Person Biography:
Born with a passion for acting, despite his family's expectations of a career in the civil service, he was destined for the stage. His mother, allowing him to follow his dreams, permitted him to take on small roles with the local repertory company in Newcastle. He was also a part of a small theatre group affiliated with the 'Academy of Dramatic Art' run by Madame St. John.
After leaving school, he worked in an investment trust office in Newcastle until the outbreak of war. He joined the army at the age of 20, but due to poor eyesight, he was assigned to the RASC division in France. He spent 72 hours on the beach at Dunkirk, where he was severely wounded in both legs.
After the war, he was posted to Egypt, where he continued to rise through the ranks, eventually being offered a position in the war office. However, he opted for demobilization, leaving the army as a Lieutenant Colonel.
During a weekend getaway with friends in Penzance, he stumbled upon a local repertory theatre and was impressed by the acting standards. He approached the director and asked for a job, but at the time, there were no vacancies. He persisted a few months later and was hired as a stage manager at £7 a week, a position he held for two years.
His first acting role was as a policeman in a play by Michael Pertwee. He went on to join three other repertory companies before being accepted into London's Old Vic, touring the world and sharing the stage with the likes of Vivien Leigh.
Throughout his career, he had small parts in films such as Otley, Barry Lyndon, and The Island, alongside Michael Caine. On television, he was best known for his roles as the Headmaster in To Serve Them All of My Days and as Robin Ellis's uncle in Poldark. On radio, he played the 4th Dan Archer in the serial The Archers.
