Pelham Puppets

The Festival marked the 70th Anniversary of Pelham Puppets and celebrated the life and legacy of Bob Pelham who established his world-famous toy manufacturing business in Marlborough Wiltshire. The weekend programme opened with a Parade followed by shows and exhibitions that were organised by David Leech and with the full support of Marlborough Town Council.

All of Bob’s nephews attended the festival weekend. David Pelham said regarding his “Uncle Bobby,”  – “I’m sure he would have been very happy if he knew, that not only is Pelham Puppets being kept alive today but is managed by David Leech, one of his employees and proteges and more importantly, one who shares his vision for the company. The festival was a very fitting tribute to a very special person.”

The festival opened with a parade led by the Marlborough Phoenix Brass Band and led visitors to the Town Hall and the Priory Gardens right in the heart of Town.

The parade also featured the giant figures of Mr Punch & Judy and the Baby, by Clive Chandler, and brought great fun to the crowds that had gathered for the festival.

A magnificent and spectacular 15-foot-long dragon made by students from St John’s School, Marlborough, in only three days and under the guidance and direction of Andrew Purvin of the Fetch Theatre Company also took part in the parade. It required six people to carry it through the town and proved to be a very popular addition to the parade and was a “nod” to the Pelham Puppet “Mother Dragon” that was also a very popular puppet from the Pelham stable of fairy-tale characters for over 25 years.

Professional puppeteers staged performances during the weekend, including Ian Thom, a former “PELPUP” who has been a professional puppeteer for over 40 years. Mister Peter’s Puppets (aka Peter Charlton,) presented the show “St George and the Dragon.” Peter’s career as an actor, producer and director spans over 50 years. Ventriloquist Max Fulham presented several performances. Since 2017, Max has wowed audiences with his one man show, entertaining thousands of people in theatres across the UK and internationally.

Will McNally brought the original, TV puppet from the 1950’s, Muffin the Mule and his puppet friends who eagerly showed off his antics to meet & greet visitors. Will’s grandmother, Ann Hogarth operated Muffin in the 1950’s TV show and she, with her husband, Jan Bussell, were good friends of Bob Pelham. Lori Hopkins presented her show, “the Explorer” which was the concluding performance of a nation-wide tour. Based in London, she performs with all types of puppets, specialising in theatre making for young audiences. Ken Oldfield, a former PELPUP and resident of Marlborough eagerly offered to stage regular shows in the Town Hall throughout the weekend much to the delight of many who saw his shows.

Noisy Oyster, aka Nik Palmer and Sarah Rowland-Barker presented the DaSilva Marionette Circus. Originally constructed by Ray and Joan DaSilva, this show has been delighting audiences of all ages for almost half a century. Joe Peek was only 14-year-old when he presented his Punch & Judy shows and cabaret Marionettes at this festival. Joe has been getting rave reviews for his shows ever since. Jamie Riding presented his Punch & Judy Shows on the Saturday. Jamie continues to entertain audiences at family events in South Dorset. MADD – aka Marlborough Academy of Dance & Drama presented the Festival Finale with an 80 strong cast of “Pelham Puppets, The Musical.”  (More info about this later.)

As you entered the Town Hall the “Bob Pelham World of Puppets Exhibition” was put on by Richard Gaunt and Nick Carver, the majority of the puppets coming from Richard’s collection. David Leech built a three-scene centre piece display including, a large, fairy-tale castle and a scene depicting the front line of the Beatle’s Sgt Pepper’s Album cover. The puppets were redressed and adapted from original Pelham Puppets. (2017 marked 50 years since the Beatle’s album was released in 1967.)

An Exhibition in St Peter’s Church: “A Walk Down Memory Lane” featuring photographs by David Leech, of the original factory and of the many of the people who worked there. Many visitors met and mingled with former employees who shared their personal memories about their time working at the factory and about the work they did. It presented a lovely opportunity to learn about Pelham Puppets first-hand from some of the people that made them.

The “Pelham Genesis Exhibition” with Wonky Puppets made in 1947, could be seen in the Merchant’s House in Marlborough High Street. This included the very first MacBoozle that Bob Pelham made on 22nd June 1947.

Also, on display were a set of rare Pelham Puppet versions of the Bookworm Family. These were characters by the Hogarth Puppets, Jan Bussell and Ann Hogarth, and who featured in the original 1950s TV series in the early 1950s.

Marlborough Puppet Festival Photo Gallery

Bob Pelham’s nephews all travelled some distance to attend and support the event.

Punch, Judy and the Baby enthralled and entertained everyone as they paraded through the High Street.

Will McNally with Muffin the Mule. “We want Muffin, Muffin the Mule, We want Muffin, playing the fool!”

“Grandad” brought along Max Fulham to delight and entertain in their own special way.

“We’re Sergeant Pelham’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, we hope you will enjoy the show!”

MacBoozle was delighted to be back ‘home’ after over 30 years! – “I Belong to Marlbor’ – Dear ol’ Marlbor’ town, but there’s something the matter with Marlbor’ for it’s going round an’ round!”

The Priory Gardens proved a lovely area for the outdoor shows and activities.

The sun came out and so did the crowds. As Punch would say, “That’s the way to do it!”

There was a window display on the ground floor of Victoria House with photos of the puppets and employees who made them in the first floor rooms back in 1947.

Following the festival weekend, arrangements began to be made for a Blue Plaque to be mounted to mark the place where Bob Pelham started Pelham Puppets. 

Richard Gaunt and Nick Carver spent most of the day setting up their fantastic Exhibition of Pelham Puppets in the Town Hall on the Friday before the event.

A group of the puppets found their way into an original scene of an Animated Display Unit that was built in the factory by David Leech in 1979.

The magnificent “Mother Dragon” made her way through the High Street in the Festival Parade to the amazement of the crowds that had gathered for the event.

The Marlborough Phoenix Brass Band led the Parade, followed by Punch & Judy with “the Mother of all puppet Dragons” in hot pursuit!