Howard Blake: Last News

Aled Jones has paid a heartfelt tribute to The Snowman creator Raymond Briggs following his death at the age of 88.Illustrator Briggs is best-known for creating the beloved, wordless children’s picture book The Snowman, which he released in 1978.Welsh singer Jones, meanwhile, rose to fame as a teenager after he sang Walking in the Air for the film adaption of Briggs’ creation.Composed by Howard Blake, Walking In The Air became the pinnacle moment of the famous film, released in 1982 and commissioned by Channel 4.The song regularly shoots up the charts each Christmas and helped make Jones a household name, with the singer now saying he owes Briggs ‘a debt of gratitude.’Speaking on his Classic FM radio show on Wednesday, Jones paid tribute to Briggs, saying: ‘What a legacy he leaves behind.‘His books have touched millions of people all around the world, and what a debt of gratitude I owe to his greatest creation of all. Thank you, Raymond.’The Masked Singer star then played the classic song in memory of the late author.The song’s composer Blake previously opened up on the magic of Walking In The Air in an interview with Metro.co.uk, where he explained he had written the song months earlier but didn’t know what to do with it.But as soon as he saw the hand-drawn images of the little boy and the Snowman, he knew: ‘That’s where that tune belongs’.‘It was a match made in heaven,’ the musician said.

This winter, join Manchester’s symphony orchestra, the Hallé, for a cracker of a Christmas - with concerts to suit all ages at The Bridgewater Hall.

Raymond's work is always remembered on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the UK, as The Snowman has become a TV accompaniment to the special day in many households.His creation was considered to have fitted perfectly with the Howard Blake soundtrack, featuring the iconic track 'Walking In The Air'.Meanwhile, the statement from his family gave an insight into the heartwarming family atmosphere the author had experienced throughout his life.It revealed: "He lived a rich and full life and said he felt lucky to have had both his wife Jean, and his partner of over 40 years Liz in his life."The statement continued: "He shared his love of nature with Liz on South Downs Walks and on family holidays to Scotland and Wales."He also shared his sense of fun and craziness with his family, and with his family of artist friends - at get-togethers, fancy dress parties, and summer picnics in the garden."He was also a fan of playing practical jokes - and was a good sport when it came to being the pranked one."All of us close to him knew his irreverent humour," the statement explained.It added: "This could be biting in his work when it came to those in power."Raymond's family also confirmed that he would be "deeply missed" by his step-children and step-grandchildren, who loved him dearly.He spent the final weeks of his life in hospital, but is said to have received excellent care."His family would like to thank all of the team on Overton Ward at Royal Sussex County Hospital for their kind and thoughtful care of Raymond in his final weeks," the statement clarified.Meanwhile, Francesca Dow, the Managing Director of the children's category at Penguin Random House, also gave a fond statement.She described Raymond's books as "picture

BBC Radio 3’s highly-anticipated version of The Snowman has been axed amid backlash from the original version’s composer.Howard Blake, who composed all the music for the 1982 animated film, was vocal about his upset for the plans for the radio show, which was set to premiere on BBC Radio 3 on Christmas Eve and air on Radio 4 on Christmas Day.Narrated by Stephen Fry, the music and background noises in the radio programme, from piano and strings to the music box and the motorcycle taking off, were to be sung by a choir rather than using any instruments.Blake, 82, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he cared ‘a great deal about The Snowman’ but the new version ‘scares’ him, and it would be impossible for a choir to create, for example, the