THE BBC has led tributes to Gordon Murray, creator and puppeteer of the Trumptonshire series, who has died at the age of 95.
His son-in-law William Mollett confirmed the news in a statement to the corporation.
The broadcaster’s children’s channel CBBC wrote on Twitter: “RIP Gordon Murray: a children’s TV legend.”
Mr Murray was best known for his Trumptonshire trilogy of Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley.
READ MORE: Obituary - Gordon Murray, puppeteer and creator of Trumpton
The shows, characterised by their use of stop-motion animation, were first shown weekly on the BBC in the 1960s.
Mr Murray was born in London in 1921 and, as a child, developed a love of marionettes.
After serving in the Second World War, he established a puppet touring company and was recruited to the BBC by producer Freda Lingstrom.
He made his mark in the 1950s, working as a puppeteer on TV show Bengo and creating fantasy puppet series A Rubovian Legend.
Mr Murray left the BBC in 1964 and formed his own production company.
Camberwick Green made its debut in 1966, with Trumpton following a year later and Chigley in 1969.
All three were set in the fictitious English county of Trumptonshire and narrated by BBC children’s presenter Brian Cant.
Trumpton’s firemen – Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb – and their theme song have long resonated with fans.
READ MORE: Obituary - Gordon Murray, puppeteer and creator of Trumpton
Mr Murray said: “I wanted to produce a programme where the location was the star and not the characters, which meant that I could have lots and lots of people with no star characters.”
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