
Ed Welch
Sound
Biography
Ed Welch (born in Oxford, England on October 22nd, 1947) is an English composer and songwriter. He took over as songwriter and song composer for Thomas & Friends beginning with the eighth series, replacing original composers Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell. He left the show after The Great Discovery, and Robert Hartshorne took his position for Hero of the Rails. He also provides the music for other children's shows, Jim Henson's Animal Show with Stinky and Jake, Mopatop's Shop, Jim Henson's Construction Site, The Hoobs, Funky Valley, Grizzly Tales For Gruesome Kids, The Dodo Club, Frootie Tooties, Wolves, Witches and Giants, Funky Town and Binka. Other credits include the BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave and game shows Catchphrase, Blockbusters, and Knightmare.
Known For

Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series, which had its first broadcast on the ITV network on 4 September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. From Series one to four, many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.
Thomas & Friends

Shillingbury Tales is a 1980–81 British sitcom produced by Associated Television for ITV. Comprising a single feature length pilot and six one-hour episodes, the series deals with life in an idealised fictional English village and stars Robin Nedwell, Diane Keen, Nigel Lambert, Jack Douglas, John Le Mesurier, Bernard Cribbins and Trevor Howard. The series was written by Francis Essex and directed by Val Guest. Unusual for the time, it was shot entirely on location in the village of Aldbury in Hertfordshire on 16mm and consequently there was no laugh track. The show ended when ATV lost their licence to broadcast and their replacement Central declined to continue production.
Shillingbury Tales

The Steamies and the Diesels face off in this action-packed movie adventure! There is a fire on Sodor and two new fire fighting engines - Flynn and Belle - arrive to help Thomas and Percy save the day! When Thomas starts spending all of his time with Sodors newest heroes, Percy is drawn to the Dieselworks, where he is made to feel special by the master of mischief himself Diesel 10! But Percy does not know that he is part of Diesel 10s master plan to take over the steamworks. The Steam Team rallies for sure-fire excitement in this all-new movie from Thomas & Friends!
Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels

Wolves, Withches and Giants gives a twisted and humorous take on classic fairy tales, narrated by Spike Milligan and adapted by Ed Welch.
Wolves, Witches and Giants

Thomas the Tank Engine™ stars in an all-new movie guest starring Pierce Brosnan as the narrator! Sodor Day is coming and all the engines are busy preparing. When Thomas gets lost in the mountains, he discovers the old town of Great Waterton! Soon the whole island is buzzing with the news of Thomas' discovery and restoring the town in time for the big day. Join the fun and meet a new engine friend named Stanley!
Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery

The year is 1914 and Richard Hannay, Mining Engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa, is shocked when one of his neighbours, Colonel Scudder, bursts into his rooms one night and tells him a story that Prussian 'sleeper' agents are planning to pre-start World War I by murdering a visiting foreign minister. However, Scudder is murdered and Hannay is framed for the death by the 'sleepers'. Fleeing to Scotland Hannay attempts to clear his name and to stop the agents with the aid of Alex Mackenzie but not only is he is chased by Chief Supt Lomas for Scudder's death but by the agents who are headed by Appleton who has managed to hide himself in a high-placed position in the British Government...
The Thirty Nine Steps

Timothy Lea and his brother-in-law Sidney decide upon opening a driving school as their latest get-rich-quick scheme. Though he sincerely wants to teach, young Timmy finds that his female students are far more interested in keeping their eyes on him than on the road.
Confessions of a Driving Instructor

Timmy Lea and his brother-in-law Sidney Noggett are working as entertainment officers at Funfrall, a typical British holiday camp. The staff are lazy and inefficient, preferring to laze by the pool rather than organise activities for the holiday campers. A new owner, Mr. Whitemonk, an ex-prison officer, takes over the camp and is determined to install discipline into the staff. He is on the verge of dismissing Timmy and Sidney; however, Sidney's suggestion of organising a beauty contest changes his mind.
Confessions from a Holiday Camp

Either you've got it or you haven't - some like randy young Timothy Lea (Robin Askwith), manage to get it all the time! Signing up with a pop group, our boisterous hero progresses rapidly from local gigs to scoring a titillating hit with The Climax Sisters, with plenty of ribald adventures along the way!
Confessions of a Pop Performer

The Island of Sodor's railway is to help in the construction of a new airport, but a fierce summer storm and a rivalry between the steam and diesel engines endanger the job.
Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines!
Cornish fisherman John Lewis is waiting for a stroke of luck which will give him the money to pay his debts and rid himself of his wife and his trawler Heather Ann. One day he nets a torpedo...
Heather Ann

Sgt. Cannon (Tommy Cannon) and PC Ball (Bobby Ball) run the police station in the quiet town of Little Botham. When the station is threatened with closure due to a lack of crime, they decide to invent some crimes to justify their existence. When they try to steal a painting from a local rich businessman (Roy Kinnear), they accidently stumble across a gang of real art thieves who have just stolen £1 million worth of paintings. It is up to the two bungling cops to stop them escaping with their haul.
The Boys in Blue

Thomas lights up the tracks in a magical Christmas collection! Watch as your favourite engines prepare for a festive celebration. Charlie discovers how much fun snow can be whilst Percy gets covered in so much snow that Thomas cannot find him! Salty doesn't have time for presents and parties until Edward finds him the perfect gift, and the engines compete to find the perfect Christmas tree! It is the season for Christmas magic with Thomas & Friends.
Thomas & Friends: Merry Christmas, Thomas!

Featuring 20 of the greatest Thomas stories, including the very first episode in an all-new special edition!
Thomas & Friends: The Greatest Stories

Celebrate Halloween with Thomas and his friends...tricks and treats abound! Are there really ghosts in the fog and mist on the Island of Sodor? Thomas, Toby, and Henry believe there are! But things are not always as they appear. Gordon and Percy encounter other mysteries on the island. Can Thomas help explain them> Join all of your Island of Sodor friends as the solve Halloween mysteries that are exciting all year round!
Thomas & Friends: Thomas' Halloween Adventures
A small English village is in turmoil with the arrival of a pop star and his wife. He soon becomes the conductor of the local brass band after the previous conductor is criticized for the false notes played by the brass band.
The Shillingbury Blowers

When D. C. Dangerous Davies, not held in high regard by his superiors, is assigned to find a notorious criminal kingpin, he uncovers the details of 15-year-old cold case.
Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective

You're invited to the celebration on the Island of Sodor! There are new stories and fun adventures around every bend. Watch as Thomas wins a medal for saving the day. Will Edward rescue the brass band in time? Can Peter Sam help find a new refreshment stand for the Refreshment Lady? Get ready for non-stop fun when Rheneas gives the school children a roller coaster ride on the tracks and Gordon wins the best-dressed competition. Let the celebration begin!
Thomas & Friends: Hooray for Thomas
The efforts of three children, who live in high rise flats, to save a donkey from two small-time crooks who want to sell it as horsemeat, by providing a temporary stable for the donkey in the block of high-rise flats.
High Rise Donkey

Magic carpets, rip-roaring races, snow, sleet, wind and trainloads of ice cream! Every season on the Island of Sodor brings new opportunities for adventure and discovery. And that means there is never a dull moment for Thomas and all the engines on Sir Topham Hatt's Railway. Will Emily get the timber to Farmer McColl in time to save the baby calves? Will Toby muster enough confidence to push Gordon up a hill? Maybe with a little encouragement from his friends. And will James learn that it's better to be useful than to be important? Watch and find out. Share in these timeless stories featuring seven of the island's classic characters, and you'll see why it's true that It's Great to be an Engine!