Ann Beach

Ann Coleman (née Beach; 7 June 1938 – 9 March 2017) was a British actress whose career across stage, screen, and radio spanned more than five decades. She was best known for her role as Sonia Barrett in the ITV sitcom Fresh Fields (1984–1986).

Early life and education Ann Beach was born on 7 June 1938 in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, the elder daughter of Claude Ripley Beach, a grocer, and his wife, Rebecca (née Startup). She had a younger sister. Her paternal grandfather, Albert Beach, served as the mayor of Wolverhampton. The family later relocated to Cardiff, Wales, where they opened an ice-cream parlour.

Showing early musical talent as a vocalist, Beach joined the renowned Snowflakes children's choir, which won the inaugural competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 1947. While attending Cardiff High School for Girls, her teachers noted her immense promise as a singer. She received significant personal encouragement from Rae Jenkins, the principal conductor of the BBC Welsh Orchestra, who believed she possessed the talent to pursue a professional career as an opera singer. Her husband died in 2008.

Beach died on 9 March 2017 in Haringey, Greater London. She was 78. 1958, 1960, 1971, 1973 Armchair Theatre Elaine Morris, Penelope, Mrs. Drayton 4 episodes 1960 The City of the Dead Lottie 1960 Theatre Night Barbara Episode: "Billy Liar" 1961 On the Fiddle Iris 1961 Nothing Barred Girlfriend Who Drops Through Open Manhole Uncredited 1961 The Rag Trade Brenda 9 episodes 1961–1962 BBC Sunday-Night Play Miss Chatham, Thelma 2 episodes 1962 The Fast Lady Miss Timpkins 1963 Tempo Herself Episode: "Lions Led by Donkeys" 1963–1964 Festival Saunders, Maria 2 episodes 1965 Off Beat... Actress 2 episodes 1966 The World of Wooster Parlourmaid Episode: "Jeeves and the Clustering Round Young Bingo" 1966 Hotel Paradiso Victoire 1966, 1971, 1977 Play of the Month Gwen, Anna Vyroubova, Violet, Mrs. Dainty Fidget 4 episodes 1967 Half Hour Story Jennifer Episode: "The 45th Unmarried Mother" 1968 Sebastian Pamela 1969 Jackanory Storyteller 5 episodes 1969–1970 The Wednesday Play Blodwen Wilderness, Music Hall Artiste 2 episodes 1970 Steptoe and Son Daphne Episode: "Steptoe and Son - and Son!" 1970 The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Receptionist 1971 For the Love of Ada Alice Bingley Episode: "The Journey" 1971 Elephant's Eggs in a Rhubarb Tree Various roles 6 episodes 1971 Under Milk Wood Polly Garter 1971 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Mary Grandard Episode: "The Woman in the Big Hat" 1971 Shirley's World Actress Episode: "The Rally" 1972 The Man Outside Maudlin Episode: "A Persistent Coffin" 1972, 1980 Play for Today Valerie, Shirley Ritchie, Morag 3 episodes 1973 Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width Bridie 1973 Song at Twilight Shirley Ritchie 1973 Seven of One Doris Episode: "My Old Man" 1974 Perils of Pendragon Maudlin 2 episodes 1974 Omnibus Queen Victoria Episode: "Crystal Palace-The Great Glass Hive" 1974 Masquerade Freda Episode: "Service Not Included" 1974 Late Night Drama Diane Episode: "You Don't Remember!" 1975 Ten from the Twenties Jehane Episode: "The Orsini Emeralds" 1975 Dawson's Weekly Mrs. Ffoulkes Episode: "The Clerical Error" 1975 Shades of Greene Miss Sanderson Episode: "Special Duties" 1976 Bouquet of Barbed Wire Monica 2 episodes 1976 Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd Clara 1976 The Government Inspector Mayor's wife Episode: "Bribery and Corruption" 1976 James and the Giant Peach Aunt Sponge 1977 Rising Damp Mrs. Brent Episode: " 1977 Fred Basset Actress Short film 1977 The Battle of Billy's Pond Mrs. Bateson Television film 1978 The Upchat Connection Una Episode: "Spring in Park Lane" 1978 BBC2 Play of the Week Morag Episode: "The Vanishing Army" 1979 Brecht and Co Member of Brecht's company, Widow Begbick, Polly Peacham 1979 Diary of a Nobody Sarah 9 episodes 1980 The History of Mr. Polly Mrs. Johnson 2 episodes 1980 Tales of the Unexpected Miss Unwin Episode: "Georgy Porgy" 1981 Holding the Fort Muriel Episode: "Famous First Words" 1981 Only When I Laugh Helen Roper-Jones Episode: "Postman's Knock" 1982 Oliver Twist Mrs. Sowerberry Television film 1983 Salad Days Timothy's Mother 1983 Nanny Miss Alice Casson Episode: "The Prodigy" 1984–1986 Fresh Fields Sonia Barrett 26 episodes 1985 Tandoori Nights Nurse Peters Episode: "Far from the Ganges" 1986 That Uncertain Feeling Mrs. Davies 4 episodes 1987 The Sooty Show Detective Sergeant Sarah Snoop Episode: "White Lies" 1987 Scene Mother Episode: "This Year's Model" 1989–1990 Brookside Jane Harper 6 episodes 1990 Home to Roost Rita Higgs Episode: "Return to Clagthorpe" 1991 King Ralph Miranda's Mother 1991 French Fields Sonia Barrett Episode: "Hail and Farewell" 1991, 1994 Screen One Mrs. Chubb, Mrs. Leveller 2 episodes 1992 Land of Hope and Gloria Freda Episode: "Running Before Walking" 1993 Bookmark Headmaster's wife Episode: "Selected Exits" 1994 The Lifeboat Phyllis Shore 4 episodes 1995 The Bill Mrs. Parker Episode: "All in the Game" 1995 Stick with Me, Kid Lorinda Episode: "Man of a Couple Faces" 1998 Wycliffe Mrs. Wimble Episode: "Land's End" 1999 Notting Hill William's Mother 1999 People Like Us Actress Episode: "The Photographer" 2000 Home Farm Twins Dotty Miller Episode: "Sam and AJ Save the Day" 2001 Peak Practice Eunice Gould Episode: "Flesh and Blood" 2001–2002 Treasure Actress 13 episodes 2002 Double Act Gran Television film 2005 Midsomer Murders Sonia Hardwick Episode: "Sauce for the Goose" 2005 Cold Blood Lynn Episode: "Cold Blood" 2006 Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures The Deacon Episode: "Night Thoughts" 2007 Foyle's War Hilda Greenwood Episode: "Bleak Midwinter" 2007 I Am Bob Friendly Old Lady 2007 The History of Mr Polly Mrs. Rumbold 2008 HolbyBlue Annie Episode: "Episode #2.3" 2010 Bad Night for the Blues Madge Short film 2011 The Afternoon Play Alice Episode: "Small Acts of Kindness" 2011 Pandora's Tower Mavda 2011 Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me Freddie's Grandma 2011 Lovers & Other Problems Actress 2012 Monroe June Daggert Episode: "Episode #2.5" 2012 The Archers Joyce Walters 6 episodes 2013 One Chance Elderly Woman