Almost every horse owner and lover the world over would have at least one Thelwell book somewhere in their bookshelves as Norman Thelwell's cartoons of the delightful Penelope and her fat, hairy little shetland Kipper entertained many generations with their antics at home and at Gymkhana's with their hair raising escapades.
Norman Thelwell was born in 1923 in the small industrial village of Birkenhead in England and it was here that his understanding of the English countryside and the "mad horsemen and women of England" was developed.
Sadly on February 8th, 2004, just short of his 81st birthday Norman Thelwell died, in England after a long illness and he also suffered Alzheimer's Disease. Perhaps those who have loved his cartoons for so many years may consider donations to their local Alzheimer's Fundraisers in his name as a way of thanking this great man for the many hours of entertainment we have all had from Penelope and Kipper.
Although Norman was best known for his cartoon strips he was also a serious landscape artist and he dies with 32 books to his credit which have sold over 2 million copies in the UK alone.
Angels on Horseback which is possibly the best known of his books was first published in 1957 and has been reprinted many many times since then.
Please share with us a moment to think about the smiles you have had courtesy of Mr Norman Thelwell and his wonderful creations and may he rest in peace.
