On My Bookshelf – Rupert Bear | Dispatches From the Former New World Dispatches From the Former New World Posted on May 19, 2016 by dispatchesfromtheformernewworld Strictly speaking this book is no longer on my bookshelf, though for many years it lived with a collection of old children’s books in my daughter’s former bedroom. Back in the 1980’s when my children were small my mother brought it with her on one of her visits from England. I assumed, wrongly as it turned out, that she had permission to give it away. The truth came out quite by chance. A couple of years ago my brother Paul (aka Frank Key the creator of Hooting Yard ) visited me for Thanksgiving. As I drove him to the airport for his journey home the subject of Rupert Bear randomly came up in conversation, as such things are wont to do when we are together. “I don’t know what happened to my Rupert Annual,” lamented Paul, “I’ve searched for it for years.” I hated to speak ill of the dead, but I had to confess our mother’s nefarious scheme to spirit Rupert out of the country and into the hands of her grandchildren. “I think I have it,” I said.

If there had been time I’m sure my brother would have insisted we turn back to the house so he could recover his beloved book at once. The next best thing was my proposal to email him a photo of the cover so he could verify if it was indeed the Rupert Annual he remembered. If so, I promised to return it. The answer came yes, it was his 1964 Rupert Annual, now offered for sale online at prices over 100 pounds. Of course its value to my brother could not be measured in monetary terms. Rupert Bear began life as a Daily Express comic strip in 1920 and the first Annual came out in 1936. The original creation of Mary Tourtel, it was taken over by Alfred Bestall in 1935. He illustrated Rupert and his world for thirty years, until he was well over ninety, giving us the now iconic image of Rupert with his red sweater, yellow checked trousers, and matching scarf. Rupert lives in the idealized English village of Nutwood and, like the Hobbits of the Shire, leaves the safety of his home for adventures in faraway exotic lands. Bestall also devised the classic Rupert story format.

The comic strip illustrations have no speech bubbles. Instead the story is told underneath in rhyming couplets and beneath the verse there is a longer prose version. This makes the books ideal for children of all ages. I always enjoyed reading the verse to my children when they were very young, and later on they could read the longer stories for themselves. The world of Nutwood includes both animal and human characters. Rupert’s animal pals include Algy Pug, Podgy Pig, Ferdy Fox, and my personal favorite, Bill Badger. The humans of Nutwood have come under modern day criticism as stereotypes, especially the Chinese girl Tiger Lily with her “conjuror” father. But it is the settings of some of Rupert’s adventures that have caused most controversy. The imaginary magical lands he visits include Coon Island inhabited by people known as little “Coons” illustrated in an extreme racially stereotypical style. (Thankfully the 1964 Annual stories take place in other locales or I could not have read them to my children). Indeed, while most of the Rupert stories are innocent and charming animal adventures, they do reflect the times in which they were written.

It is easy to see Rupert as a typical English public schoolboy of the era heading off to foreign lands with unquestioning imperialist and colonialist attitudes. But lest we get carried away, as a recent writer in The Guardian did calling Beatrix Potter’s work “a primer for navigating the merciless currents of amoral capitalism,” let us remember that they are stories about an imaginary bear. Of course I had to return the Rupert Annual to its rightful owner but I found it surprisingly difficult. Rupert was part of my childhood too. Perhaps his adventurous spirit rubbed off on me. Like Rupert I left the safety of home for a faraway exotic land, America. There I read his adventures to my children who fell asleep to the soothing cadence of rhyming couplets. Before Christmas I got out the special Bodleian wrapping paper I keep for gifts of books (seen below). I carefully wrapped the Rupert Annual after slipping the following poem inside. As befits the subject I wrote it in rhyming couplets and if sometimes the rhymes are a little strained, well they are in Rupert too, that’s part of its charm. (At least that’s my excuse).

Little Gems - The Adventures of Rupert Bear Little Gems The Adventures of Rupert Bear Rupert and Raggety Today Rupert shelters a spiky and bad tempered orphan of the storm Rupert's mum wants him to go shopping in the village. She hands him a list and reminds him not to forget anything. Rupert takes his Go-kart with him (really his flying chariot but he very rarely uses it in flying mode). On the way to Nutwood village, Rupert bumps into Podgy Pig, busy eating sandwiches as usual. Rupert thinks it is a strange place to stop for a picnic until Podgy explains that he was on his way to Rupert's house but got a bit peckish on the way. Rupert tells Podgy that he has some shopping to do in Nutwood but will be back later for a game on the Common. Podgy decides to tidy up and wait for Rupert to return. Rupert continues on his way and does all the shopping his mother asked for. Whilst outside he meets Constable Growler the village policeman. He asks how Rupert is keeping just as a sudden gust of wind blows through the pair of them. Rupert notes the coldness in the wind and Constable Growler agrees.

