ONE of the key figures of a Bagpuss-inspired band from Wycombe’s past has paid tribute to the creator of the saggy cloth cat, who died last week.

Oliver Postgate, 83, also brought to life children’s favourites The Clangers and Ivor The Engine.

Rob Davies, former lead singer of Emily Loved him, which later became Emily All Over, explained the group originally took its name from the famous opening narration of the programme.

The intoduction said: “Even Bagpuss himself once he was asleep was just an old, saggy cloth cat

“Baggy, and a bit loose at the seams

“But Emily loved him”

Rob, 37, said: “I think the name came from our guitarist – I think he came up with it.

“When I was young I loved it. I have still got a toy Bagpuss on the windowsill. It was kind of a magical dream world. They were deceptively simple stories – just really innocent, and as a kid you could lose yourself in them and it would set your imagination off.”

The 1974 series only ever produced 13 episodes, but Bagpuss has been voted the nations best-loved children’s character. Mr Postgate was an active anti-nuclear campaigner, and was known to slip his views into the cleverly made programmes.

Rob said: “I think they did it all from their garage. There was quite a political element to it all as well.”

The band played in one form or another from the mid-90s to around 2000. There were three core members – Rob, guitarist Steve Humphrey and drummer Luke Jennings – with others joining and leaving along the way.

The trio all went to The Royal Grammar School, and formed the band several years after leaving.

The band changed its name to Emily All Over when it was about to split up, but the group stayed together for some time to come.

It performed in Wycombe at The Nags Head, The White Horse and The Belle Vue, as well as playing gigs in London.

Rob also had the novel experience of being thrown out of a studio by rock band Oasis after he made his feelings known about the band’s album 'Standing On The Shoulders of Giants'.

After meeting Noel Gallagher for drinks near the Wheeler End Studio, where Emily All Over were recording their own debut album, 'Where Were You Today?', the Oasis star took the band for a sneak preview of its 2000 release.

Rob said: “I joined him for an evening on the sauce.

“He went through each song one by one. I said it all sounded like The Beatles and eventually we got asked to leave.”

He added: “It was a pretty stupid career move”

Rob now records with Vapour Trail, and is a member of David Bowie tribute band Hunky-Dory, playing at The Nags Head in London Road on January 3.