DECADE goes classic 70s and 80s TV THEME TUNES for Saturday Night…#4. FOLLYFOOT - 'THE LIGHTNING TREE'Remembered fondly for its folk theme 'The Lightning Tree', and the relationship between characters Dora and Steve, FOLLYFOOT was based on the 1963 story Cobbler’s Dream by Monica Dickens (a great great grand-child of Charles Dickens) and aired on Saturday mornings between 1971 and 1973 – originally after Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons.'The Lightning Tree', the burnt-out tree in the middle of the farmyard was central to the plot. The tree became a good luck charm to the farm folk (and a symbol of hope for the worn-out horses).The Colonel believed it would bloom again if given enough attention, so everyone who passed it was required to throw a bucket of water onto its roots.Made by Yorkshire Television and filmed at the estate of Harewood House between Leeds and Harrogate, the show was repeated for two years after its first transmission and again in the late 1980s. The series starred Gillian Blake in the lead role as Dora and Steve Hodson as Steve.Despite an apparent appeal limited to young girls with an equine interest, Follyfoot was actually aimed squarely at the teenage market and often had challenging things to say about the treatment of horses and animals generally in British society. Notable people connected with the series were actors Desmond Llewelyn and Arthur English and directors Jack Cardiff, Stephen Frears, Michael Apted and David Hemmings. Several other famous people had minor roles, one being Pam St Clement, the others being Gretchen Franklin as the Colonel's housekeeper and Kathy Staff in two separate bit parts.The theme song Lightning Tree was written by Steven Francis and sung by The Settlers. It's well-remembered, sometimes more so than the series itself. The song reached No. 36 in the UK charts.The Follyfoot clip is followed by The Settlers singing the theme tune on TV.——————————————————————Thank you to everyone who has joined DECADE. As many of you know the page is just me, Paul. I write and research the articles, and edit the videos, often reinventing them entirely.It now takes almost an entire day of work to put together content for the page. If you could see fit to make a small donation then I would be eternally grateful.Thank you and best wishes, | Decade 77-87 - a grown up disco: new wave, punk, postpunk, goth & indie