The policeman thinks there is a storm brewing and that Rupert had better hurry home. Rupert says good-bye and heads off to find Podgy. On the way back he passes the Gypsy camp. The Gypsy Granny is very old and a special friend of Rupert bear. She comes out of one of the caravans when Rupert passes through. She tells him that she is gathering wood for her fire as Winter is not far away. Rupert would like to stay and help but knows he has to hurry home. She warns Rupert to hurry home fast as a storm is going to appear in Nutwood, a large strong storm not seen in the village before. She also tells Rupert to make use of his flying chariot. Rupert says good-bye and then starts to wonder how she knew the chariot was magic. Rupert flies home as fast as he can in his magic flying chariot but he cannot hold up against the ever increasing wind. Eventually the Chariot comes down with a crash, the gales sweep over Rupert who is now flat on the ground. Suddenly a large tree uproots and topples close where Rupert is lying. Rupert is unhurt but stares at the new hole in the Common green.

At the bottom of the hole is a small root like structure which moves and then shouts "You did it." The small spiky creature seems furious with Rupert and blames him for knocking down his house. "I hate you" it cries. "Hate you, hate you, hate you" it continues. The creature runs off down the hill swiftly followed by Rupert who is busy thinking about what the creature is and where his mother's shopping is. At the bottom of the hill Rupert finds the creature going through the shopping basket and all its contents. Rupert shouts at the creature to stop at which point the creature cowers but continues to scowl at him. The creature then starts to sob shouting that it has nowhere to live. Rupert offers to take the creature home and is more than a little surprised when it accepts his off of invitation. The pair board the flying chariot and set off in search of Podgy. They eventually find him buried in leaves. Podgy has lost his front door key and is busy searching for it. Rupert offers to come back and help once he has taken the shopping home and Podgy reminds him that no one can get in his house without the key.

The little root creature laughs at this and as Podgy asks what it is, Rupert decides to introduce him as Raggety because he looks a little Raggety. Back at the cottage Rupert introduces Raggety to his mum. Raggety is not in the mood for politeness and so darts into the house and goes off in search of food and accommodation. Raggety tears some house plants up out of their pots and begins munching on the roots. Rupert tries to stop him but the little creature is far too quick. Raggety eventually finds himself in a room with Mr. Bear who is reading his newspaper whilst smoking his pipe. At first he does not see Raggety. Raggety is hypnotised by the smoke rising up from behind the newspaper. He makes a grab for the pipe and then hurtles off the sofa and shoots off outside. Outside the cottage Willy the wisp appears and asks what is going on. Rupert tries to explain and then asks Willy for help. Willy uses his magic to get back the pipe and restrain the little Raggety. Willy seems to know about the creature and suggests that they find it somewhere to live pretty quick.

Willy has an idea and with the flying chariot they fly over to where Podgy is searching for his missing key. Nearby is a large old tree. Willy asks Rupert to watch and wait. Willy leaps into the top of the tree and then shoots out again followed by an angry roar. Mr. Grimnasty was asleep in the tree. He is the old man of the wood. and he is very annoyed that he should be woken up. He appears at the top of the tree whereby Willy says that they have a present for him, a new pet. Grimnasty looks at Raggety and Raggety looks at Grimnasty. They instantly take to each other. It can live in the roots he says and Raggety shoots out of his arms and starts digging into the base of the tree. Everyone is showered with leaves and soil and something else. A shinny metal object also flies out. The key has been found. Podgy is very happy and relieved. "Now buzz off, the lot of you" growls Mr Grimnasty. Willy also makes his good-byes. Later Rupert and Podgy sit down to tea with Mrs. Bear to tell them of their adventure that day.

An so would end a peach of a puppet series. Although Rupert went onto greater things and was transformed several times into still pictures with narration, followed by animation, nothing could really capture the wonder the original series gave to a generation of kids. And so just like Barnaby, Rupert is another little bear who will not be seen on our screens again. Credits HenHouse: Rupert Wednesday, 15 September 2010 Rupert When I was little, I remember my favourite thing to play with was Sindy. It probably won't surprise you to know that I used to spend my pocket money on little squares of remnant fabrics and hand sew them into outfits for her. I was also quite partial to Lego. I loved board games and absolutely anything arty and crafty. As for reading, it was Enid Blyton all the way, which eventually gave way to Jackie magazine and Nancy Drew. When I was even littler, my favourite thing was my Tiny Tears doll. I vividly remember getting her for my birthday, she cried "real" tears and did something else in her nappy which we won't mention! One little chap who somehow passed me by, however, was Rupert bear.

