Ado's Blog: Welcome to Cockleshell Bay

Cockleshell Bay is a town near the sea
With sunshine and seagulls that screech
There are shops that sell ices and buckets and spades
So that children can play on the beach
There are white painted houses along the sea front
Where folk come for a quiet holiday
Where the sky is bright and the winds are light
And two children stay

So meet, Robin and Rosie of Cockleshell Bay

Cockleshell Bay was another truly wonderful little adventure series to emerge from Cosgrove Hall Productions, home of such greats as "Danger Mouse" and "Alias the Jester." It was first shown on ITV in 1980 but ran for several years. At least 100 episodes were made of this clay model type animation. Each episode lasted approximatley 15 minutes. It concerned the adventures of two children - twins Robin and Rosie Cockle. The Cockle family had moved to the seaside to escape the hussle and bussle of city life. They originally lived in a town called Ruffington. Father (Christopher) had given up his normal job because of the hectic day to day routines and so he and mum (Helen) bought house at the end of a row in the small town of Cockleshell Bay. The house was to be turned into a Guesthouse and that is how the cockles would generate an income. The Guesthouse (as we shall later see) is called "The Bucket and Spade." The Cockles are not the only ones to run a small hotel business as we later find out that only next door is a small one called "Pine Villa" (I bet they were pleased to see the Cockles when they arrived). Further down is another one called "The Anchor."

Robin and Rosie are typical youngsters always on the look out for excitement and chocolate biscuits. They are soon befriended by Mrs. Routy, whom they refer to as Gran Routy. She is, however, not their Gran as Robin and Rosie's gran died a short time ago. Mrs. Routy has eleven grand children so two more will not make any difference. Close by is Mr. Shipham but everyone calls him Mr. Ship. Mr. Ship cares for a small Donkey named Fury. The Donkey is owned by Mr. Arthur Fingham who owns a business giving children donkey rides on the beach. Another Cockle enters the family much later called Holly Cockle.