Sooty was created by Bradford-born Harry Corbett, nephew of chip shop giant Harry Ramsden, in 1948, after he bought the puppet from a stall in Blackpool for his son Matthew, who went to school in Apperley Bridge.

The Sooty Show has appeared on children’s television since the 1950s.

Harry Corbett gets it in the eye from Sooty during the opening of the Sooty Museum in 1987

An interesting bit of trivia on Harry, when Prime minister Harold Wilson wished to have Steptoe and Son actor Harry H. Corbett awarded an OBE, the middle initial "H" was lost in the bureaucratic process, and the award went to Harry Corbett instead. Both were awarded the OBE on 1 January 1976, Harry Corbett being cited "for charitable services".

After he suffered a heart attack at Christmas 1975, his younger son, Peter (stage name Matthew), took over. But the elder Corbett did make occasional appearances on 'The Sooty Show' for several years with his son. Harry died aged 71 in 1989.

There was even a Sooty museum in Shipley, which opened in 1987, as the famous yellow bear continued to make a number of appearances in the Bradford district over the years.

Soo, Sooty and Sweep

Windhill Manor was a former school which for several years housed the World of Sooty museum, which included a range of props used by puppeteer Harry in popular children's TV shows of the 1950s and 60s.

The building was later converted to offices when the museum moved to Manchester.

Top of the bill at St George's Hall, December 1984, Sooty and his pal Matthew Corbett