Events

Rev Awdry 80th Anniversary

Rev W. Awdry 1911-97 (Jottings made from a reading of The Thomas the Tank Engine Man Brian Sibley The Story of the Reverend W. Awdry and his Really Useful Engines 1995) In the Beginning was the Word, But there was also a tunnel at Box, Where a young child christened Wilbert Lay awake in his bedroom, dreaming Of steam-coal railway conversations Between sleek express and workaday tank engines. Twenty-odd years later, in wartime, Wilbert reprised this conceit With stories to Christopher, His measles-stricken son, in 1943; Stories jotted down on odd bits of paper, With a devoted father’s drawings too – A format that Margaret thought worthy Of seeking some sort of publication, But relentless wartime austerity, And a national shortage of paper, Resulted in a series of rejections, Until a new format was decided upon: Four tales per book with the Reverend Also providing draft illustrations As a guide for the eventual artist: “We should require eight illustrations, oblong in shape, with appropriate text matter of about 80-90 words for each of the drawings.” And so, Edward, Gordon and Henry were born: The book sold well and then along came Thomas, Not just in text and illustration, But also at home in the Awdry household: A bit of a broomstick and metal tube, A paper-fastener, too, of course, Finished off with some carpet pins and screws: Lo and behold! Thomas the Tank Engine! Meanwhile, over in the real world, The Railway Gazette proved invaluable – Providing inspiration for further stories, A branch line to Wilbert’s imagination; But relationships with the artist, Clarence...

Ringo and the Rev in Rodborough

Ringo and the Rev   Song to be sung roughly to the tune of Octopus’ Garden   It’s strange but true In Rodborough Avenue A big car arrived with Ringo Starr (Big car arrived with Ringo Starr), Church tower and steeple Gazed upon the Beatle As he had a drag...

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The Style of the Rev Awdry Books

What is about the Style of the Awdry Books?   Here is Brian Sibley in his biography The Thomas the Tank Engine Man: ‘So what is the reason for the success of these books? Is it their text: sharp and tightly written with sly little jokes and rhythmic sounds but,...

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Sir Topham Hatt (aka The Fat Controller)

Sir Topham Hatt (aka The Fat Controller) Apparently, Master T. Hatt started his railway career in 1894 at the GWR Works in Swindon as an apprentice. I imagine he was quite slim then. I also imagine that his father probably worked ‘inside’ in the factory and that...

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Morris and Awdry

The Reverend Awdry and Desert Island Discs and the Johnny Morris Recording   The Rev appeared on Desert Island Discs in 1964 in ‘The Swinging Sixties’, choosing Robinson Crusoe as his book (‘apart from the Bible and Shakespeare’). Three of his chosen records...

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The Rev Awdry Books Revisited

The Books As I said before, I didn’t come across any of the series until I read the Ladybird books to my children at bedtime. I have, however, just read a boxset in the past month of January, 2025. The books in this boxset were published in 2021 by Farshore, an...

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Memories of the Rev Awdry

Memories of the Reverend Awdry   A Lifetime in Rodborough Avenue Oliver Wicks 1999 LOVELL (earlier Devonia – later Sodor) The author (who lived next-door to the Rev and Margaret) said that Wilbert’s move to Rodborough constituted more semi-retirement than absolute...

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