John Cunliffe (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Cunliffe
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| Born | John Arthur Cunliffe 16 June 1933 Colne, England |
| Died | 20 September 2018 (aged 85) Ilkley, England |
| Occupation | Author, teacher, librarian, TV presenter |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1981–2018 |
| Notable works | Postman Pat (1981–2008) Rosie and Jim (1990–2000) |
| Spouse | Sylvia Thompson (m. 1960) |
| Children | 1 |
John Arthur Cunliffe (born 16 June 1933 – died 20 September 2018) was an English author and television presenter. He is famous for creating two much-loved children's characters: Postman Pat and Rosie and Jim.
Contents
About John Cunliffe
John Cunliffe was born in Colne, Lancashire, England. He was the only child in his family. John was a very tall child. Because of this, he sometimes faced bullying at school. He went to Colne Grammar School.
Early Life and Inspiration
John Cunliffe later lived in Kendal, Westmorland. The small towns and villages around Kendal gave him ideas for his stories. These places inspired the setting for his most famous character, Postman Pat. The fictional village of 'Greendale', where Postman Pat lives, is based on the real valley of Longsleddale. This valley is close to Kendal.
Before becoming a full-time writer, John worked in different jobs. For many years, he was a librarian. He also worked as a teacher at Castle Park Primary School.
Creating Postman Pat
The BBC asked John Cunliffe to write Postman Pat. The show was produced by Ivor Wood. It first appeared on television in 1981. John wanted to create a happy, ideal village. He imagined Greendale as a place where everyone was kind to each other. This was different from the bullying he experienced when he was young.
Postman Pat became very popular. After its success, John Cunliffe became a local celebrity. The Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry in Kendal even has a room dedicated to him.
Rosie and Jim and Other Works
In the 1990s, John Cunliffe created another well-known children's show. This was Rosie and Jim. He wrote the scripts and presented the first 50 episodes himself. Later, he turned some of these episodes into books.
John wanted more control over Rosie and Jim. He had been a bit disappointed with some of the toys and books made for Postman Pat. He felt he had little say in how those products turned out.
In 2010, John Cunliffe released a children's story called "Ghosts". This story was made for the iPad. He was also a supporter of the Ilkley Literature Festival.
John Cunliffe's Passing
John Cunliffe passed away on 20 September 2018. He died from heart failure. His death was announced in the local newspaper, the Ilkley Gazette.
