Saturday 8 June 2019

In defence of Siamese cats and Peter Purves

 

More purchases from eBay include these early cast photos and autographs from original presenters from the 1960s, including Christopher Trace with Petra the dog and one of John with Patch, Chris Trace and Valerie with Jason the cat.

The lot included cards with their autographs.

Jason was a seal-point Siamese cat who first appeared on Blue Peter on 1 June 1964. Jason has been described by Blue Peter producers as "the perfect television cat, sitting so still that some viewers thought he was stuffed!" A role later taken over by Peter Purves (ouch!). Anyone recall a parody of Blue Peter where Pete was represented by a life-sized 2-D cardboard cut-out being carried around by John or Val? A bit unfair I feel as Peter often actively helped Val to make things, including the iconic Tottenham Hotspur rattle - aren't we glad most soccer stadiums now have shops where you can buy branded merchandise at extortionate prices though still less than it costs to buy the high quality planed timber, vice, carpentry tools and workbench which Blue Peter neglected to tell you you'd need to make an item which Spurs supporters had probably last used to cheer on Danny Blanchflower in the FA cup final of 1961 (now there's an idea - perhaps Spurs need to ditch Bale and bring back the Peter Purves Rattle).

No, but really Peter … much respect. You were and still remain a true pro and a nice guy.

Jason the cat did go some way to restoring the reputation of the Siamese cat for British children after Walt Disney had completely demonised the breed in Lady and the Tramp. Although I still wouldn't trust one alone in a room with either a sleeping baby or a goldfish. And when the cat starts to blame the hapless barking mutt - don't believe a word of it.

On reflection … Jason probably was stuffed. Valerie would have insisted as she was always very sensible.


 

A Letter from Leila

I managed to get this from eBay this week, which is a letter from Leila Williams to a fan named Ian.

It does not have a date on it and neither does it have the photograph with it which Leila apparently sent to lucky Ian, that will no doubt turn up on eBay as a separate auction. Call me a cynic...


 
But it does have Leila's autograph which is of great value to me, as well as expressing her frustration with sitting for photographs, which must have been a challenge for some one who was Miss Great Britain! I like how Leila has made a little face out of her autograph by double dotting the I - a picture of her soul I feel!

Leila is rapidly becoming my favourite, yet most under-rated Blue Peter female presenter ever. As kid's magazine format tv programmes go, Jenny Handley of Magpie will always take some beating, but Leila is definitely a contender.