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1-30 of 30
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Vivacious, hazel-eyed, strawberry-haired Jean Kent was a popular star of British films in the 1940's and early 50's. The daughter of variety performers Norman Field and Nina Norre, she was convent-educated. By the age of ten, she accompanied her mother on tour, then spent several years in the chorus line at London's Windmill Theatre in the West End. Having honed her acting skills on the provincial repertory stage, Jean signed with Gainsborough Pictures in 1943. Her first noteworthy performance was in Man of Evil (1944) for which she received fifth billing. Through sheer determination and hard work, she quickly moved up the ladder to integral roles as willful 'scarlet women' in juicy melodramas. These were often parts other leading actresses refused to play, point in case her gypsy wildcat Rosal in Caravan (1946), considered even by Margaret Lockwood as 'too awful'. Using her training to best advantage, Jean performed some striking dance numbers in the film.
She was the femme fatale wartime audiences loved to hate, an early British sex symbol, most effectively paired with the likes of Stewart Granger or James Mason. In one of her best-remembered performances, Jean took sole limelight as the titular star of the cautionary drama Good-Time Girl (1948), as a juvenile delinquent who falls in with spivs and gangsters and ends up in prison. However, within just a few years, Jean's box-office appeal had waned, possibly attributable to having portrayed a woman ten years older than herself in The Browning Version (1951) (though the film itself was a box-office and critical success). Her remaining screen career was thereafter confined to appearances on the small screen, from the much-derided soap opera Crossroads (1964), to playing Queen Elizabeth I in the excellent Sir Francis Drake (1961) or as Daphne Goodlace, potential seductress of both Albert and Harold, in Steptoe and Son (1962).- Ray Mort was born on 10 January 1926 in Bury, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982), The Good Companions (1980) and Doomwatch (1970). He died on 4 July 1994 in Bury, Lancashire, England, UK.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Elton Hayes was born on 16 February 1915 in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. He was an actor and composer, known for Enchanted (2007), The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952) and The Splendid Spur (1960). He died on 23 September 2001 in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, England, UK.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Doris Speed was one of Britain's best-loved soap actresses, fondly remembered for her portrayal of Annie Walker, the snooty landlady of the Rovers Return pub in ITV's Coronation Street (1960). She played the role for 23 years and was dubbed by the press as 'The Queen Mother of Soap.'
Born in Manchester, her father George was a singer and her mother Ada a repertory actress. She toured with both her parents as a child. She later left the stage to work as a clerk in the giant Guinness brewery in Manchester and remained with the company for several years.
'Coronation Street' creator Tony Warren became a close friend of Speed and wrote the part of Annie Walker specifically for her. She joined the series when it was first aired in 1960 and appeared in 1,746 episodes. Hugely popular with viewers she received more fan mail than any other member of the cast.
Offstage she was a shy and retiring person but a keen theatre-goer. She once said "I would love to have done more theatre work because that is how I started. There are so many roles I would love to have played. But I owe my life to 'Coronation Street' and I don't regret a minute of it."
She was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to television in 1977 and received The Pye Television Award two years later. She was also an honorary member of the Licensed Victuallers' Association. Doris made her final television appearance in 1993, when she gave an interview on Classic Coronation Street (1993), alongside her former screen son, Kenneth Farrington.- Austin Trevor was born on 8 October 1897 in Belfast, Ireland [now Northern Ireland], UK. He was an actor, known for Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), Lord Edgware Dies (1934) and The Red Shoes (1948). He was married to Violet Clowes. He died on 21 January 1978 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Myra Hindley was born on 23 July 1942 in Crumpsall, Manchester, England, UK. She died on 16 November 2002 in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Actress
Jane Cain was born on 1 May 1909 in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Vanity (1935), Starr and Company (1958) and Crossroads (1964). She was married to Edmund Bailey. She died on 29 September 1996 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.- Tony Morris was born on 30 September 1962 in England, UK. He died on 1 August 2020 in Bury, Manchester, England, UK.
