Sooty man delighted to be “delgrubed”

LYMM’S best known puppeteer – Peter (Matthew) Corbett, of Sooty fame – has had his faith in people restored by an unknown gardener.

He recently created a piece of art out of an old tree stump and a few plants which he placed on the Bridgewater Canal towpath in the middle of Lymm, so it could be enjoyed by everyone.

“Call me a cynic,” he said, “but I honestly didn’t think it would be too long before one of our less likeable youths, who have plagued our beautiful village recently, ripped the plants out, or worse, rolled the whole edifice into the canal.

“But WHOA! Instead of finding plants strewn about as I had half expected I was amazed to see someone had actually added to the display!

“There are a couple of daffodils in bloom and I certainly didn’t put them there!”

The incident has reminded Peter of an incident many years ago when he was “the man behind Sooty” – the television bear created by his father, Harry Corbett.

One of the many episodes Peter wrote during the 25 years he was presenting the show was entitled “Delgrub” – the word “burgled” in reverse.

The gist was that someone breaks into your house, but instead of stealing or causing damage, they tidy the place up, repair the dodgy chair leg, give the kitchen a lick of paint and, before leaving, mow the lawn. Then they leave you a box of chocolates.

Peter had to smile at how similar the modern day “DELGRUB-ING” on the towpath was to the story he wrote so long ago – and he admits it has restored his faith in people.

But he joked: “Whoever the ‘perpetrator’ is, I thank you for improving the display but please, next time can you mow the lawn and fix the chair leg?”