Richard Michael "Kip" Carpenter (14 August 1929 – 26 February 2012)[1] was an English screenwriter, author and actor. He created a number of British television series, including Robin of Sherwood and Catweazle.
In 1969, Carpenter created Catweazle, the children's series about an unfortunate wizard from the 11th century who is accidentally transported to the present day. This changed the course of his career substantially. Carpenter earned international recognition and a Writers' Guild award for creating the cult children's TV series.[3]
In the 1980s came the historical adventures Smuggler (TV series) and its later antipodean-based follow-up Adventurer (TV series) and between them, the lavish HTV production Robin of Sherwood, which ran for three series.
As Anthony Hayward wrote in this cited obituary:
Carpenter re-imagined the Robin Hood legend in Robin of Sherwood (1984–86). Mysticism was one of its distinctive ingredients, reflecting a renewed interest in paganism, as well as the concerns of the growing environmental movement and – through the idealism of the hero.
Carpenter wrote novelisations of many of the early series he created: Catweazle, Cloud Burst, The Ghosts of Motley Hall, Smuggler, Robin of Sherwood (two books) and two books of Dick Turpin.
Personal lifeedit
Carpenter married Annabelle Lee in 1954. They lived in Ayot Bury, Ayot St Peter near Welwyn in Hertfordshire, had two children and remained married until his death.
^Anthony Hayward "Richard Carpenter obituary", The Guardian, 5 March 2012
^Alistair McGown Carpenter, Richard (1929–2012), BFI screenonline page
^Minovitz, Ethan (3 March 2012). ""Dr. Snuggles" Writer Richard Carpenter Dies at 78". Big Cartoon News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
^Abbie Bernstein "In Memoriam: ROBIN OF SHERWOOD creator Richard Carpenter passes at age 78", AssignmentX, 27 February 2012
^Alex Farber "Catweazle creator Richard Carpenter dies", Broadcast, 29 February 2012
^"Richard Carpenter, creator of Catweazle, dies aged 78". BBC News. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
Catweazle, de Tovernaar van Saburac (transl. into Dutch of Catweazle), illustrated by George Adamson (Amsterdam: van Holkema & Warendorf, 1971) ISBN 9026919093
Catweazle, de Tekens van de Dierenriem (transl. into Dutch of Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac), illustrated by George Adamson (Amsterdam: van Holkema & Warendorf, 1971) ISBN 9026919107
Kaksnoukka ja Porkkana (transl. by Marikki Makkonen into Finnish of Catweazle), illustrated by George Adamson (WSOY [Werner Söderström Corporation], 1974), Nuorten toivekirjasto 215 ISBN 9510063878
Kaksnoukka ja Taivaan Merkit (transl. by Marikki Makkonen into Finnish of Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac), illustrated by George Adamson (WSOY), Nuorten toivekirjasto 228
Catweazle (transl. into German by Sybil Gräfin Schönfeldt of Catweazle), illustrated by George Adamson (Ravensburger, 1973) RTB 39262
Catweazle sucht die magische Zeichen (transl. into German by Sybil Gräfin Schönfeldt of Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac), illustrated by George Adamson (Ravensburger, 1974) RTB 39330 ISBN 3473393304
Catweazle (transl. into German by Sybil Gräfin Schönfeldt of Catweazle), illustrated by Carsten Teich (Ravensburger)
Catweazle sucht die magische Zeichen (transl. into German by Sybil Gräfin Schönfeldt of Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac), illustrated by Carsten Teich (Ravensburger, 2006) ISBN 347352302X
Den Merkelige Mannen (transl. into Norwegian Bokmål by Fredrik Chr. Brøgger of Catweazle), illustrated by George Adamson (Oslo: Cappelin, 1971)
Mathilde Cachebidon, super-robot (Doctor Snuggles) (transl. into French by Philippe Mikriammos) (Hachette, 1981) ISBN 201007923X
La Grande course en ballon (Doctor Snuggles) (transl. into French by Philippe Mikriammos) (Hachette, 1981) ISBN 2010079248
Les aventures de Dick le rebelle (transl. by Odile Ricklin), (Paris: G.P., 1981) ISBN 2-261-00947-X
Turpin et feu follet (transl. by Odile Ricklin), (Paris: G.P., 1981) ISBN 2-261-00948-8