- Production Designer
It is with the deepest sadness that we announce that our very dear friend, the endlessly enthusiastic and supremely talented production designer Nick Ellis passed away recently after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. His death leaves the world a slightly sadder place. Everyone who knew Nick , however briefly will remember his ability to light up a room with a smile, a joke or a brilliant idea to move a project forward. He leaves a huge hole in our lives. We miss him terribly. His wife Ros and children Freddy and Scarlett have asked that donations in his name be made to Pancreatic Cancer Research- Roy Godfrey was born on 20 August 1921 in Camberwell, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Mystery and Imagination (1966), Doctor Who (1963) and On Stage - London (1957). He died on 3 May 2005 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Paul Starr was born on 13 March 1942 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Bastard King (1969), Special Branch (1969) and The Misfit (1970). He was married to Gilly McIver. He died on 30 April 2004 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Producer
Ann Croft was born on 29 June 1931 in Islington, London, England, UK. She was a producer, known for Dad's Army (2016), This Is Your Life (1955) and Comedy Connections (2003). She was married to David Croft. She died on 11 June 2016 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.- Actor
- Writer
Dave Jackley was born on 27 November 1913 in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for The Handy Gang (1963), Mother Goose (1959) and The Grand Order of Water Rats presents (1957). He died on 5 January 2001 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.- Jack Warman was born on 13 July 1887 in Camberwell, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Neat and Tidy (1930) and New to You (1947). He died in 1966 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Ginger Lees was born on 28 January 1905 in Bury, Greater Manchester, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Money for Speed (1933). She died on 26 January 1982 in Bury, Greater Manchester, England, UK.
- Norah Lofts was born on 27 August 1904 in Shipdham, Norfolk, England, UK. She was a writer, known for Jassy (1947), 7 Women (1965) and Guilt Is My Shadow (1950). She was married to Robert Jorisch and Geoffrey Lofts. She died on 10 September 1983 in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Location Management
- Production Manager
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray Freeborn was born on 9 October 1941 in Brentford, Middlesex, England, UK. Ray was a production manager and assistant director, known for Highlander (1986), Casualties of War (1989) and Keeping Mum (2005). Ray was married to Joan Marilyn Barber. Ray died in 2012 in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, England, UK.- Editor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Ray Fitzwalter was born on 21 February 1944 in Bury, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an editor and producer, known for Manhunt: The Search for the Yorkshire Ripper (1999), The Starlost (1973) and World in Action (1963). He was married to Luise Nandy and Mary Towman. He died on 4 April 2016 in Bury, Greater Manchester, England, UK.- Constance Beresford-Howe was born on 10 November 1922 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was a writer, known for The Book of Eve (2002), Population of One (1980) and The Marriage Bed (1986). She was married to Christopher W. Presnell. She died on 20 January 2016 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Margaret Tebbit was born on 24 May 1934 in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. She was married to Norman Tebbit. She died on 19 December 2020 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Ian Greaves was born on 26 May 1932 in Crompton, Lancashire, England, UK. He died on 2 January 2009 in Ainsworth, Bury, Greater Manchester, England, UK.
- Barbara Barlowe was born on 12 August 1906 in Worcester, Worcestershire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Written Law (1931). She was married to Arthur John Barlow. She died in 1995 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.
- Actor
- Editor
Edmund Bailey was born on 28 October 1904 in the UK. He was an actor and editor, known for War & Peace (1972), Doctor Who (1963) and Crane (1963). He was married to Jane Cain. He died on 21 December 1982 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Cinematographer
Geoff Meldrum was born on 4 June 1918 in Hampstead, London, England, UK. He was a cinematographer, known for Thunderbirds (1965), The Girl in the Picture (1957) and Supercar (1961). He died in January 1997 in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, England, UK.- Actor
- Additional Crew
John Chesworth was born on 22 June 1930 in Manchester, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Zodiac (1966), Omnibus (1967) and The Line, the Cross & the Curve (1993). He died on 27 November 2014 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.