*
banner

4BR May Bank Holiday quiz

Make the connections inspired by the great children's animator Oliver Postgate...

Bagpuss
  Oliver Postgate created wonderful children's characters

Our special May Bank Holiday quiz has a hot breathy feeling about it — in honour of the wonderful Oliver Postgate.

There was a great BBC 4 programme about his life and work on the weekend which you should catch up with if you are a lover of fantastic children's television programmes — as he made some of the very best — from Noggin the Nog to Bagpuss (above) and more.

And come up with the right answers from the clues and there is a selection box of 10 great vintage CDs from our Ali Baba emporium of old brass band treasures.

You can enjoy the programme at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pht5q/timeshift-series-9-6-oliver-postgate-a-life-in-small-films

Question:

What is the link between characters found in Oliver Postgate's children's programmes 'The Clangers' and 'Ivor the Engine', with the Patron Saint of England, a 1963 pop hit for Peter, Paul & Mary, the literary debut of serial killer Hannibal Lecter and a famous test piece written by Philip Sparke to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Cory Band?

Answers:

Answers with your reasons to be sent to: quiz@4barsrest.com

Closing date for answers: 12.00pm (midnight) on Tuesday 1st June

the link between 'The Clangers' & 'Ivor the Engine', the Patron Saint of England, a 1963 pop hit for Peter, Paul & Mary, the literary debut of Hannibal Lecter and a test piece written by Philip Sparke for the 100th anniversary of Cory?4BR

History winner:

Our Whit Friday winner was Tim Pickles who once dressed up as Aladdin to play 'The Elephant' march with Ali Baba Brass at Whit Friday in 2018.

1. An appropriate march by William German for the incumbent of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington DC.
Answer: The President

2. The Devil Incarnate by Shipley Douglas.
Answer: Mephistopheles

3. T J Powell's cheesy fortification.
Answer: Castle Caerphilly

4. An old favourite of Yuri Gagarin and Neil Armstrong by the same composer.
Answer: The Spaceman

5. A George Allan classic named in honour of the nickname of snooker player John Higgins.
Answer: The Wizard

6. The favourite Specsavers destination for Dominic Cummings.
Answer: Barnard Castle

7. A march by William Rimmer that reminds you of the famous sword wielding guard of a bridge in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' who ends up armless and legless but still convinced he can win a dual.
Answer: The Black Knight

8. Kenneth Alford classic that was whistled by the prisoners of war in the 1957 film 'Bridge on the River Kwai'.
Answer: Colonel Bogey

9. "That's the way to do it! That's the way to do it!"comes to mind with this William Rimmer 6/8 classic.
Answer: Punchinello

10. J Ord Hume's homage to a big eared or little eared mammal with a long proboscis and an impressive memory bank.
Answer: The Elephant

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


podcast

Podcast: Whisky High Notes: Episode 1

March 26 • Composer agent and whisky lover, Dr. Naomi Belshaw is joined by Sam McShane, Artistic Director of Kings Place to talk about whisky and classical music...


BrookWright

BrookWright Music: New Jerusalem (Kenneth Downie)

March 26 • A upbeat march to put a concert audience in an immediate good mood from Kenneth Downie.


Guildhall

Guildhall Solo Competition entries now open

March 26 • If you are a brass or percussion player aged 9-18 and Grade 3 and above, them why not enjoy yourself in competition and in finding out more about your playing skills...


Tine Thing Helseth

Best Classical Recording Award for Tine Thing Helseth

March 26 • The Norwegian trumpet soloist has won a prestigious Spellemannprisen for Best Classical Recording for her latest release, 'Echoes'.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards

Thursday 26 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Funny Bones Trombone Octet

Friday 27 March • Oompah Brass XXL. Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Brass Bands England - 2026 National Youth Brass Band Championships

Saturday 28 March • King Edward's School, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2UA


The Hepworth Band - Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday 18 April • Huddersfield Town Hall HD1 2TA


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


Chinnor Silver

March 27 • We are a friendly progressive 1st Section band who need a couple of seats filled.. Bb BASS and PERCUSSIONIST are on our wanted list so if you are looking for a new banding challenge get in contact. We rehearse on Wednesdays and have good realistic diary.


Newport Borough Brass Band

March 27 • After a respectable 4th place in the 2nd Section at the Welsh Area Contest, we are looking for FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable) 1st BARITONE, 2ND TROMBONE and Bb BASS players to come and join us on our journey under the baton of Martin McHale BEM.


East London Brass

March 27 • PERCUSSION - ELB are the look out for a percussionist to complement our existing section. We have a sensible diary of contests and concerts and are ambitious to keep progressing as a band.


Stuart Black

BA (Hons) Music
Conductor, Teacher, Flugel soloist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd