The radio programme Children's Hour was greatly loved by generations of children and adults alike, to the extent that when it eventually ended 60 MPs signed a parliamentary motion in protest. Most popular and enduring of all the sections of the programme was Toytown, which was first broadcast on 19 July 1929 and outlasted its host programme, continuing to 1963.
Toytown was narrated by Uncle Mac, Derek McCulloch, who also voiced Larry the Lamb. Larry's mischievous companion was Dennis the Dachsund, played by Ernest Jay. The other characters were The Mayor, Ernest the Policeman, Mr Growser, The Inventor, The Magician, Dennis the Artist, Captain Higgins, Mrs Goose and Letitia Lamb.
The inhabitants of Toytown were created by S.G. Hulme Beaman, inspired by wooden figures he modelled. Hulme Beaman wrote and illustrated 6 stories in the book Tales from Toytown, which were spotted by "Elizabeth" from Children's Hour, (the name given to presenter, May Jenkins). She it was who saw their potential as radio material.
Following their success the BBC asked for more, and over the next couple of years Hulme Beaman produced another 24 stories for Children's Hour. The supply ended when he died in February 1932, aged only 45. Toytown proved so popular that it was repeated many times over the next decades.
July anniversaries
Investiture of the Prince of Wales
1 July 1969
Masterchef
2 July 1990
BBC Television News and Newsreel
5 July 1954
To the Ends of the Earth
6 July 2005
Hancock's Half Hour television show
6 July 1956
London Calling Europe began
6 July 1941
The Old Man of Hoy
8 July 1967
The first episode of The Office
9 July 2001
Andy Pandy
11 July 1950
It's That Man Again
12 July 1939
Watchdog
14 July 1985
What's My Line
16 July 1951
Toytown first transmitted
19 July 1929
Pot Black first transmitted
23 July 1969
Countryfile first broadcast
24 July 1988
Start of the Light Programme
29 July 1945
Olympic Games from Wembley first televised
29 July 1948
The World Cup Final
30 July 1966
Dad's Army
31 July 1968
