music video hommage by British supergroup "Radiohead"
A "done-in-the-style-of" stop motion effort revealing the dark,pagan underbelly of Trumps as it blends in the storyline from the cult 70's UK movie "The Wicker Man".
And quite a big deal considering the group's huge worldwide popularity .... even if most fans won't have a clue about either of the influences.
But Trumptonshire finally goes global .... whether the world knows it or not !
And I've put it on the "miscellany" page,so why not take a look
50th anniversary of the 1st broadcast of Camberwick Green .... and the death of Gordon Murray
Yes. Half a century. Although you might be forgiven for thinking otherwise,with the complete lack of anything tangible to mark the occasion.
And June also sees the passing of the man behind it all ..... series creator,Gordon Murray ..... at the age of 95.
2011
Blu-Ray release
Camberwick released on December 16th,2011 exclusively via Amazon -a 3 for 1 package containing first time blu-ray and digital download versions plus a best-yet dvd offering.
The plan was for Trumpton and Chigley to follow. And they did ..... eventually ..... a full 12 (twelve) years later !
More on the dvd page
2010
Brian Cant
B.C recognised by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
A "special award" for "his outstanding contribution to children's television" presented at the Children's Awards in London on Sunday 28th Nov.
The sort of lifetime achievement award given out to people who may not be around too much longer and should have been recognised earlier.Which is just one of those uncomfortable truths that we all politely dance around.
And you do have to wonder just how much value the recipient actually puts on these things when they're given under such circumstances.
But let's hope it still sat proudly on his mantlepiece.Because,however you wrap the gift,he was a worthy recipient.
BAFTA link here
BBC CD release
Feb. 2010 - a new commercial BBC release -despite the fact Windy & friends haven't appeared on the Beeb since 1986. And not "new",but actually a cd version of one of the 1970's vinyl LP's which was based around 2 Camberwick episodes.
Part of a selection of releases under the title "Vintage Beeb" here
2009
Chigley
October 2009 marked the 40th anniversary of it's first broadcast.
And,apart from the inevitable Robert Harrop figurines,the event went almost totally un-noticed.
Largely because Camberwick's birthday in 2006 was effectively recognised as Trumptonshire's 40th.But also reflecting Chiggers constant struggle for any real identity.
Entertainment Rights
The company hired to secure licensing & merchandising deals on Gordon Murray's behalf went into administration.
The UK trading subsiduary was sold to a consortium called Boomerang Media and continued to trade as normal under their ClassicMedia umbrella.
2007
"Trumptonshire Tales"
A live stage event with Brian Cant that had 2 shows in Bristol and London,followed by a trip upto Scotland for a week at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from August 7th to 14th.
More on-site info about it here.
Life on Mars
A little animated pastiche of the famous Camberwick music box opening sequence appeared in an episode of the 2nd series of the hit primetime BBC show "Life On Mars".
I'll have to refer you to YouTube for the actual clip,because it's always pre-watershed here on this site of course.
All good fun though,and well-executed too.And I've uploaded a scan of a brief Radio Times article looking behind the scenes of it's creation here
NickleOdeon
From March 5th all 3 series began to air on NickleOdeon's "Junior Classics" and "Junior Classics 2" tv channels.
2006
DVD Releases
A new 13 episode dvd for each series. Released seperately,on a staggered basis in the first half of the year.And then all stuffed in a cardboard box and rather tackily re-marketed in the Autumn as a completely "new" boxset. See DVD page
BBC Radio 4 documentary
Radio 4 marked the 40th anniversary of Camberwick's 1st broadcast with a half hour retrospective.
Full manuscript on-site here
Quaker Oats adverts
Faithfully recreated and superbly executed. See Quaker Oats page
Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley
On this page - An archive of newsworthy events .... and if I've missed anything the email is on the home page !
