Arthur English

Arthur Leslie Norman English (9 May 1919 – 16 April 1995) was an English television, film and stage actor and comedian from the music hall tradition.

Early life

English was born at 22 Lysons Road in Aldershot, Hampshire, the son of Walter Frederick English (1856–1948) and Ethel English (née Parsons) (1886–1975), who married at Holy Trinity church in Aldershot in 1909. Arthur English had two older brothers: Walter (born 1910) and John Edgar (born 1912). All three boys were born in their parents' bedroom in Lysons Road and all three were baptised at Holy Trinity church. His first stage appearance was aged 10 when he joined a group from Gale & Polden called the 'Five O'clock Follies' as an acrobat. On leaving school in 1933 he briefly worked at Fisher's Hotel in nearby Farnham before becoming an errand boy in a local grocery shop.

After serving in the British Army in the Second World War with the Hampshire Regiment and the Royal Armoured Corps, reaching the rank of sergeant, English worked as a painter and decorator in his native town, and in the evenings worked as a semi-professional entertainer in various local venues polishing up his comedy routines. dressed in a trilby hat, a white jacket and padded shoulders with a pencil moustache set off with a flamboyant kipper tie four inches wide. while in May 1983 he was a guest on Desert Island Discs with Roy Plomley. Also in 1983 he played Frosch in Die Fledermaus with the English National Opera at the London Coliseum. In 1985 he appeared in an episode of the American TV series Magnum, P.I..

English appeared in the Royal Variety Performance in 1951 He had been president of Aldershot Town F.C. which had been formed out of the ashes of Aldershot F.C. The new club badge depicted a rising phoenix and was designed by English. He had also been a long-standing member of the showbusiness charity the Grand Order of Water Rats, which he joined in 1970, a Freeman of the City of London and an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Rushmoor.

Personal life

Following the death of his wife Ivy (1919–75), English began to drink. On 27 August 1977, English married a young dancer, Teresa Mann (born 1955), whom he met while they were performing in a pantomime together at Wimbledon, and in 1981, the couple had a daughter – Clare-Louise English, the deaf actress director and writer who lost her hearing in her teenage years, founded Hot Coals Productions, a production company working the theatre film and TV that specialises in creating accessible content. The performers John Inman and Jack Douglas were her godparents. The couple separated in 1986, and the marriage was dissolved in 1987. The last four years of his life were spent in Devereux House, a care home in Farnborough where he liked to play draughts and bred canaries.

Arthur English died in 1995 at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey as a result of complications from emphysema. After a funeral service at St Michael's church at which fellow Water Rat Jimmy Perry read the oration, his body was cremated at the Park Crematorium in Aldershot where his ashes were later interred in a plot with those of his first wife.

Honours An Aldershot Civic Society blue plaque was unveiled by actor and singer Jess Conrad OBE on 15 July 2017 at 22 Lysons Road where English was born in 1919.

Selected television appearances Comedy Playhouse (1967 & 1970) – Arthur Oakley / The Voice Dad's Army (1970) – the Policeman Doctor in the House (1970) – Vincent Bless This House (1971) – Traffic Warden Doctor at Large (1971) – Vincent ITV Playhouse (1972) – Tom Doctor in Charge (1972 & 1973) – Vincent Follyfoot (1971–1973) – Slugger Armchair Theatre (1973) – Carlyle Crown Court (1973, 1974, 1975 & 1977) – Billy Baker / Arthur Robins / Eddie Taylor / Mr. Sampson The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976–1978) – Bodkin / 'Boddikins Are You Being Served? (1976–1985) – Mr. Beverley Harman Funny Man (1981) – George Leslie Play for Today (1983) – Albert Magnum, P.I. (1985) - Newspaper Seller High & Dry (1987) – Fred Whattle In Sickness and in Health (1985–1990) – Arthur / the Man in Pub (final appearance)

Selected filmography Echo of Diana (1963) – Punter in betting shop The Hi-Jackers (1963) – Bert Percy (1971) – Pub Comic For the Love of Ada (1972) – Arthur Love Thy Neighbour (1973) – Carter Malachi's Cove (1973) – Jack Combes Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974) – Cockney Spiv Are You Being Served? (1977) – Mr. Harman The Boys in Blue (1982) – Farmer