Current Status of Other AYBS Cast Members

[Sir Humphries]

I think it's time that we start keeping tabs as to what's happening with the surviving main cast and supporting cast members of Are You Being Served?

First of all, we need a list of who all is currently still living. Most lists consist of the main cast members and very few of the supporting cast. I think we should have one for all the customers as well.

I, for instance, am interested in knowing if anyone knows what ever happened to Doremy Vernon, the actress that played the canteen manageress.

IMDB barely says anything and the only info I can find of her on wikipedia is that she used to be a Tiller Girl (something to do with a dance troupe).

[Sienna]

That's a very good idea Sir Humphries!
There's also the nurse (Vivienne Johnson), all the secretaries, and the two Mrs Peacocks (Diana King and Diana Lambert).

[Eva]

I looked up both Dianas, and they've both died.

Diana King, the original, and better Mrs. Peacock died in 1986, and the second Mrs. Peacock, Diana Lambert died in 1995.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

This is a great idea to check up on. I'll put me thinking cap on for this one.

Nicholas Smith (Mr Rumbold) recently was in two Wallace & Gromit movies and his latest appearance was as a Vicar in the 'Last of the summer wine'. For all intents and purposes he seems to be pretty much retired.

Trevor Bannister (Mr Lucas) is currently playing a semi-regular character on 'Last of the Summer Wine' called Toby the golf Captain.

Frank Thornton (Capt. Peacock) is a main character on 'Last of the summer wine' playing a character called Truly.

Mike Berry (Bert Spooner) is still recording his own cds and music, his latest was a christmas release called "Hi There Darlin'! Merry Christmas" in 2007. He is also currently attending various music festivals and AYBS related functions.

Candy Davis (the incredibly hot Miss Belfridge) did a little more acting after AYBS up until 1985 after she got divorced and decided to pursue other things, Davis is said to have retired from acting and is now working as a teacher.

Vivienne Johnson unfortunatley I couldn't find to much on her. She did her stint on AYBS as Mr grace's nurse, did a few Carry On appearances (in 2 movies and a few eps of the tv show Carry On Laughing). Then after the 70's and early 80's faded from the screen and hasn't been heard from since. Her last known address for which fans could reach her was:

c/o Barrie Stacey Promotions, Apartment 8, 132 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0LA

Everyone else, who was about 40 or more on the show at the time seem to have retired or passed away, such as both Mrs Peacocks and Mavis Pugh who was in 3 episodes, but best remembered as Lady Weeble Able Smith in the episode Take Over.

Oh and of course Joanna Lumely who did her small memorable roles, we all know she did Ab Fab as the hysterically funny Patsy and is now working with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders on 'Jam & Jerusalem'.

[Sienna]

I saw Nicholas Smith on that episode of 'Last of the summer wine'. He was brilliant. Upon hearing he had to spend the day with all the old men, he said 'I used to bury better!'

I have a Doremy Vernon (Canteen Manageress) update.
All I have been able to find is her fan mail address via her agency:

Doremy Vernon
The Spotlight
(Talent Agency)
7 Leicester Place
London, WC2H 7RJ
UK
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7437 7631
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7437 5881

Hope that helps, if anyone cares to send a letter or call, perhaps we can find out what happened to her.

Kind regards
LordPeterFlimsy

[Red Shadow]

If my memory serves me correctly, someone had looked into contacting Doremy Vernon this past spring, and it was clear that she did not want to be contacted regarding AYBS.

[Lucas The Tucas]

You're right Red Shadow !

[larsen525]

According to her IMDb page, Penny Irving is retired and lives in London (and still collects the occasional royalties check from AYBS? and her other work).

As of last year, Moira Foot was living on a farm in southern England with her family. I've just recently won a beautiful 8x10 of her on eBay, and will send it to a friend of mine who has an address for her. I'll also include a fan letter, and will be happy to pass along any response I might get from her.

- Erik

Regarding Doremy Vernon not wanting to be contacted. I only joined like 3 days ago, so I had no idea about her stance about contact.

[cpl.er...Capt. Joe]

I just checked out Mike Berry's website a few days ago. It had a notice about him being hospitalized for an illness a while back, but that he was convelescing at home comfortable and should be out an about shortly. Anyone have more info?

[Miss Humphries]

"What depressing conversation..."

[Red Shadow]

I only joined like 3 days ago, so I had no idea about her stance about contact.

Don't worry, LordPeter. I was just posting that because we had a conversation about her several months back, and there have been several new members who've joined our board since then.

[Melchett]

Is that really it? All the surviving cast members??

[blakey]

Originally Posted by LordPeterFlimsy

I have a Doremy Vernon (Canteen Manageress) update.
All I have been able to find is her fan mail address via her agency:

Doremy Vernon
The Spotlight
(Talent Agency)
7 Leicester Place
London, WC2H 7RJ
UK
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7437 7631
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7437 5881

Hope that helps, if anyone cares to send a letter or call, perhaps we can find out what happened to her.

Kind regards
LordPeterFlimsy

Its a shame she doesnt want to know.. i was the one whom was asking about her and i was shocked that she didnt want to receive any fanmail

[Lucas The Tucas]

Peter wrote .......

Regarding Doremy Vernon not wanting to be contacted. I only joined like 3 days ago, so I had no idea about her stance about contact.

This was her GREATEST ROLE and she doesn't want anyone to talk to her about it.

And she has a lot of FANS.


And Peter, about Mr. Patel's dog, don't be feeding him all of those Sardines.

[Sir Humphries]

I decided to create a list based on what I could find on IMDB for those who were not mentioned. However, it wasn't very complete there, so I had to dig into the living status of some of the actors.

I have not included most of the birth dates, but did include the death dates for those that I could find them for.

Due to the length of this list, I decided to break it up into a few posts. I hope someone will make of sticky or file of this somewhere for future reference. It would be nice to add a photo to each profile later to make each person recognizable.

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Various Cast Members

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Taryn Kay:

"The Lift Girl" (Gambling Fever) and possibly other episodes...

http://www.uk.castingcallpro.com/view.php?uid=73944

Status : Alive. It was not mentioned on IMDB, but instead, the above site.

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Francis Botsoni:

"One of Mr. Goldberg's friends" (The Junior)
"Customer" (The Hero)

Status: Deceased. I found that he died in 2001, though it wasn't mentioned on IMDB.

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Jennifer Guy:

"Disco Dancing Clothes customer" (Strong Stuff This Insurance)
"Miss Hurst" (Front Page Story)

Status: Apparently Living... Born In Carshalton, Surrey on May 31, 1952. However, her entries on IMDB stop in 2005 and I found her birth date on a very obscure forum. It wasn't on any movie or TV site that I could find.

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Rusty Goffe:

"Second Suitor for Ad" (The Erotic Dreams of Mrs. Slocombe)
"Monkey" (Monkey Business)

Status: Alive. Look him up on wikipedia. He has had a number of interesting roles and he is still acting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Goffe

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Jeffrey Gardiner:

"Gloves Customer" (Mrs. Slocombe Expects)
"Mr. Beauchamp" (The Junior)

Status: Unknown. I can find no birth or death date for him and all entries cease on IMDB after 1993.

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Jack Haig:

"Old Gentleman Suitor for ad" (The Erotic Dreams of Mrs. Slocombe)
"Tramp" (A Personal Problem)

Status: Deceased. He died in 1989. Also know for his roles as "Archie Gibbs" (Crossroads) and Roger Leclerc ('Allo 'Allo!).

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Joy Allen:

"Sister" (Cold Store)
"Staff Nurse" (Strong Stuff, This Insurance)

Status: Unknown. No birth or death dates to be found and her entries cease on IMDB after 1997.

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Ronnie Brody:

"Signor Balli" (Anything You Can Do)
"The Night Club" (Man in Cinema)

Status: Deceased. Died in 1991.

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Felix Bowness:

"Gent for the Gents'" (New Look)
"The Matching Pantaloons Customer" (Do You Take This Man?)

Status: Alive. At least, that is what wikipedia claims.

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Stuart Sherwin:

"The Dressing Gown customer" (Hoorah For the Holidays)
"The Large Gloves customer" (No Sale)

Status: Alive. Born in 1927 according to IMDB.

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Bernice Adams:

"Cynthia" (The Old Order Changes)
"Typist" (A Bliss Girl) I think she was the woman that Mr. Grace fired.

Status: Alive, according to wikipedia. It says, "In the 1980s, Adams gave up acting and became a production manager for a dance and theatre company, eventually relocating to France. She now lives in Monte Carlo."

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Gordon Peters:

"The Fawn Trousers customer" (Cold Store)
"Henry" (No Sale)
"Mr. Volpone" (Grace & Favour Ep. 1.4)

Status: Alive. Last entry on IMDB was in 2005.

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Michael Sharvell-Martin:

"Man with Moustache" (Front Page Story)
"Handsome Customer" (Sweet Smell of Success)

Status: Alive. Last IMDB entry was in 2005.

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Norman Mitchell:

"Wendel P. Clark" (Do You Take This Man?)
"Customer" (Lost & Found)

Status: Deceased. Died in 2001.

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Anita Richardson:

"The 38C Cup customer" (Camping In)
"The Lady for the Ladies'" (German Week)

Status: Unknown. Her entries on IMDB ceased with AYBS? in 1975 and I cannot find birth or death dates listed anywhere.

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Jeffrey Holland:

"The Afro Pants customer" (The Old Order Changes)
"The Blazer" (The Apartment)

Status: Living. The last entry on IMDB was from 1997.

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Bill Martin:

"Customer with List" (Cold Store)
"The Top-Pocket Handkerchief customer" (Founder's Day)

Status: Deceased. He died in 2006. AYBS? was his last role according to IMDB and he only had one other role before that.

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Jeffrey Segal:

"The Clip-On Bow Tie Customer" (Up Captain Peacock)
"The Long Sweater customer" (The Agent)

Status: Alive. He was born in 1920 and his last acting role was in 2003 according to IMDB.

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Michael Knowles:

"Customer" (Pilot Episode)
"The Bold Check" (Up Captain Peacock)

Status: Alive. That's what I garner from wikipedia, which has him placed among the living. It also states that he isn't keen to reveal his age.

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Nina Francis:

"Miss Ainsworth" (Coffee Morning)
"Miss Ainsworth" (The Hand of Fate)

Status: Alive. At least, that's the impression I get from the two topics I unearthed on here.

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John Clegg:

"The Ready-Made Suit customer" (Hoorah For the Holidays)
"The Bald-Headed Sweater customer" (Wedding Bells)

Status: Living. His last IMDB entry was in 2003.

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Robert Raglan:

"The 40" Waist customer" (Dear Sexy Knickers)
"Dr. Wainwright" (Big Brother)

Status: Deceased. He died in 1985.

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That concludes my first post. I will post more later. I apologize for any errors in typing, but I am tired and want to get some sleep now.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

You've done very well SH !!!!

Here's one to add ....

Colin Bean (the leathurette gloves) from "Camping In" died June 20, 2009. Got this one from an AYBS? mailer group I belong to.

[Cat_Lover]

Most comprehensive.