John Cunliffe, the creator of such beloved children's TV programmes as Postman Pat and Rosie and Jim has died aged 85.
Cunliffe actually died on September 20th, but his passing was announced in the obituaries of the Ilkley Gazette today.
It read: "CUNLIFFE John Left his Ilkley home in a deluge of rain on Thursday, September 20, never to return.
"Even the skies wept for John the gifted creator of 'Postman Pat', 'Rosie and Jim' and author of many earlier published collections of poetry and picture story books for children.
"John's last poetry collection, significantly entitled 'Dare You Go' has now come to fruition for John has dared to go and he has gone."
Fans will remember John Cunliffe as the bearded man who occasionally joined Rosie and Jim on their barge on the popular kid's show.
As well as creating the programme back in the 1990s, he was also heavily involved in writing and presenting the shows.
The setting for his show Postman Pat, another children's favourite, was inspired by his home in the Lake District, where he lived for many years in Kendal.
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