Remembering Peter Byrne

As you may have seen last night over on Twitter, I shared The Guardian obituary for the actor Peter Byrne, who has very sadly passed away at the age of 90. Peter enjoyed a long acting career, particularly on stage, working consistently from the early 1950s right up until 2013. Born in West Ham, London, Peter trained at the famed Italia Conti School.

More mature readers will probably remember Peter best for his long running role as Andy Crawford in the BBC television series Dixon of Dock Green. Created by Ted Willis and starring Jack Warner as P.C George Dixon, this police series ran to over 400 episodes over 22 series from 1955 until 1976. Byrne co-starred as Crawford for twenty years before leaving in 1975. 

Peter Byrne also played small roles in several early Peter Rogers Productions. In Watch Your Stern in 1960, the naval comedy starring Eric Barker, Joan Sims and Kenneth Connor, Peter popped up in the role of a Sailor. The following year Byrne appeared as a member of the orchestra (1st Horn to be precise) in the Bruce Montgomery scripted music school comedy Raising The Wind, which starred such names as Kenneth Williams, Liz Fraser and Leslie Phillips.

In 1962 Peter played a Race Starter in the Genevieve-esque comedy The Iron Maiden, directed by Gerald Thomas and written by Leslie Bricusse. The film starred Michael Craig and featured familiar Carry On faces in Jim Dale and Joan Sims. Finally, a year later Peter grabbed his one and only Carry On role when he played a slightly harassed bride groom in my favourite of the series, Carry On Cabby. Appearing in a couple of scenes with stalwarts Sid James and Charles Hawtrey and Marion Collins as his bride, Peter is instantly recognisable and would have been to audiences of the time as he'd already been in Dixon of Dock Green for nearly a decade by then!

Most of Peter's main roles in his career were on stage, with parts in such well-known productions as There's a Girl in my Soup, Boeing Boeing, Run for your Wife and The Mousetrap. 

Peter was married twice, his second wife Renee passed away in 2011. He is survived by two stepchildren. Our thoughts are with Peter's family. 

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Carry On Blogging Interview: Patrick Purcell

Thanks to the wonder of Twitter I have had the great good fortune to be in touch with a lovely, friendly man called Patrick Purcell. Patrick, now living in Australia, is the son of that brilliant Irish actor Noel Purcell. Noel had a long career on film, television and stage which included several films both for Peter Rogers and his wife Betty Box. 

Patrick agreed to answer some questions on the life and career of his father. Here's how we got on... 

- Can you tell me a bit more about how your father first became an actor?

He was born about 150 yards from Dublin's Gaiety Theatre, in Lower Mercer Street, a very poor part of Dublin. His dad was an Auctioneer who had a friend who worked there. Dad used to drop in to see the show and got offered a job as the Call Boy. He used to do his homework outside the Number 1 Dressing room. He did school plays and amateur dramatics, but when he told his mother that he wanted to do it full time, she said he should study a trade. So he became Apprentice to Bex and Company, as a Cabinet Maker. His counters are still in use today in the famous Brown Thomas Department store in Grafton Street. When he finished his apprenticeship he started working for various Theatre Companies but ended up mostly with the Jimmy O'Dea Co. 

- Your dad first worked for Peter Rogers' wife Betty Box back in 1954 - he went on to appear in four of the Doctor comedy films. Did he have fond memories of working on those pictures?

He always loved the Doctor films. He became great friends with James Robertson Justice, who loved squeezing 6'4" Noel and himself into his Messerschmitt Bubble car! ( He also used the Roller a lot!) He never came home from those in anything but an upbeat humour. I think it was that all the actors of the day weren't 'A' types. There were a few precious ones, but most were journeyman actors who learned their lines, were on set on time, hit their marks, made the Director happy, pocketed the cheque and on to the next!  They did have a great time, always trying to break each other up.

- In 1961, your father appeared in one of my all-time favourite comedy films - Double Bunk. Do you know if he enjoyed working on that film?

He must have, because when he came home, he wanted to buy an old Dublin Barge and do it up!  Mum soon sorted that out!

- Your dad worked for Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas on three occasions in the early 1960s: Watch Your Stern, The Iron Maiden and my favourite, Nurse On Wheels. Did he share any memories or anecdotes about those films and do you think he enjoyed his time making them?

He loved doing all three.  

WATCH YOUR STERN . He told the tale often that, when he'd be walking from the Dressing Room in Portsmouth(?) to the ship in Uniform,  REAL sailors and Officers would salute him. He did learn from a real Admiral how to respond.  He was once or twice stopped by people who swore they served with him in H.M.S So and So. He would say he remembered her well, and keep going! He never wanted any sailor to feel foolish with him.

THE IRON MAIDEN. 
Constant hilarity! I know, I was there for quite some time.  Alan Hale, Jr. was exactly as you saw him. Cheerful and funny, but a thorough pro. He took me to lunch in Uxbridge to a great steak place when Dad was busy. They already knew his favourite!  I saw quite a few scenes being done. One stands out .

The 'Dreadnaught" was standing outside the Admirals house (Pinewood's main Door and Portico.   The Admiral's coalman, the local Vicar is at the controls. ACTION!  Away clanks the traction engine in a straight line.  It needs to turn right a bit to line up the lane, but the Vicar is trying to steer it like a car. So a half turn on the chain steering  is doing absolutely nothing. I say to the prop man beside me "Ten Bob he hits the trees"  You're on, says he. I won !
When he got home from that, he wanted to buy a Traction Engine!   Mum again said no, that she would end up taking care of it while Dad was on another film. Sanity again prevailed. 

