Oliver Postgate, the man who created Bagpuss, the Clangers and Ivor the Engine, has died aged 83. 

At a time when the media is full of gloom, it's lovely to reflect on the pleasure that Oliver Postgate gave to countless children over the years. Bagpuss rather passed me by, but The Clangers was one of my early favourite children's programmes in the late Sixties. More recently, when Karen was expecting our baby, Idris the dragon from Ivor the Engine took an unexpected place in our lives. My sister-in-law decided to call the unborn baby Idris – and so we called Karen's bump Idris through the rest of the pregnancy. My niece Siân gave us a DVD of Ivor the Engine, featuring the episode where Idris makes his first appearance. One day I'm sure Owen will enjoy the gentle humour.

UPDATE: I have amended this post following my brother-in-law's comment that it was his other half who named Karen's bump Idris – not him!