My favourite museum piece is the Lewis Chessmen, so when I was set a university project to look at representations of history in the media, I jumped at the chance to write about Noggin the Nog – created by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate, and inspired by the Lewis Chessmen.
After telling the story of Postgate’s childhood and early career, it moves on to Smallfilms – the company he set up with Firmin – where he created a series of beloved children’s TV shows.
I refer back to Postgate’s life story because he worked as a farmer, inventor, actor and stage manager before setting up Smallfilms; it reminds me to focus on the journey, as well as the destination.
This book also resonates with me because it’s a reminder of how the objects in our collections can inspire people, and kindle creativity and the imagination. Seeing Things is a story of how an object that intrigues and excites me moved a pair of talented people so much that they shared their interpretation in a way that reached a lot of people.
Noggin the Nog is a tale I remember because I try to enable museum visitors to have their own memorable experiences. It highlights the power of objects, and I think of this book, and Postgate and Firmin, whenever I visit the British Museum’s Lewis Chessmen.
Hannah Peaden is the head of visitor engagement for the Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland
After telling the story of Postgate’s childhood and early career, it moves on to Smallfilms – the company he set up with Firmin – where he created a series of beloved children’s TV shows.
I refer back to Postgate’s life story because he worked as a farmer, inventor, actor and stage manager before setting up Smallfilms; it reminds me to focus on the journey, as well as the destination.
This book also resonates with me because it’s a reminder of how the objects in our collections can inspire people, and kindle creativity and the imagination. Seeing Things is a story of how an object that intrigues and excites me moved a pair of talented people so much that they shared their interpretation in a way that reached a lot of people.
Noggin the Nog is a tale I remember because I try to enable museum visitors to have their own memorable experiences. It highlights the power of objects, and I think of this book, and Postgate and Firmin, whenever I visit the British Museum’s Lewis Chessmen.
Hannah Peaden is the head of visitor engagement for the Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland
