Postman Pat Goes Sledging

Postman Pat Goes Sledging

Air Date	10th March 1982 (UK) 24th July 1985 (New Zealand) 24th June 1991 (Australia)
Previous	Postman Pat's Difficult Day
Next	Letters on Ice

Postman Pat Goes Sledging is the eleventh episode of the first series which was first broadcast on 10th March 1982. It is entirely written by John Cunliffe and narrated by Ken Barrie.

Summary[]

Heavy snow has fallen in Greendale and Peter Fogg is clearing the roads with his tractor and bulldozer blade. When Pat calls at the Post Office, Mrs. Goggins warns him about the ten foot drifts up at Intake Farm and gives him a parcel to take to George Lancaster at Hill Top Farm. Pat calls at Greendale Farm, where Katy and Tom throw a snowball at him. He throws one back, but it hits Alf by mistake. But Alf doesn't mind at all, as he knows it's only a bit of fun. The road is blocked and the tractor's bulldozer blade is stuck in a snowdrift. Pat offers to help Ted and Alf dig it out. After giving Mrs. Pottage her letters, he sets off.

Peter is already digging when Pat, Alf and Ted arrive. They help him dig the snow away. Peter tests the tractor. At first, the snowdrift doesn't move. He reverses the tractor and tries again. This time, he gets through. With the road now clear, Pat says goodbye to the twins and sets off again. He calls at the vicarage with a letter for the Reverend. But Dr Gilbertson is also there, as the Reverend has fallen on the ice and broken his leg. Pat gives him the letter and offers to deliver the Parish Magazines for the Reverend. Pat then goes up the hill to Thompson Ground.

When Pat arrives, he is told by Mrs Thompson that Peter had to go back down the hill because the snow was so bad. Pat plans to walk to Hill Top but Alf offers to take him on the farm sledge as he has to take some food for the sheep. Pat and Alf load up the sledge. Mrs Thompson gives them some groceries to take to George. They set off. The sheep are glad to see them. Pat and Alf notice that George's house is nearly buried. As George is out feeding his sheep, Pat leaves his parcel and groceries on the table.

Pat and Alf go back to Thompson Ground. At first, they fall off the sledge and tumble down a hill in the snow, but they get back on it and ride it all the way back. It crashes into the farm shed. Pat and Alf go inside for a cup of tea. Pat thanks Alf for the ride and sets off in his van. The rest of his round is in the valley. The roads have been cleared and gritted. Pat jokes to his cat: "No more digging or sledging today. It takes more than snow to stop us, Jess."

Featured Characters[]

Vehicles[]

PAT 1
SAM 1
The Red Tractor
Miss Hubbard's Bicycle
Ambulance (mentioned in book version)

Locations[]

Trivia[]

The music played when Pat sets out from the Post Office is the instrumental to the Jess the Cat song.
The book adaptation shows the Reverend Timms waving hello to Peter, Pat, Sam and Miss Hubbard as they pass the vicarage. In the episode, the Reverend only waves hello to Pat as he drives by.
In the book version, when Dr Gilbertson tells Pat about the Reverend’s broken leg, she mentions that the ambulance will be coming for him once the roads are clear.
This episode was included as a bonus on the Australian VHS release of Postman Pat and the Barometer.
This is the last episode where Ken Barrie voices Dr. Gilbertson and the Pottage family.
The sledge would later be seen in the "Gran" episode, "Snow Gran". One of the twins’ woolly hats would later appear in that same episode as Jim’s hat and as Roy’s in the “Bertha” episode “The Big Sneeze”.
This episode was titled "Pat's Snowy Day" when it first aired.
This is the first Winter themed episode.
The book version states Pat and Alf stagger out of the barn like drunken scarecrows.
This is the first episode where a telegraph pole can be seen in Greendale. One can be seen as the camera cuts to an ariel shot of Pat driving through the village in the snow. Some other telegraph poles were later featured in Postman Pat's ABC.
In the other language dubs, the bleating sound effects of the sheep overlaps when they go to eat the food.
This is one of two winter themed episodes where the church bells can be heard, the other is Letters On Ice.

Goofs[]

When Pat heads up the hill to Thompson Ground, a tree branch moves slightly.
How did Jess end up inside the farm house of Thompson Ground?
When Pat and Alf arrive to give the hay to the sheep, there are five sheep, but in the next shot of Pat and Alf unloading the hay, there are four sheep.
The front door to the Thompsons' house only squeaks once when opened.