- Although he worked for both Betty Box and Peter Rogers, Noel didn't go on to make a Carry On film which surprises me. Do you know if he was ever offered one?

He was offered a couple early on, but he was involved with 'Mutiny on the Bounty' in Tahiti (13 week shoot stretched to 13 months!). Other things often clashed with each other. For instance, he turned down Fagin in the Original Oliver Stage Show, because it would have meant years away from Dublin.

- Was he proud of his Irish and in particular, his Dublin roots?

Incredibly so. He did a few major movies for Hollywood in the '50s and'60s, like Moby Dick, Lust For Life, Merry Andrew The Blue Lagoon. After each one, they wanted to offer him a Studio Contract. Mum tried to get him to accept, because it would have meant a stable life. But he always came home to Dublin, saying "If they want me, they know where I am"

- Your father was given the freedom of the city of Dublin in 1984. What was his reaction to that honour?

He was in a wheelchair by now and his voice had faded due to throat cancer, but it didn't stop him attending the Ceremony and giving the following:

FRIENDS! ROMANS! COUNTRYMEN! Ah, that's not my proper cue!             
It's my own Darling Dubliners that I am talking to
Friends Old and New, all tried and true, Who've honoured me today
It makes me feel so humble - but this I'd like to say
If some kind fairy waved her wand and offered me the Earth
I'd rather be a Freeman in this City of my Birth.
My wanderings have taken me to countries strange and far
From Iceland to the Tropic Isles, but, lovely as they are
I didn't weep when leaving them, my heart was never there
T'was calling me to hurry home to Dublin City Fair
To York Street, Cork Street, Meath Street and the Coombe
I know them all, I've walked them all when I was in full bloom
I love the little houses where the decent people live
The open handed people who haven't much to give
God Bless them all, God bless us too and send us all his peace
May kindness and friendship in Old Dublin never cease
Dear Old Dublin! Lovely Dublin! May you ever lovelier grow
As long as leave grow on the tress and Liffey Waters flow!

copyright Noel Purcell


- I gather he has also appeared on an Irish stamp. How did that come about?

It was done as his 100th Birthday approached. Mum was asked for a photo and gladly gave a great one of Dad at his favourite hobby, Laytown Races!

- Do you know if your dad had a favourite role in his career? 

I think he was proudest of 'Mutiny' and staying sane while Brando and Richard harris tried to kill each other regularly!

- Of all his performances, do you have a favourite and why?

Watch Your Stern seconded by 'Iron Maiden"  He did a great Admiral!

- How do you think your father would like to be remembered?

I am very honoured and proud that he is remembered on these wesites. He was so humble, yet proud that he felt he gave value for money

- Finally, I must ask - what's your favourite Carry On film and why?

Carry on Nurse!  No contest!

I would like to thank Patrick for taking the time to answer my questions - it was a joy. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan on Facebook and on Instagram

Not Quite A Carry On: Watch Your Stern

I have been writing about some of the other comedy films Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas made together during their long career in film making. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, this prolific duo churned out many British comedies which featured Carry On actors, Carry On writers and Carry On crew, without officially being Carry On films. 

So far I have looked at the likes of Nurse On Wheels, The Big Job and Raising The Wind. Today I am going to turn my attentions to a delightful naval comedy from 1960: Watch Your Stern. 

Watch Your Stern was released in 1960 and boasted a prime cast of regular Carry On actors from that period. The film focuses on the crew of a British warship who lose the plans to a new top secret torpedo and must hide this fact from both a senior Admiral and a famous scientist. At the heart of the action is a starring role for Carry On favourite Kenneth Connor. Connor was really the star of the early Carry Ons, playing bumbling romantic interests for the likes of Dora Bryan, Rosalind Knight and Joan Sims. He is paired again with Joan in Watch Your Stern and they make a delightful double act.

Kenneth is on fine accident prone form and even enjoys a bit of drag in this film, as he goes undercover in an attempt to fool the wiley old Admiral, played by Irish actor Noel Purcell. Purcell is a fantastic scene stealer who, although sadly never appearing in a Carry On film, also pops up as the local greengrocer in Nurse On Wheels. Playing the Captain of the ship and Joan's father is Eric Barker, star of two early Carry Ons - Sergeant and Constable. Eric's second in command is brought to life by another early Carry On star, Leslie Phillips. No doubt Leslie's long running role in the BBC radio comedy The Navy Lark saw him cast in this naval comedy.

Watch Your Stern also boasts cameo roles from two other wonderful Carry On stars. Hattie Jacques pops up for several scenes at the end of the film as the Admiralty Scientist, Agatha Potter. Sid James meanwhile, fresh from his first Carry On adventure in Constable, crops up throughout the film as Chief Petty Officer Mundy, the owner of some very impressive facial hair!

The film features a fine roster of regular Carry On supporting actors including David Lodge, Victor Maddern, Ed Devereux and Michael Nightingale, however there are  also two very famous faces in the cast list. Sadly this would be the only time either Eric Sykes or Spike Milligan would work for Rogers and Thomas but it is a joy to see them cast as a couple of work shy civilian electricians. Perhaps Spike's characterisation would not be allowed today though...

Watch Your Stern is a light and frothy, easygoing comedy film, very much of its time. It's a perfect way to spend an undemanding hour and a half enjoying some classic nostalgia as a bunch of excellent comedy performers strut their stuff with ease. You really can't go wrong with the likes of Kenneth Connor, Joan Sims and Leslie Phillips all on top form. While the film is not crammed full of gags and the jokes that are there are pretty innocent, it is a really good example of Rogers, Thomas and Co at their finest. 

If you haven't seen it before, or it's just been a while, why not track it down and give it a go?

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