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Helen Cresswell

Posted: 19 Jul 2016, 18:58
by Billy Farmer
I am sure there must be some members on this forum, who have read some of Helen Cresswell's Books, I have got a copy of Moondial (a Book, which I have yet to read), the 1980's BBC TV version of Moondial, is one of my all time favourite children's Drama series, for a long time, I had a copy (which I have still got) of Moondial, on a DVD-R disc, but last year I bought the official DVD release - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moondial-DVD-S ... s=moondial" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;,

Valerie Lush, who played Aunt Mary, in the 1980's BBC TV version of Moondial, sadly died two months ago, at the grand age of 97.

I have also enjoyed watching the 1980's TV version of The Secret World of Polly Flint, on 2 DVD-R discs.

Re: Helen Cresswell

Posted: 19 Jul 2016, 19:15
by Rob Houghton
Most of my Helen Cresswell reading has to do with what I saw on TV and then later bought. The Moondial BBC TV series was what started me reading her books, and from there I also read the sequel 'Stone Struck' - which I didn't enjoy so much. I've also read The Secret World of Polly Flint, The Return of the Psammead, plus some of the Lizzie Dripping books, purely because I remembered the TV series as a child, and 'A Gift From Winklesea' which I remember being on Jackanory.

Re: Helen Cresswell

Posted: 19 Jul 2016, 19:35
by Anita Bensoussane
I watched The Secret World of Polly Flint a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. It's poetically-filmed and true to the book. Like Rob, I remember the 1970s Lizzie Dripping adaptation (I read some of the books as a child) and I've also watched and read Moondial and The Return of the Psammead.

When I was a girl I really enjoyed the first four Bagthorpe titles (my favourite being Absolute Zero). Does anyone remember the TV serial based on those books? It was called The Bagthorpe Saga and was broadcast in about 1981. A brilliant array of characters including Mr. Bagthorpe, Mrs. Fosdyke the long-suffering housekeeper, Grandma and precocious young Daisy, to name but a few! My favourite storyline was the one in which everyone went crazy about entering competitions, with hilarious results.

Re: Helen Cresswell

Posted: 19 Jul 2016, 21:15
by Eddie Muir
I'm pleased that a thread devoted to Helen Cresswell has been started, as I have long been an admirer of her books. I posted the following on the "Castles of Interest" thread earlier today, but felt it was worth adding it here:

Chick and I have visited Belton House several times and I actually bought a copy of Helen Cresswell's Moondial in the National Trust gift shop there, which she kindly signed for me at an Enid Blyton Day. The television serialisation was superb and I used it and the book as teaching aids for my English classes in 1988. My pupils loved both the book and the TV adaptation. :D

Re: Helen Cresswell

Posted: 19 Jul 2016, 23:03
by number 6
Helen Cresswell was born in Kirkby-In-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, some 3 miles from where I live! She eventually lived in Eakring in Notts & this village is where she based the Lizzie Dripping stories! :D

Re: Helen Cresswell

Posted: 18 Aug 2016, 18:11
by Billy Farmer
Made a start on reading Moondial, this afternoon, read a few pages, thanks to the 1980's BBC TV version of Moondial, I have already got images of Siri Neal (Minty), in my mind, while reading the Book.

In my copy of Moondial, there is an illustration, of the grounds at Belton House, at the start of the Book.

Re: Helen Cresswell

Posted: 01 Nov 2017, 19:07
by Billy Farmer
The 1970's Lizzie Dripping TV series, starring Tina Heath, in the title role, is now available on DVD - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lizzie-Drippin ... e+dripping" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Helen Cresswell

Posted: 01 Nov 2017, 19:14
by Rob Houghton
Lizzie Dripping is one of the first children's TV series I remember watching! Used to love it! I've since read the book, but the series was much better, in my imagination anyway! :-)