Molly Blake

Molly Suzanne Blake (née McClenaghan;[1] 14 August 1917 – 9 June 2011)[2][3] was a British illustrator, BBC children's television presenter and children's author.

Molly Blake
Born
Molly Suzanne McClenaghan

(1917-08-14)14 August 1917
St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Died9 June 2011(2011-06-09) (aged 93)
Occupation(s)Illustrator, television presenter, author
ChildrenSusie Blake
Parent(s)Henry McClenaghan
Annette Mills
RelativesSir John Mills (uncle)

Career

Blake studied at the Central School of Art and Design in London.[4]

Her parents were the actress, dancer and broadcaster Annette Mills,[3] best remembered for being the partner of the puppet "Muffin", in the successful BBC Television children's series Muffin the Mule between 1946 and 1955, and her first husband, Henry McClenaghan.[5] Molly produced many of the illustrations in the popular series of children's books of Muffin the Mule stories. One of her drawings of Muffin was used in Radio Times in 1951.[6]

Mills also appeared on television with the glove puppet "Prudence Kitten".[7] After Mills' death in January 1955, Blake took over the role.[7][8] Her earliest such appearance was on 27 July 1955.[9] She also wrote Prudence Kitten books, but these were illustrated by others.

A 1947 portrait photograph of Blake, by John Gay, is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery.[3] She was photographed by Gay for, and featured in, an article in The Strand Magazine, "Eight Young Artists in Search of an Editor",[4][10] in which she was said to be married, and living in Marylebone.[4] Her husband was David H. Blake.[3]

She died in 2011, aged 93.[2]

Family

Her uncle, her mother's younger brother, was the actor John Mills,[3] meaning she was a cousin to his daughters, Juliet Mills and Hayley Mills. Blake illustrated Far Morning by Mary Hayley Bell, John Mills' second wife.

Blake's daughter is the actor Susie Blake.[11]

Publications

Books by Blake
  • Prudence and Primrose. Illustrated by Kathleen Dance. Publicity Products. 1956.
  • Prudence and Celia. Illustrated by Sheila Findlay. Publicity Products. 1957.
  • Prudence Kitten's ABC. Illustrated by Sheila Findlay. Publicity Products. 1957.

Books illustrated by Blake
  • Mills, Annette (1949). Muffin the Mule. University of London Press.
  • Mills, Annette (1950). More About Muffin. University of London Press.
  • Mills, Annette (1951). Muffin and the Magic Hat. University of London Press.
  • Mills, Annette (1952). Here Comes Muffin. University of London Press.
  • Mills, Annette (1952). Jennifer and the Flower Fairies. News of the World.
  • Mills, Annette (1953). Muffin at the Seaside. University of London Press.
  • Mills, Annette (1954). Muffin's Splendid Adventure. University of London Press.
  • Hayley Bell, Mary (1962). Far Morning. Heinemann.
  • Arnold, Margaret (1962). In Rosember. Heinemann.
  • Hartley, Joan, ed. (1975). Rescue a Recipe. WRVS Magazine.

Contributions to other books
  • My Annette Mills Gift Book. Stories written by Annette Mills. Published by London: The Heirloom Library. [n.d. c. 1955]. Molly Blake illustrates the 5 Muffin the Mule stories in this collection.

References
  1. ODNB
  2. "Molly Suzanne Blake", funeral notice copied from The Times at Legacy.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021
  3. "Molly Blake". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. Anon. (July 1947). "Eight Young Artists in Search of an Editor". The Strand Magazine. Vol. 113, no. 679. p. 76.
  5. Baker, Anne Pimlott (2004). "Mills, Annette [real name Edith Mabel Mills] (1894–1955), entertainer". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65429. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  6. "For the Children: Muffin the Mule". Radio Times (1439): 41. 8 June 1951.
  7. "Children's TV show puppet auctioned". BBC News. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  8. "The Return of Prudence Kitten". Radio Times. No. 1654. 22 July 1955. p. 21.
  9. "Children's Television". Radio Times. No. 1654. 22 July 1955. p. 32.
  10. "Checklist of John Gay photographs". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  11. "Actress Susie Blake, accompanied by her mother Molly, arrive at..." Getty Images. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
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