Ian Carmichael, RIP

He maintained a deep interest in the Brigade throughout his life and he turned out, immaculately dressed, every year for their Remembrance Day ceremony in Helmsley, near where he lived.

Only watched the Colditz story again the other day. I really liked the film I’m All Right Jack as well.

Noticed on Wiki that during the War he served as a Commissioned Officer in the 22nd Dragoons.

Regards,

kev35

Oh man, I remember him in those old Ealing comedies, fabulous actor!
RIP!

RIP Mr Carmichael.
As for the posts ive read before,i think some ones got a Mr grumpy face on…:D

I did not make an unsubstantiated claim. I expressed the possibility that it might have been the case. This was based on a great deal of “gossip” and “hearsay” around the time of his death. As I said we are unlikely to know whether or not it was true. But, if true, it hardly puts him in a bad light. He would be in a pantheon of highly respected and talented individuals.

Why this particular case should cause you so much concern I have no idea. That he was greatly loved, seems to be the reason. For what it’s worth I had an enormous regard for him and thought he was one of our finest character actors, a greater accolade than simply being a comedian, which I do not think he was. He started in the theatre and made numerous stage appearances from the late 40s to the 70s.

And, as I intimated before, there is no dearth of “unsubstantiated claims” here about all manner of things and no one seems to be concerned about those.

Anyway you have your view on the matter and I am sorry if you have been offended by mine.

What did I expect?

Pehaps a little more thought on your part before making wholly unsubstantiated claims that one of Britain’s best loved performers MAY have declined an Honour.

Regards,

kev35

Oh Dear!

Regards,

kev35

Indeed. What did you expect?

Oh Dear!

Regards,

kev35

JoeyR

The question is whether or not you are doing the man a great disservice by even suggesting that he may or may not have declined any Honour offered.

Regards,

kev35

Then I regret ever having mentioned it and suggest it is never referred to again and return to the Ian Carmichael thread. And I’ll bear your comment in mind when I next encounter unsubstantiated speculation in these forums.

No disrespect to Ian Carmichael, and not wanting to turn this into a Ronnie Barker thread, but all i can find is that he was awarded three Baftas and an OBE. No mention of turning down a Knighthood.!

JoeyR

The question is whether or not you are doing the man a great disservice by even suggesting that he may or may not have declined any Honour offered.

Regards,

kev35

This is what Wiki says.
Ronald William George Barker, OBE (25 September 1929 – 3 October 2005) was an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Norman Stanley Fletcher

That we know. The question at issue was whether or not he had been offered a knighthood and declined it, as had a number of other notables.

This is what Wiki says.
Ronald William George Barker, OBE (25 September 1929 – 3 October 2005) was an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Norman Stanley Fletcher

JoeyR

So did Ronnie Barker decline a Knighthood? Or is it just guesswork?

Regards,

kev35

As I did say, I think it to be the case along with a number of reported declined honours. Whether or not we will know for sure will be up to someone who knows, incontrovertibly, to reveal the truth.

Was he the foil to Terry Thomas?

Yes, in the wonderful ‘School for Scoundrels’ (1960).

JoeyR

So did Ronnie Barker decline a Knighthood? Or is it just guesswork?

Regards,

kev35

Well if thats true of RB then i take back my comment.

Several have – some of whom have made it public and others where it is thought to have been the case. Alan Bennett, Albert Finney, David Hockney, Trevor Howard, Harold Pinter, Vanessa Redgrave and Paul Scofield are all on record as declining ( DBE in Vanessa Regrave’s case ) and Scofield declined at least 3 times.

Many others have declined other orders and sometimes accepted a higher order later. Helen Mirren declined a CBE but accepted a DBE a few years later.

I think that Ronnie Barker was one of that select few who declined a knighthood.

Really… is that true?

I think that Ronnie Barker was one of that select few who declined a knighthood.