George Cole will be fondly remembered by many readers. He played innumerable roles on stage, screen, television and radio but is best known for just three characters: George Bliss, Flash Harry and, most famously, Minder’s Arthur Daley.
Born into poverty in 1925, George Cole was adopted at 10 days old. It was the first of several examples of good fortune that punctuated his life. He was due to start a job as a butcher’s boy on leaving school but was keen on a theatrical career.
Perhaps making his own luck, he scanned the London evening papers he delivered and successfully applied for the part of an understudy in the musical White Horse Inn.
Sufficiently established, by 1941, he was cast as an evacuee in the film Cottage to Let, which starred Alastair Sim. Not only did Sim effectively adopt George, he coached and mentored him, ensuring he lost his cockney accent. George acknowledged the great debt he owed and continued to live with Sim and his wife until he was 27.
They appeared together in 11 films. Among the best known were the first two St Trinian’s films, The Belles of St Trinian’s and Blue Murder at St Trinian’s, in 1954 and 1957 respectively. George played Henry Cuthbert Edwards, better known as the spiv Flash Harry, complete with pencil moustache, trilby hat and long overcoat. Although originally the school’s boot boy, he develops into a confidante of the feral pupils and helps to sell their homemade gin and place their bets.
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Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Best of British.
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Animal Magic
Hilary Middleton recalls a children's author whose tales are still enjoyed today
BACK IN TIME WITH COLIN BAKER
BoB's very own Time Lord prepares for an alternative to panto, recalls his early reading choices and having his scenes cut from two cutting edge comedies
Marvels in Miniature
Claire Saul learns about the exquisite works on display at a new exhibition being held at a historic Georgian mansion
The Last Post
Michael Foley witnessed the end of an era
The Box of Delights
Chris Hallam remembers how his Christmas 40 years ago was lit up by a magical television drama
The Queen of Stage and Screen
Chris Hallam pays tribute to actress Dame Maggie Smith
Other 07
Jonathan Sothcott looks at the seven Sir Roger Moore films that you should have in your collection
In the Best Possible Taste
Derek Lamb remembers the wireless wizardry of Kenny Everett
POSTCARD FROM BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Bob Barton remembers a ghostly train journey, enjoys some wassailing and fulfils a long-held ambition of attending a lawnmower festival
MERCY MISSION
John Greeves recounts the remarkable exploits of Sunderland flying boat T9114