Recently though, I spotted a set of fabric squares for sale which depicted scenes with Rupert bear in. Each of the nine squares was part of a sequential story. They were oh so cute. I was sold! That square with the cute country cottage with its latticed windows and pink limewash exterior, surrounded by a cottage garden with picket fence, was undoubtedly my favourite. It was looking as if Rupert was my kind of bear! I decided I wanted to know more about Rupert and so began a search for a Rupert annual. But I had no idea they are so collectable! A trip to Totnes yielded my first Rupert annual in Lesley's lovely shop, This 'n' That . Blow me if the next day at the car booty, I didn't find another. Published the year after my birth. Not that old then. Ahem. In fact, Rupert bear was "born" in 1920, when he appeared as a comic strip character in the Daily Express newspaper. An annual has been produced every year since 1936, even during the War. Apparently, Rupert lives in the village of Nutwood and his adventures often encompass magical far away lands.

Rupert is thought to be the epitomy of traditional public school values. Most of the characters in Rupert's world are "anthropomorphic", the animals take on a humanoid form. So there is Bill Badger, Rupert's best friend and Dr Lion! Indeed, I could be quite happy in Rupert's little world in Nutwood. He has a wooden bed with an eidy, pink walls in his room and some fetching flowery curtains. A gypsy caravan. Well, I'd get excited about that, too! Mummy Rupert is right up my street. There she is, sitting doing her needlework, wearing a rather fetching frock, in a lovely flowery armchair, standard lamp providing what would nowadays be referred to as "task lighting". Her bedroom is pretty enviable, too... Ah, a woman after my own heart, she even has the same wicker shopping trolley as me! So what to do with the precious Rupert squares? A bit of log cabin... Some red spotty binding, of course... The result: one large, fetching and rather cosy patchwork quilt. Quite a project this was, too.

All those strips of fabric surrounding the nine individual log cabin blocks, some green dotty sashing, and top and bottom borders of strippy, jolly fabrics. Double quilted around the inner and outer borders of the pictorial squares. What to do with the Rupert Story Quilt, the quilt where Rupert finds a cloud in the garden? Where Rupert takes the cloud inside to wash it then eventually puts it into his kite and sends it back into the sky. And of course, there is a happy ending as the kite comes back minus the cloud, but with a thank you note and a gift inside! I was struck by the desire to be able to look at the Rupert Story Quilt, not to just fold it up and bring it out now and then. There's a small amount of wall space on the half landing at the top of the first run of stairs, outside my den. A couple of drawing pins and a set of steps and Rupert is now displayed in all his glory. Such a heart warming project! Rupert has certainly captured my heart and my imagination. Although I love Golly dearly, I think his days in this spot are numbered as I look for a real Rupert bear to finish this little scene!

Edit: These lovely squares of Rupert fabric came from Sandie at Rag Rescue . She has both a shop and a blog and is a regular at many of the big fairs. Posted by A History Of Rupert Bear A History Of Rupert Bear A History Of Rupert Bear THE BEAR ESSENTIALS! A PROFILE OF RUPERT BEAR On November 8, 1920, one of the most enduring and well-loved children’s characters in British fiction made his first appearance in the Daily Express. In the loving hands of creator Mary Tourtel, Rupert and the timeless world of Nutwood introduced children to a world of fairies, wizards, unicorns and adventure. In 1935 the Daily Express decided that there were enough Rupert adventures to collect them all together in one volume, making an annual. During the height of Rupert’s popularity in the 1950’s sales of the Rupert Annual topped 1.7 million. Today the Rupert Annual is still one of the top ten annual titles sold. Rupert’s adventures in the Daily Express continue up to this day and in 2005 he will celebrate his 85th anniversary.

The original character of Rupert was moulded to suit a basic narrative pattern whose shape and psychological intention has not changed over the years. The story of a child venturing from a safe home to a wider world and returning safely is fundamental in many children’s stories. Rupert enjoys a safe, cosy home life. He has doting parents who are supportive of him in everything that he does, no matter how daring or dangerous, and who only get mildly anxious when he comes back late from one of his expeditions. Rupert is the ideal son, obedient, considerate, and warm hearted with a natural curiosity and an anxiety to please everyone. But just like any other child of his age (7-8 years) he can be vulnerable, get upset and reduced to tears. Early Rupert stories were rooted in fairy tales, nursery rhyme and legend. His adventures took place either in a fairy tale world of talking animals, magicians and monarchs, or in a world of chivalry where knights rode noble steeds and very much fitted into the writing genre of 1920’s children’s books.

