Shillingbury Tales

Hello,

Today I would like to review an excellent old TV series from the early 1980's, "Shillingbury Tales".

The series follows the lives of the villagers of the fictional village of Shillingbury (they filmed in the village of Albury in Hertfordshire). Its central characters are a young couple,the Higgins, played by Robin Nedwell and Diane Keen, who have moved to the village from the city. We meet all the main villagers with my favourite being the village tinker, Cuffy, played by the excellent Bernard Cribbins. His character appears in two episodes, with one episode devoted to his character ("The Shillingbury Tinker") and how a win on the pools affects his life and the villagers' reactions to him, in a manner which is surprisingly not to his liking. There is one scene which particularly grabs the emotions, involving his equine companion. The scene is quietly acted with dignity which makes it more moving, and all credit to Mr Cribbins on this. The character of Cuffy was even given his own series in 1983, 'Cuffy', however, this has not yet been issued on DVD and thus I have not had the opportunity to view it...though how I would very much love to!

Another favourite episode of mine, "The Shillingbury Melon", featuring Lionel Jeffries as Mrs Higgins father, has a gently comedic storyline and has Lionel Jeffries in top form as a recently retired gentleman, with former military experience, at a complete loss as to what to do with himself now retirement has arrived (or "sacked" as he protests it to be).

The series may seem somewhat quaint and sentimental to many modern viewers, but to those of us who still hold dear the old English values of decency and community and yearn for a gentler, more golden age. All in all this series could be seen to be a forerunner of such shows as "Born and Bred" and even at times "The Vicar of Dibley" (both of which shall be featured here in due course).

If you have not yet seen this absolute gem it is presently available on DVD.