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New stamps celebrate The Wombles and their creator

Lisa Young
BBC News
Guernsey Post Three of the stamps. On the left is the 69p stamp which shows a Womble sculpture wearing a blue and white striped top and a red beret holding a pair of binoculars. It has shoulder-length hair and a pointed nose. Behind it is a bay. The middle stamp is a 92p one which shows a Womble sculpture wearing a multi-blue striped T-shirt and a bag around its neck standing in front of the sea. It has large round ears and a pointed nose. The one on the right is the £1.80 stamp. It shows a Womble wearing a diamond-patterned poncho and matching hat standing in front of a wooden panelled building. It has shoulder-length hair and is wearing a pair of glasses pushed down its pointed nose. Each stamp features the silhouette of King Charles III's head and the wording: Alderney: The Wombles Trail.Guernsey Post
The stamps feature the sculptures which make up The Wombles Trail around Alderney

A new set of stamps is celebrating the popular characters from children's literature, The Wombles.

The stamps feature six of the wooden sculptures depicting the fictional creatures created by Elisabeth Beresford who lived in Alderney for more than 30 years.

Head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, Bridget Yabsley, said the "delightful" stamps captured "the nostalgia of The Wombles that are much loved by many generations".

Although the stamps are available to pre-order, Guernsey Post said the designs were at Buckingham Palace awaiting royal approval.

The stamps feature the 4ft (1.2m) English oak sculptures of The Womble characters by artist Mike Burgess which are part of The Wombles Trail around the island.

Each stamp captures a Womble in situ around Alderney.

A statue of Madame Cholet is at Alderney Harbour, Great Uncle Bulgaria is at the airport, Tobermory is at Mannez Train Station, Orinoco is sat on a children's 'whisper seat' at the Butes Playground, Wellington stands on the hospital roundabout and Alderney is in the Le Clonque Car Park.

Beresford, many of whose books were set on Alderney, was appointed an MBE in 1998 for her services to children's literature.

Guernsey Post Three of the stamps. On the left is the £1.37 stamp which shows a Womble sculpture wearing a blue cap, white T-shirt and pair of glasses. It has shoulder-length hair and a pointed nose and is standing in a planted and lawn area. The middle stamp is a £1.90 one which shows a Womble sculpture wearing a red scarf and hat sitting on a bench with a stone wall behind it. The one on the right is the £1.47 stamp. It shows a Womble wearing a blue hat and holding a lantern in a grassy area with hedges behind it. It has shoulder-length hair. Each stamp features the silhouette of King Charles III's head and the wording: Alderney: The Wombles Trail.Guernsey Post
Elisabeth Beresford was appointed an MBE for her services to children's literature

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