However, the story lines have moved with the times and those fairy tale worlds have now given way to more adventurous ones where Rupert may also meet pirates, crooks and smugglers. Rupert has a vast array of friends and mentors, Bill Badger, Edward Trunk, Podgy Pig, Willie Mouse, the Rabbit Twins, the Fox brothers, dragons, magicians, fairies, imps, elves, unicorns and wizards all play their part. Animation history In 1970 ITV began transmitting an animated puppet version of Rupert for afternoon children’s viewing, and the series eventually reached more than 150 episodes during the next seven years. Note: these shows have not been broadcast for many years and cannot do so without the permission of Express Newspapers. The most satisfying and delightful spin-off from the printed page was Paul McCartney’s animated ‘Rupert and the Frog Song’ which won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award, as well as another place in the charts for McCartney, who composed and performed the accompanying song. It is this, the most beautiful of animation techniques and artistry, that brought Rupert to a new generation.

Subsequently a broadcast and merchandising deal was signed with the Canadian animation house, Nelvana, to produce 65 half-hour episodes for television. In 2003 all the rights returned to Express Newspapers. Rupert has been delighting generations of children for over 80 years. The annuals, television shows and Paul McCartney’s tribute gives a taste of the breadth of the little bear’s popularity. Children all over the world love magic and mystery with a hero they can relate to. Rupert is that hero. Nutwood holds the magic and mystery. So, just like Thomas the Tank and Winnie the Pooh before him perhaps it is time for Rupert to move into the limelight. Rupert Bear Profile Parents: Mr and Mrs Bear Best Friend: Bill Badger Favourite clothes: Yellow checked trousers, red jumper and yellow checked scarf Address: Nutwood Village, England Rupert Bear's Adventures in Middle Earth Chapter 3: The Golden Wood, a Misc. Comics + Lord of the Rings Crossover fanfic | FanFiction By: Old Toad Rupert Bear and his pals meet people and have adventures in a strange and distant world called "Middle Earth". Hobbits aren't the only little people making a big difference.

Rated: Fiction K - English - Fantasy/Adventure - Gandalf, Galadriel, Tom B., Goldberry - Chapters: 4 - Words: 7,164 - Updated: 5/11 - Published: 11/24/2015 - id: 11631758 + - Full 3/4 1/2 Expand Tighten < Prev Next > Last time: Tigerlily's father sent her, Rupert and two of his chums to Middle Earth, but they arrived in the wrong forest. Tom Bombadil helped them home again. The Golden Wood Rupert Bear walked home from school the day after his night-time adventure, his school satchel on his back. His pals Algy Pug and Bill Badger were with him, and they talked excitedly about their time with Tom Bombadil and Goldberry. After Algy and Bill said goodbye and left Rupert on his own, Tigerlily suddenly appeared. "Hello Rupert, I do hope you are not cross with me," she said. "Hello Tigerlily.

I like adventures and meeting new friends, but Bill Badger says that you should have asked us first." "Yes, I should have, Rupert. I know you like surprises and mysteries or I would not play such tricks on you all." They walked along the lane together and reached Rupert's garden gate. "Rupert," said Tigerlily, "Father is sending me back to Middle Earth tonight. Would you like to come?" "Yes please!" said Rupert. "Have you asked Bill and Algy too?" "This time it will be just you and me." Tigerlily handed Rupert a small stick of wood. "Take this willow twig and put it under your pillow. Father will do the rest." "Thank you, Tigerlily. Oh, and thank your father for me too. I must go; Mummy is waving to me; I must be late for tea. Bye bye!" Rupert knew better than to go to bed early, for if he did he would be too excited to sleep. Instead, he did little chores for Mummy and Daddy until bedtime. When he was in bed, Daddy read more of his storybook to him.

By the time they got to the bit where Lucy comes back out of the wardrobe Rupert was asleep. "Your turn now," said Lucy. So Rupert got out of bed, put on his slippers and dressing gown, and stepped into the wardrobe. Climbing through the back of the wardrobe, Rupert again found himself in a wood. It was brighter and warmer than last time and instead of a slow-moving river of brown water there was a bright, clear stream, chattering away. Rupert looked around; sure enough he was standing next to a willow tree, though this one did not look old or magical. Before he could wonder where Tigerlily was, or whether she was playing tricks again, she appeared from behind the willow tree. She put her finger to her lips to sign him to keep quiet, and whispered in his ear, "This is called 'The Golden Wood', Rupert. Many elves live here. Let us see how far we can go before they find us." Tigerlily seemed to know the way to go. She led Rupert along a tiny path next to the stream. Rupert heard lots of birdsong; this wood seemed quite different to the Old Forest, it was light and airy.

