The very early days of Television when BBC was THE only channel, saw memorable programmes and on Children’s Television on a Saturday teat-time we had Whirligig – I recall that it alternated the Saturday slot with ‘;Saturday Special’ and as childrenwe loved them both

Whirligig

ABOVE – Humphrey Lestocq or HL looking quite puzzled because he looks to be in trouble again with Mr Turnip although BELOW he seems to be much happier

ABOVE – Peter Hawkins tries to conduct an auction but again HL intervenes – Patricia Driscoll looks worried as she is holding a box full of crockery.

I hadn’t realised that Patricia was on TV as early as this – I thought it all started with ‘Robin Hood’ but this is a few years before that

ABOVE – Steve Race – very versatile on the piano and vital to Whirligig was born in Lincoln where he went to school. After Wartime service he took up employment with the BBC and was seen a lot in those early days

ABOVE – A very young Harry Corbett along with Sooty started his long TV Career in Whirligig

ABOVE – Francis Coudrill with his puppets.

Hank ( left ) had his own slot on the show – I always remember his adversary Mexican Pete. I always remember my Dad at the time singing

‘ I’m Mexican Pete Ze bad Bandit’ from this show – he loved it

In those early days I expect the show would go out ‘live’ which must have given those involved some scary moments