Tragedy behind The Snowman - devastating triple death that inspired story

17 December 2023 , 11:30

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words - and this rings true for the festive favourite The Snowman.

The wordless animated fantasy film tells the touching story of a little boy's snowman who magically comes to life and whisks him off an on adventure to the North Pole. Ever since it was released in 1982, it has been a hit with viewers and has become a Christmas staple.

Each year, the classic film returns to our screens but not many fans will know about the true story behind its creator Raymond Briggs, and why he intended for the story to have a 'ghastly' ending. The author and illustrator's life was marred by loneliness and personal tragedy up until his death last summer.

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Raymond Briggs wrote The Snowman after suffering a series of devastating losses

An only child, the Wimbledon-born author's mum Ethel and dad Ernest died from cancer just nine months apart in 1971, and his wife Jean - who battled schizophrenia - lost her life to leukaemia just two years later. After meeting at art school, Jean and Raymond decided not to have children due to her mental illness, meaning that when she died, he was completely alone. "That was a jolly time. That was when I contemplated suicide. Well, only theoretically.

"I didn't do anything serious about it. I just thought, well, 'what's the point? You've got no mum, no dad, no wife. All gone... let's get out,'" he previously told The Telegraph. "You have a bit of good news, like being given a new job and the first thing you want to do is rush home and tell your mum and dad or wife, but you've got no one to tell."

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It was a holiday he took following Jean's death - after much cajoling from friends - that inspired his book, Father Christmas. Mirroring the grumpy protagonist, Raymond travelled to France, Las Vegas and Scotland, and used his real experiences for the story.

Like Father Christmas, he almost froze in a loch, swam with basking sharks and watched seals play from his window. The book proved to be a hit, winning Raymond the 1973 Kate Greenaway Medal before he followed it up with The Snowman in 1978. Still in the depths of grief, he refused to create a story with a happy ending and instead opted for The Snowman to melt, leaving the young boy heartbroken.

Raymond Briggs was an only child (Internet Unknown)

He was devastated by the deaths of his parents Ethel and Ernest (Internet Unknown)

"It's all a rather ghastly scene, with the snowman's eyes and scarf lying there in the slush, rather horrific, all a bit odd," he once told the Telegraph. Explaining why he chose the brutal finale, he continued: "I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later.

"Granny and grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils and those frightful things - what are they called? - hamsters: all die like flies. So there's no point avoiding it." Raymond never remarried, but met his next partner, Liz, in a local pub. Despite never moving in, they remained together for 42 years until her death from Parkinson's disease in 2015.

Desperate to save her, Raymond collated files of information about the disease and became Liz's carer as the "sad and appalling" condition marched on. Reeling from the devastation of losing yet another partner in deeply traumatic circumstances, he said in 2017: "Two women, both my wives, dead. One with schizophrenia and leukemia and the other with Parkinson's for God’s sake.

Raymond lost both wives to 'appalling' illnesses

"Oh, what a life. On we go. For a bit. I've probably at the very most got seven years left to live, if I'm lucky – if you can call that lucky. I am certainly coming near the end." Despite being dubbed the King of Christmas - a title he loathed - the festive season understandably brought him more agony than joy.

"Everyone always says it's such a family time. Well that's all right if you've got a family but a lot of people haven't," Raymond told the Guardian. "If you're my age then the whole generation ahead of you has gone, and if you're an only child, as I was, you've got no brothers and sisters. If you've not had any children yourself then there's nobody. Not a soul."

Raymond died on August 9 aged 88 last year. Hilary Delamere, Briggs's literary agent, paid tribute to the creator of hit children's book such as Where the Wind Blows, hailing his ability to combine tales of love and devotion with harsh realities.

She said: "Raymond liked to act the professional curmudgeon, but we will remember him for his stories of love and of loss. I know from the many letters he received how his books and animations touched people's hearts. He kept his curiosity and sense of wonder right up to the last."

For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.