Mother Clanger Puppet Returns to UK After Over 50 Years
The puppet of Mother Clanger has been returned to the United Kingdom to be exhibited after being stolen from a London exhibition more than five decades ago.
The puppet, a character from the children's television series The Clangers, was taken in the early 1970s. One of the boys involved concealed it in his loft in Ireland before confessing to his son shortly before his death.
Following the confession, the son chose to return Mother Clanger to her original family in Canterbury, Kent, where she will be displayed at The Beaney.
Comments from the Creators' Family
Emily Firmin, daughter of Peter Firmin, one of the show's creators, expressed relief at the puppet's return.
"It's taken quite a long time, I'm just glad that she's reunited with the rest of her family."
She noted that there was a campaign in the 1970s to locate the puppet, but no one was aware it had been taken by visitors on a day trip to London.
"I'm just glad we have got her back,"
she added.
Background of The Clangers
First broadcast in 1969, The Clangers narrated the adventures of a knitted alien race living on a cold blue planet near Earth.
The pink, mouse-like creatures inhabited craters covered by dustbin lids, whose distinctive noisy "clang" inspired the show's title.
After the original series ended, it was revived and returned to television in 2015.
Replacement Puppet and Condition
Emily Firmin explained that her mother created a replacement puppet when the original was missing.
"It is interesting because she [the original] is quite worse for wear and it makes the others, including Stepmother Clanger, look pretty pristine,"
she said.
Reflection on the Confession
Firmin commented on the person who took the puppet, acknowledging the decision to confess.
"The person who took the puppet 'did the right thing' to confess.
'Naughty boys do naughty things, and in his older age he did the right thing,'"
she stated.
Official Response and Cultural Significance
Charlotte Cornell, Canterbury City Council's cabinet member for culture and heritage, described the return of Mother Clanger as "joyous."
"It's significant in it completes and restores the collection, but it also just brings a lot of joy that people are making the right decisions returning our precious stuff to its home so that everyone can enjoy it,"
she added.
"It just brings a lot of happiness that someone's made this decision and we can show her."
Bagpuss, The Clangers, and several other children's programs were created by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate in their Canterbury studio. The Beaney hosts a gallery dedicated to celebrating their work.
Contact and Follow-Up
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