As they walked on, keeping as quiet as they could, the trees overhead got bigger and taller. Tigerlily whispered to Rupert, "The elves that guard the forest are rather fierce. Those deep inside should be more welcoming. My father has given me a message for their Lord and Lady." Their narrow path joined a broad, grassy lane. Tigerlily pointed the way to go. She whispered, "We are near to where the elves live. I want to see how close to their forest city we can come before they discover us." "Have you been here before," asked Rupert. "No. But Goldberry told me about the Golden Wood and the elves that live here." Their way seemed to go on forever, but Rupert did not tire. He wanted to run and run, but Tigerlily would not go any faster, she was enjoying just walking beneath the great trees. She again whispered into Rupert's ear, "We are being watched, can you feel it?" Rupert shook his head. He felt that he was in a happy, waking dream and just wanted it to go on and on.

After much walking they reached a large open space, and on the far side was the elves' city: a towering mass of trees, all bigger than any Rupert had yet seen. There was deep ditch and a wall between them and the trees, and Rupert could see no way into the city. There was a paved way running alongside the ditch and they walked along it, no longer trying to be quiet. "This leads to the city gates," Tigerlily told him. They walked on and came to a bridge across the ditch, with the tall gates to the city on the far side. They were shut. Rupert, like Tigerlily, now had a strong feeling that many eyes were watching them. He looked up into the trees, but could see no one. The elves he had met before on his adventures were very clever at hiding when they did not wish to be seen, so Rupert was not surprised. Side by side they walked across the bridge, not sure what to do. Silently the great gates swung open wide and facing them were two tall figures dressed all in white: a man with long white hair and a lady with long golden hair. Tigerlily bowed deeply to them and Rupert followed her example. The man spoke first.

"We must look to our defences if these two young ones can so easily cross them." But the Lady spoke directly to Rupert and Tigerlily. "Welcome to Caras Galadhon, our home! Few come here un-announced, but none before have ever arrived as you have, travellers from another world! Enter as our guests." Tigerlily whispered to Rupert, "These are the Lord and Lady of all the elves." The two pals followed them through the gates and into the city. Tigerlily gave them the message from her father. "Your father is a great lord in your land?" asked the elf Lord. Tigerlily blushed. "No, sir. My father says that he is 'a master of magic, not a master of men.'" "He is a wise man, I am sure," said the Lady, "And as great at magic, as you call it, as any here in Middle Earth. Sending you two into well-guarded Lothlòrien needed great skill and power." "He is a friend of Gandalf?" asked the Lord. "He writes that Gandalf is in trouble. Gandalf is well known to us.

How can your father, in distant Nutwood, know this when we do not?" "I do not know, sir," replied Tigerlily. "But he is worried about him. He says that it is urgent that he is rescued." The Lady, whose name was Galadriel, turned to Rupert. "Young bear," she said, "We have much to talk of with your companion. I will ask someone to show you around our city." She turned to an elf standing near by, "Haldir, show our honoured guest the sights of our fair city. Let him have refreshments. We will call for him when he is needed." Rupert saw many people in the tree city as they walked around. All were tall and fair, and Rupert was surprised to learn that they were all elves. They were quite different to the little elves he had met on earlier adventures. The elves he had known were his own size and merry and playful like children, while these big, solemn-faced people were grown-up and serious. Haldir told him that Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn had ruled the elves for many hundreds of years. "No wonder," thought Rupert, "that they are so grown up and serious. But they don't look old.

Why, Gaffer Jarge looks ever so old and he isn't even one hundred." Rupert and Haldir climbed a ladder, up and up into a giant tree. In the trees the elves had built big platforms, some with houses on them, and that was where they lived, high above the ground. "Fancy that," thought Rupert, "Grown ups who live in tree houses!" The elves gave Rupert delicious food and drink, and he had a jolly time with them. They were not all as grown up and serious as he had thought! As evening came on the elves lit hundreds of little, silvery lights in the trees. "It's a bit like being on an enormous Christmas tree," thought Rupert. "Golden decorations above and twinkling silver lights all around." Then other elves came and led him up another tree to a very big platform high up in the branches. "It is what we call a talan," said Haldir. The Lord and Lady and Tigerlily were there. With them was an old, bearded man. It was the first beard that Rupert had seen, for no elf ever has a beard. "This is our good friend, Radagast the Wizard," said the elf Lord.

