1 EAGLETON NOTES: The Eternal Question: The Definitive Answer

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Tuesday 3 August 2010

The Eternal Question: The Definitive Answer

OK.  Don’t worry.  Nothing too esoteric.

I was reading someone’s Facebook the other day when I came across a website entitled: Theme songs/lyrics/intros of UK TV programmes 1955–1990.  It’s the sort of information that you can Google any time but it’s all in one place.  

“Ah”  I thought as I noticed the Trumpton introductory song “That reminds me.  Someone asked the names of the firemen in Trumpton the other day?”  Now I knew the answer to that.  It was first broadcast in 1967 when I was rather too old for it.  I assume that the boys did because it seems to have been repeated ad nauseam ever since.  So it was not because I watched Trumpton.  It was because it has cropped up so many times in conversations over the years.

I duly pronounced.  Hugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb.  Or was it Pugh, Pugh?  Oh dear. My certainty evaporated.  So I’ve just looked it up.  It will now for ever be etched on my mind:  Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb.  Am I sure ?  Yes.  I quote from the official Trumptonshire Website:  “The sound track can be a little unclear, and the names have been misquoted many times in the press and in TV trivia books, but Gordon Murray who created them insists that the Pughs were twin brothers - and he should know. “

So there we have it.  The definitive answer.

9 comments:

  1. Love it GB. Strange but true: but for some reason the Trumpton theme words have managed to stick in my brain for years and years and years (though as I was born in 67 I might just have more excuse than you!)... and yes, it did start with 'pugh, pugh...'!

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  2. I always thought the definitive answer was 42 but I guess this is close.
    I think I'd have said Pugh, Pugh but only if I wasn't on Who wants to be a millionaire. Although I'm not sure what the other 2 choices might have been other than Hugh and Pugh.
    Interesting though as we were actually talking about Trumpton today. A northern band called Half Man Half Biscuit did a remix of Time Flies By (when you're the driver of a train), with the lyrics wildly altered of course, mainly implying that most of the Trumpton inhabitants were on some illegal drug or another. Most amusing but probably less so for anyone a generation or 2 behind me as they've undoubtedly never heard of Trumpton.

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  3. Ah! Trumpton. I'd forgotten all about that! I used to be able to sing the 'Postman Pat' song too.

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  4. This reminds me of the touched twins Thomas Twp and Twp too, in 'The Englishman who went up a Hill but came Down a Mountain'.

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  5. Gosh, Katherine, I'd forgotten about them. In fact although I've seen the film I don't really remember much about it other than the Englishman was a surveyor and the mountain was in Wales.

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  6. Gaz. They said the same things about The Magic Roundabout although I don't ever recall anyone doing a skit on the lyrics.

    La mujer libre: It's good to get your comments. But you're younger than me (well, just) and I haven't been round for years and years so you certainly haven't been around for years and years and years.

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  7. I would have had no hesitation in risking my final answer for £1,000,000 on Pugh Pugh. Can't remember what day of the week it is but some things you never forget!

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  8. Imagine not knowing that, he lied.

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  9. But you do now Marcel. Blogs clearly have their uses...all you need to do now is seek torture via Chris Tarrant and pray the important question requires a 'pugh, pugh' answer.

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