Gerry Anderson, a name synonymous with kids TV entertainment from the 1960s onwards, has died. For those who are still none the wiser, Gerry Anderson was the creator of Thunderbirds (1965-66), Stingray (1964), Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967-68) and Joe 90 ( 1968 ).

Gerry Anderson embarked on Thunderbirds in 1964, commissioned by ATV boss Lew Grade. Lew Grade as he demonstrated with TV series The Saint and later The Persuaders very much had an eye on the US export market. Hence Thunderbirds was very “Americanised” showcasing the Tracy brothers, with their mid Atlantic accents and first names mirroring US astronauts Scott Carpenter, Virgil Grissom, Alan Shepard, John Glenn and Gordon Cooper.

Scott, Virgil, Alan, John and Gordon were brothers and members of International Rescue, based on a Tracy Island, launched by their father Jeff Tracy with the slogan “Thunderbirds are Go!”. Two of the most memorable characters were blonde aristocrat Lady Penelope (voiced by and modelled on Gerry Anderson’s wife Sylvia Thamm) and Parker, the butler and chauffeur of Lady Penelope’s 21st-century Rolls-Royce, FAB 1 ( presumably Parker was voiced by and modelled on actor Michael Caine!! ).

The Thunderbirds puppets were state of the art in the mid to late 1960s, superceding TV puppets Muffin the Mule, Andy Pandy and Bill and Ben, the Flowerpot Men, who were not only in black and white but somewhat amateurish in comparison. Gerry Anderson built on the success of Thunderbirds with Stingray, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and then Joe 90. Infact the author was to fall victim to Joe 90 in the 1970s, when on account of my National Health spectacles, I was christened Joe 90, a nickname that stuck with me into early adulthood, when I finally insisted that my friends drop the pseudonym!!

Of course, going hand in hand with Gerry Anderson’s various TV series were the toys and merchandising. The must have toys in the 1960s and 1970s were the Thunderbird 2 craft and Lady Penelope’s pink Rolls Royce Fab 1, which were only matched by the iconic Corgi James Bond “Goldfinger” Aston Martin DB5. All the toys including Tracey Island were resurrected with the return of the Thunderbirds TV series in the 1990s…….

One of my favourite memories was seeing my nephew on his fourth birthday in 1992, wearing his brand new blue Thunderbirds outfit, blowing out the candles on his Thunderbird 2 birthday cake……..The Thunderbirds baton had been handed down to the younger generation!! And the enduring appeal of Gerry Anderson’s puppet programmes continues to this day.

Preserve your favourite TV programme or film for posterity, by ordering the DVD of your favourite TV show / film, framed with a personalised engraved plaque  ORDER NOW… www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Framed DVDs, framed vinyl records and framed CDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday ( How about the No1 song on the day of birth? ), a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!  ORDER NOW… www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/