Rupert gave Radagast a deep bow, for he knew that wizards like that sort of thing. "We have decided what to do," continued the elf Lord. "We are going to rescue Gandalf," said Galadriel, "Would you like to help?" "Yes please!" said Rupert. "Good!" said Galadriel. "Tigerlily has told us a lot about you, Rupert, and I think you will find it exciting." To be continued Rupert (TV series) Rupert (TV series) Original release 1 September 1991 – 19 June 1997) Rupert is an animated television series based on the Mary Tourtel character Rupert Bear , which aired from 1991 to 1997 with 65 half-hour episodes produced. The series was produced by Nelvana , Ellipse Programmé and TVS for the first season, with Scottish Television (now STV Central) taking over control when TVS closed. It was broadcast in syndication on YTV in Canada.

In the United States, the show first aired on Nickelodeon before moving to CBS during Saturday mornings; [1] repeats of the series came to Disney Channel on the Playhouse Disney block, Toon Disney , and on Qubo ‘s digital service in January 2007. The show was broadcast in the UK on CITV and has recently been re-airing on the satellite and cable channels Tiny Pop and KidsCo . In Australia, the show was broadcast on the ABC public broadcasting network and on TV2 in New Zealand as part of the Jason Gunn Show. Contents Characters Main characters Rupert Bear is a considerate, smart, resourceful, brave, trusty, good spirited white bear who is extremely popular with all the residents in Nutwood. On occasion he breaks the fourth wall in addressing his observations and making comments to the viewer. Bill Badger – Rupert’s best friend, who, unlike Rupert, often presents a lot of flaws, such as cowardice, impatience, clumsiness, quick tempered, and a horrible singing voice. He has a baby brother named Tobey, who appears to be fond of Bill’s singing voice. Mr. Bear – Rupert’s father. He is much more clumsy and forgetful compared to Rupert.

He often smokes a pipe. Mr. Bear (as shown in the episode “The Firebird”) and Podgy’s father are part of the Nutwood Fire Brigade. Mrs. Bear – Rupert’s mother. Like her son, she is wise and often offers advice to Rupert who later uses it during his adventures. Podgy Pig – A jolly, yet greedy and not very bright pig with a large appetite. He is very friendly to others and appears not to see that his friends sometimes find him annoying. His appetite at times can lead him and his friends into trouble, but Rupert can look past this to go out of his way to help Podgy. Pong Ping – A pekinese from China who owns an elevator that can travel underground all the way to China. He has a wealth of knowledge of his culture including dragons and various magical objects. He’s also good at maths. Professor – A very friendly and eccentric scientist who resides in an old castle tower in Nutwood , who invents many incredible devices during the series. Rupert often helps out with his experiments. Once the Professor starts an experiment, he never rests.

He has the catchphrase, “Think of the possibilities, my boy(s)!” whenever he is explaining his experiments and all the benefits that can come from it to Rupert and his friends. Tiger Lily – Rupert’s female Chinese friend. The only human student in school and the member of one of few human families in Nutwood . She and her family have a lot of knowledge on magic and mystic objects. Algy Pug – Rupert’s friend, a pug who often overestimates his abilities and takes a lot of pride in himself. Despite his flaws he is shown to be a good and helpful friend for Rupert and others. Edward Trunk – Another friend of Rupert. An elephant, very kind and sensitive. Gregory – A guinea pig who is very kind and friends with Rupert. Sometimes he can be nervous and scared, but he meets the challenges head on when his friends need help. Ottoline the Otter – Rupert’s friend who is an otter of a Scottish descent who loves Shakespeare and lives in an old castle that belonged to her ancestors. The castle has many secret entrances hidden all over. Ottoline has vast knowledge of each entrances location and will prefer to use them instead of the stairs.

Freddy and Ferdie Fox – Two mischievous twin foxes who spread mischief around the village of Nutwood. Constable Growler – A dog , local policeman, he rides a bicycle . He constantly says he needs to do “everything by the book, you know” and is always turned to by Rupert and his friends whenever they need help catching a criminal. Voice cast 19 June 1997) Theme song The theme music (the overture) played at the beginning of the show (and, with slight modifications, during the closing credits) was composed by Milan Kymlicka . The opening notes of the melody (particularly the first four notes) appear to be based on Robert Schumann ‘s The Happy Farmer Returning from Work, Op. 68, No. 10, but the piece then evolves into a highly original, wonderfully melodic and well-orchestrated work. When this series aired on Nickelodeon in the U.S., a different theme was written for it and used. This song was performed in a peppy, rollicking, ragtime style, with lyrics and vocals in the intro, and an instrumental of this same tune in the outro.

