Raymond Briggs RIP ??

Ethel and Ernest is my favourite it never fails to cheer me up and bring a tear to my eye at the same time reminds me of how simple and happy life used to be.

Ethel and Ernest is one of the most charming, heartwarming, poignant things I've ever seen.

My girl and I watched it quite by accident, and loved it; I could cry thinking about it - a must watch!

Baggs

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

No Man is an Island
John Donne

Slightly off subject, but John Donne is anything but sentimental about religion, life, sex and death! You are of course entitled to your opinion about the death of a well loved writer and Illustrator Baggs. He had a long and fruitful life and we can celebrate that, as well as feel sadness that his creativity has come to an end

Thank you Boz. I've seen it but I'll watch it again. It's lovely.

FannyCornforth

Boz

Love "Ethel and Ernest" his homage to his parents. This is available on Prime but maybe it will get an airing mainstream now.

Oh, I didn’t know that it was a film. I bought the book when it first came out (1999?)

Whitewave, I love your term ‘British pessimism’ (I could get a bit political here, but of course, I won’t!)

Ethel and Ernest is on BBC2 tonight. Well worth 90 mins of your time.

That is a wonderful way of putting it, SachaMac. Full of appreciation but no mention of sadness.

He reached a great age and left behind a wonderful legacy with his books and films. I’m sure they will be enjoyed by many for years to come. We get The Snowman and Father Christmas films out every year, the GC love them just as their parents did. My mum absolutely loved the Ethel & Ernest film.
RIP

So, it's not sad when someone like Raymond Briggs dies. Not to me. It's just a sign of the passing of time.

I'm still really glad he created what he did and really glad we still have it.

Farzanah

I loved his graphic books, appealing very much to adults not just children.
I get what you are saying Baggs about a natural not “sad” process, but is it an element of sadness about loss of our past that are represented by some who have recently died, such as Raymond Briggs, popular vocalists, comedians, actors, and others of our era?

I agree with this up to a point but in the modern world we lose far less of our culture because of recording techniques – books, songs and other music written, films, etc.

We haven't lost the music of famous composers from long ago, nor the literature of writers, nor the art of artists, and so on.

The joy that Raymond Briggs brought to so many people is not lost either (nod to janejudge).

Found the writer, annieb. I don't agree with John Donne's sentiment on death either. I think it's over-sentimental.

Naturally, deaths diminish individuals who are affected directly, but something like 150,000-160,000 people die every day worldwide. I cannot honestly say I am affected by all those deaths. I already know that people (and every other life form) dies. Death is part of life.

He has brought so much joy to so many people

I loved his graphic books, appealing very much to adults not just children.
I get what you are saying Baggs about a natural not “sad” process, but is it an element of sadness about loss of our past that are represented by some who have recently died, such as Raymond Briggs, popular vocalists, comedians, actors, and others of our era?

Anniebach

‘Any man’s death diminishes me,because I am involved in mankind’,

Who said this, please, anniebach?

you cannot tell other people how to feel, or how to express their feelings.

You are right but I don't believe I did tell other people how to feel blossoming. I carefully used expressions like 'imo', 'I feel', 'irritates me' so that it would be quite clear I was expressing what I think, not what anyone else might or should think.

Such a talented man who has given and will continue to give pleasure to many people.
RIP Raymond Briggs.

Spot on Annie.

‘Any man’s death diminishes me,because I am involved in mankind’,

RIP Raymond. I think it's sad when anyone dies, whatever their age.

I have all his books, all are well read and show it. I saw When the Wind Blows many years ago at our Rep. It’s the only production where I’ve seen virtually an entire audience in tears at the end. Such a contrast to Fungus and Father Christmas.
And I must admit I feel the same as Baggs about someone of 88 dying. RB has left a wonderful body of work behind him and given much pleasure to so many of all ages.

We can still acknowledge their passing and reminisce about his past life.

Baggs you are entitled to your opinion but you cannot tell other people how to feel, or how to express their feelings.

RIP Raymond Briggs, you brought joy to many.

PS I think the OP says it well.

I still have my copy of Fungus the Bogeyman, which I bought for me, not my son!
Very clever man, sad news.

Bit of a rant/grump warning. Move on quickly if you don't wish to read a contrarian view.

This is not sad news imo. I wish his family and loved ones all the best, and for him to RIP (as dead people do).

People say it is sad news because they love his creations. And the death of a creator in his prime would certainly be sad, especially for his family and friends but also for the rest of us who benefited from his (or her) creations.

An old person dying at the end of their life (88 is a good age) is not sad, it just is what happens and we should, I feel, just take it in our stride and send commiserations/condolences, if we personally know the person who died, to their family.

Forgive me my little outburst. It just really irritates me when people who are expected to die do die and then other people who didn't know them personally say it's sad. It's not sad. It is how life works and we all know that and expect deaths –even of famous people – all the time.