The beloved Scots television presenter, Glen Michael, who is best known as the host of the children's show Cartoon Cavalcade, has died at the age of 99. His family have confirmed that he died peacefully at his home in Ayrshire.
Michael was a household name all across Scotland from the 1960s to the early 1990s due to Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade that aired on STV for more than 25 years and was known for classic cartoons presented with humorous trailers and for including animated characters Paladin the talking lamp and Totty the Robot as part of the show.
The program became a weekend ritual for so many families, it became a part of the fabric of childhood for many children watching the program when growing up. Glen's warm and inviting style of delivery and telling the stories made him a familiar and trusted friend in families and a part of the reason for his popularity was his relationship with his young viewers.
STV paid tribute to Michael calling him “a wonderful performer” and “brought joy to many over the decades". Former viewers made comments via social media as to their memories and how significant the show was to their childhood.
Michael wasn't just someone who was behind the camera. He went around to schools and communities, with live versions of the show and entertained kids from one end of the country to the other. He remained a busy guy right through his later years, working for veteran charities, and he even made a cameo appearance in the 2010 film Kick-Ass, which he got invited to by Scottish comic book writer Mark Millar, a long time fan.
Cecil Buckland, Born in Devon, Glen Michael began his performing career entertaining the Allies troops during WW2, he eventually moved onto Scotland and performed with contemporary Scottish entertainers like Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy in theatre and comedy.
Michael's television career started with Cartoon Cavalcade in 1966, one of STV's longest running and most popular local kids shows. Michael had other documented segments on television, and he published his autobiography, Life's a Cavalcade, in 2008.
Michael's private life has largely remained private; he was married to Beryl, who died in 2015, and he is survived by their two children, Yonnie and Chris. He was and remained active and made appearances in the public sphere in the past few years, mostly for veterans related causes such as the Erskine Veterans Charity.
Although he retired from television formally years ago, Glen Michael's presence and legacy has never faded. His influence on Scottish Television created memories for thousands of children and allowed so many to experience the wonders of animation before the online and digital age.
As the tributes to Glen continue to arrive, many of our viewers remember him not just as a presenter of children's television, but as a lovely and gentle person with a crown of hair and feel-good factors whom they welcomed into their homes every week.
Image Source: The Scottish Sun