This composition, Rupert’s Number One, was co-penned by Sheree Jeacocke and Gerry Mosby, and was possibly also sung by the former. Scenes in the intro used in this version were different from the original as well. Here, scenes used for it were taken from various episodes mostly and the ending credits differed (aside from the scene of a silhouette of one of Rupert’s friends releasing the box kite as it’s lifted up by the wind and Rupert pulls it away while running) from the initial, in that in the Nick Jr. version, after getting a close up of the kite, the scene switches to various scenes of Rupert with another, different character (or other different characters). In the initial, after the kite has been lifted and there’s a close-up shot of it, it’s zoomed in so far that all that is seen is the color red, over which the credits are superimposed. Then there’s a zoom-out of the kite and the only still scenes of either Rupert on his knees and crawling on the grass while Tiger Lily tries to bring down the kite from a tree, Rupert bends over lifting Bill to get kite, or Rupert trying to get the kite while Podgy eats in the apples in the trees.

Playhouse Disney has also aired Rupert in the early 2000s in the United States, but used the original intro. References Stuart Trotter, The man who took on Rupert Bear, Warwickshire Life - People - Warwickshire Life Stuart Trotter, The man who took on Rupert Bear, Warwickshire Life 23:44 07 February 2010 Stuart Trotter Stuart Trotter carries a huge responsibility. Not only does he have to keep thousands of children happy but he also has to live up to the exceedingly high expectations of the Rupert Bear Fan Club. Stuart Trotter carries a huge responsibility. Not only does he have to keep thousands of children happy but he also has to live up to the exceedingly high expectations of the Rupert Bear Fan Club. He tells Jane Sullivan about the scariest day of his life. Photographs by Cheryl Doshi. The years of my childhood were marked by Rupert Bear. Every year from about the age of five I received a new Rupert Bear Annual. I have one in front of me now from 1969 (yes, I've kept them!) and as I flick through the pages many of my childhood reading memories come flooding back.

There's the story about Rupert and the Whistlefish in which Rupert and Sailor Sam are transported to a far-off Royal Kingdom filled with terrible noise until the Whistlefish is returned to its rightful place. There's the mischievous Raggety a naughty woodland creature who has the Spring Imps in a spin. Rupert's friends Bill the Badger, Algie Pug and Pong Ping make their appearance along with Constable Growler. Rupert's parents were reassuringly solid and politically incorrect. Mr Bear in tweed suit spent his time (as 1960s dads did) reading his paper and smoking his pipe in a comfy armchair while Mrs Bear, in her blue gingham apron, bustled around the house. The thing with Rupert - and the reason children loved him - was that despite his ordinary existence some very extraordinary things happened to him. "It wasn't all sweetness and light," says Stuart Trotter, Rupert's new illustrator. "Nutwood was a very dangerous place - there was magic and imps, and a lot of very dark characters lurking around." Yes, it was a dangerous place - and that's why children loved the little bear and his adventures.

They escaped into a world where good always overcame evil and everyone was home in time for tea - or at least in time for bedtime cocoa. And the grown-ups never believed the adventurers. For Mrs Bear always thought Rupert was making things up, as she tells Sailor Sam at the end of the Whistlefish story: "Now, now Mr Sam," she says. "I always knew that sailors were given to telling fairy stories, but you really shouldn't get my Rupert to back you up in them!" Rupert is only two years shy of his 90th birthday. He's six years older than Winnie-the Pooh and eight years ahead of the young whippersnapper Mickey Mouse. Rupert is the OAP of the children's comic characters and he's still a popular lad. The cartoon still runs in The Daily Express (although the strips that appear today are re-prints of old cartoons) and sales of the annual are very respectable at over 50,000 a year in this country. This year's annual is Stuart Trotter's first. He follows in hallowed footsteps. The late great Alfred Bestall is probably Rupert's best-known (and loved) illustrator.

He had the job from 1935 to 1965 and drew over 270 of the Rupert bear strips. He was awarded an MBE in 1985. Unfortunately he was too unwell to collect his MBE and Prince Charles wrote to him on his 93rd birthday: "I have heard that you were sadly unable to receive your MBE from the Queen recently. I wanted to send you my congratulations on your award and to wish you a very happy birthday with many happy returns. As a child I well remember your marvellous illustrations of Rupert Bear." Taking on Rupert was always going to be a hard act to follow as Stuart Trotter admits. "When I took on the job Egmont, who are the publishers, invited me to go to the annual fan club convention at Warwick Castle. I took along some samples of art work that I'd done and it seemed to be very well received." Encouraged by that Stuart produced the annual - 68 pages of drawings plus endpages and covers. At the next Fan Club Convention Stuart was again invited to show his work to the fans. Was it scary? "Tell me about it!

