Enid blighted again

The following story appeared in the Brisbane “Sunday Mail” on December 14th., 2003 but does not appear to be online anywhere

THE word police have struck again at Enid Blyton's tales of adventure and mystery that have delighted generations of children. Censors have ruled the names of three central child characters in “The Magic Faraway Tree”, “The Enchanted Wood” and “The Folk Of The Faraway Tree” are offensive and changed them.

Bessie was axed because of connotations of black slavery. She is now Beth. Fanny and Dick have become Frannie and Rick to stop youngsters' suggestive giggles.

In other changes the word "girls” has been deleted from Mother's instruction: "You girls can put up a little bed for him." And "I say!" has been changed to "Hey!"

The stories by Britain's most prolific writer had earlier lost Gilbert the Golliwog, while Noddy no longer feels "queer" or climbs into bed with his pal Big Ears. Stephen Green, of Chorion, which owns the rights to Blyton's books, said: "This is not about being politically correct, but about making the characters relevant to today's consumers. It in no way alters the magic of Enid Blyton."