Audrey Atterbury
Encyclopedia
Audrey Selma Atterbury was a British
puppet
er best known for her work on the 1950s pioneering BBC
's children's series Andy Pandy
.
Born in London in 1921 as Audrey Holman, during World War II
she worked for an Average Adjusters firm in London. She married Rowley Atterbury in 1943, and had one child, Paul Atterbury
, who went on to become an antiques expert and a regular on the BBC
's Antiques Roadshow
. In about 1949 Rowley Atterbury founded the Westerham Press, and Audrey Atterbury worked with her husband in the printing business. However, during a train journey in 1950 Audrey met Freda Lingstrom
, the newly appointed head of BBC Children’s Television. After striking up a conversation and establishing common interests, Lingstrom persuaded Atterbury to become a puppeteer on a new television series, to be called Andy Pandy
(1950–52). It is claimed that Lingstrom based the appearance of Andy Pandy on the young Paul Atterbury. Audrey Atterbury trained under John Wright, later
the founder of the Little Angel Theatre
in Islington
, north London.
During the 1950s Atterbury continued to work as a puppeteer in such series as Flower Pot Men
(1952–54), and The Woodentops
(1955–58). In around 1956, after separating from her husband, Audrey Atterbury went to live in Highgate
in London, near to her fellow BBC puppeteer, Molly Gibson, who was a close friend. The two worked together on Rubovian Legends and other Gordon Murray puppet plays. Atterbury also worked for the Little Angel Theatre
, by then one of Britain’s leading puppet theatres. Atterbury worked on the puppet series The Telegoons
(1963-4), which was based on Spike Milligan
's radio show The Goon Show
.
During the 1960s television puppets started to be replaced by animation
, which led Atterbury to leave the BBC take up a career in antiques, specialising in pottery and porcelain. She became a part-time antiques dealer, at the same time building up a large personal collection of ceramic
s. Later, Atterbury worked for a number of antique dealers and in 1987 she joined Christie's
, becoming the longest serving and most respected member of the team of lady saleroom assistants. She was Secretary of the Morley College Ceramic Circle for about 18 years.
Atterbury never remarried and lived in south London from about 1962 until she died in 1997 aged 75. On her death her collection of ceramics, including rare examples by Royal Doulton
and Moorcroft
, was sold at auction by Christie's
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
puppet
Puppet
A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....
er best known for her work on the 1950s pioneering BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's children's series Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy is a British children's television series that premiered on BBC TV in June or July 1950. The original series of programmes was shown until 1970, when a new series was made. A third series was made in 2002...
.
Born in London in 1921 as Audrey Holman, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she worked for an Average Adjusters firm in London. She married Rowley Atterbury in 1943, and had one child, Paul Atterbury
Paul Atterbury
Paul Atterbury, FRSA is a British antiques expert, probably best known for his many appearances since 1979 on the BBC TV programme Antiques Roadshow.-Biography:...
, who went on to become an antiques expert and a regular on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow is a British television show in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom to appraise antiques brought in by local people. It has been running since 1979...
. In about 1949 Rowley Atterbury founded the Westerham Press, and Audrey Atterbury worked with her husband in the printing business. However, during a train journey in 1950 Audrey met Freda Lingstrom
Freda Lingstrom
Freda Violet Lingstrom OBE was a BBC Television producer and executive who was responsible for pioneering children's programmes in the early 1950s....
, the newly appointed head of BBC Children’s Television. After striking up a conversation and establishing common interests, Lingstrom persuaded Atterbury to become a puppeteer on a new television series, to be called Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy is a British children's television series that premiered on BBC TV in June or July 1950. The original series of programmes was shown until 1970, when a new series was made. A third series was made in 2002...
(1950–52). It is claimed that Lingstrom based the appearance of Andy Pandy on the young Paul Atterbury. Audrey Atterbury trained under John Wright, later
the founder of the Little Angel Theatre
Little Angel Theatre
The Little Angel Theatre is a puppet theatre catering for children, families and adults, off Upper Street in the London Borough of Islington.The 100 seat theatre, in a former Temperance hall, was opened on 24 November 1961, by founder John Wright...
in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, north London.
During the 1950s Atterbury continued to work as a puppeteer in such series as Flower Pot Men
Flower Pot Men
The Flower Pot Men were a British pop group created in 1967 as a result of the single "Let's Go to San Francisco", recorded by session musicians, becoming a major UK Top 20 and Continental Europe hit) in the autumn of 1967...
(1952–54), and The Woodentops
The Woodentops (TV series)
The Woodentops was a children's television series first shown on BBC Television in 1955. It was created by Freda Lingstrom and Maria Bird and featured on the Friday edition of Watch with Mother...
(1955–58). In around 1956, after separating from her husband, Audrey Atterbury went to live in Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
in London, near to her fellow BBC puppeteer, Molly Gibson, who was a close friend. The two worked together on Rubovian Legends and other Gordon Murray puppet plays. Atterbury also worked for the Little Angel Theatre
Little Angel Theatre
The Little Angel Theatre is a puppet theatre catering for children, families and adults, off Upper Street in the London Borough of Islington.The 100 seat theatre, in a former Temperance hall, was opened on 24 November 1961, by founder John Wright...
, by then one of Britain’s leading puppet theatres. Atterbury worked on the puppet series The Telegoons
The Telegoons
The Telegoons was a BBC television comedy puppet show adapted from the highly successful BBC radio comedy show of the 1950s, The Goon Show. Two series of 13 episodes were made. The series was briefly repeated immediately after its original run, and all episodes are known to have survived...
(1963-4), which was based on Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
's radio show The Goon Show
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
.
During the 1960s television puppets started to be replaced by animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
, which led Atterbury to leave the BBC take up a career in antiques, specialising in pottery and porcelain. She became a part-time antiques dealer, at the same time building up a large personal collection of ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s. Later, Atterbury worked for a number of antique dealers and in 1987 she joined Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
, becoming the longest serving and most respected member of the team of lady saleroom assistants. She was Secretary of the Morley College Ceramic Circle for about 18 years.
Atterbury never remarried and lived in south London from about 1962 until she died in 1997 aged 75. On her death her collection of ceramics, including rare examples by Royal Doulton
Royal Doulton
The Royal Doulton Company is an English company producing tableware and collectables, dating to 1815. Operating originally in London, its reputation grew in The Potteries, where it was a latecomer compared to Spode, Wedgwood and Minton...
and Moorcroft
Moorcroft
Moorcroft is a British pottery manufacturer based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, which was founded by William Moorcroft.-History:...
, was sold at auction by Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
.
External links
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-audrey-atterbury-1267475.htmlAtterbury's obituary in The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
16 April 1997] - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/2010/07/'Happy Birthday Andy Pandy!' BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
website] - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041017/Atterbury on the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
] - Atterbury on the 'Museum of Broadcast Communications' website