It was one of the scariest things I've ever done," he says. "I was so worried about it the week before. I didn't know what reception I would get. They might hate it. I lost a lot of sleep." And no wonder. The Rupert Bear Fan Club doesn't like it when their bear gets 'made over' as reactions to a 'younger, cuddlier' Rupert designed for pre-school children revealed. When 'cuddly' Rupert was shown to the Rupert Bear convention there was a 'sharp intake of breath'. Steady on fans! (My personal reaction was 'Yuck!' to me cuddly Rupert Bear looks like some mutant from cartoonland that hasn't quite been finished- needless to say we don't have permission to publish the picture here but you can see it at rupertbear.com). The 'classic' Rupert fans were treated to an early peek of Stuart's front cover at this year's annual get-together - Rupert in trademark red pullover and yellow and black scarf holding an orange ice-lolly. There was applause from the fans and intense relief for Stuart. As only the fourth regular illustrator in the whole history of the books how did Stuart Trotter get the job?

Needless to say he's been a fan from childhood. Brought up in the Alfred Bestall era he declares they are his favourites (although he admits to great admiration for John Harrold who had the job for 20 years from the mid-1990s). Stuart is from a mining village in County Durham. His father worked for the National Coal Board while his mother was a housewife. He doesn't remember a time when he wasn't drawing. "I always had a pencil in my hand ...always drawing." He trained in graphic design at Coventry University - or Poly as it was then - and quickly discovered that illustrating was his forte. His first major children's book was as illustrator on Portland Bill in the early 80s. "After that the majority of my work has been in children's book publishing." He's had some plum jobs. He illustrated the Animals of Farthing Wood, written by Colin Dann, he's done some Enid Blyton covers, Postman Pat, Read with Me Ladybird Books, even Winnie-the-Pooh. Surely not Winnie-the-Pooh? After all only the great E.H. Shepard can lay claim to being the illustrator for the great Pooh?

In fact, Stuart is one of many Winnie-the-Pooh illustrators. "I went on a Disney course in London to learn how to draw Pooh in the Disney-accepted way," he confides. "There's loads of us all over the world in Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York, Europe. We are accredited Disney artists, approved by Disney to draw Winnie-the-Pooh." Rupert came about when he was doing some work for Simon & Schuster around five years ago and was asked to do some Rupert Bear samples. "Nothing came of it so I put them away. Then Egmont got the Rupert Bear contract. I was already working for them on other projects so I got the Rupert samples out and sent them in..." The rest, as they say, is history. But it's not going the change Stuart's life. He lives in the village of Marton near Rugby with his wife Vicki, deputy head at Bawnmore Infant School, who he met at Coventry Poly. "Now that's what I call a hard job. Keeping a classroom of five years olds entertained all day ...I couldn't do it," says Stuart. The Trotter children have left home.

Son Edward, 20, is studying philosophy at Sheffield and is in a band called Coin Operated Boy. Daughter Lily, 23, is a designer for the Oxford University Press. Stuart tells me that he spends all day, every day, drawing and painting. That's when he's not nipping out to the woods with Tilly the family dog. A big development was setting up Rockpool Children's Books to publish, first, his own work and now those of other artists and writers. When we met he was preparing for the Frankfurt Book Fair - one of the biggest book publishing events in the world. "I have to be there," he says. "If you're not at Frankfurt, you're not visible and people forget you." It's through Frankfurt that Stuart has signed publishing deals to syndicate his work abroad and he's now published in Australia, the USA, Korea and Italy. Despite his globetrotting Stuart is still happiest at home in the Warwickshire countryside. "I love Marton the wonderful countryside and walks. To Eathorpe and Wappenbury; over the top, great views, to the Friendly Inn in Frankton; the disused Leamington Spa to Rugby railway line south of Marton. Beautiful.

And I do like Warwick Castle, great memories from when our children were young and not so young." But it's not all beautiful in the world of Stuart Trotter. There is one building he is itching to demolish. "The chimney at Cemex in Long Itchington. If that went the views from Barratts Hill in Marton would be of untarnished rural Warwickshire countryside for virtually 360 degrees." Of course no cement chimneys would ever be allowed to encroach on the world of Nutwood and Rupert Bear - and that's just how the fans, this one included, like it. For more information about Stuart Trotter visit . Rupert Bear fans should visit

Question: Which village do Rupert Bear and his companions inhabit?
Answer: Nutwood