Thursday, 28 July 2022 – Veteran actor Bernard Cribbins, who starred in the film adaptation of The Railway Children, has died at the age of 93.
A statement from his agent, Gavin Barker Associates, said: “His career spanned seven decades with such diverse work ranging from films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series, hit 60s song Right Said Fred, a notorious guest on Fawlty Towers and narrating The Wombles.
“He worked well into his 90s, recently appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat.
“He lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year.
“Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”
The British actor was born in Oldham in 1928 and after appearing on stage, he found fame in film and TV, becoming widely known as the narrator of The Wombles and a long-time host on Jackanory.
He has a long and varied filmography in his career, including appearing in Carry On films and the original Casino Royale.
After appearing on stage for many years, Mr Cribbins made his film debut in 1957’s Davy, before going on to work alongside some of British cinema’s biggest names in films such as Two-Way Stretch, She, Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD, the 1967 version of Casino Royale and Frenzy.
He also starred in several Carry On movies and had roles in TV favourites Coronation Street and the revamped Doctor Who.
Off-screen Mr Cribbins enjoyed a successful musical career and had a number of hit records including 1962 comedy songs, Hole In The Ground and Right Said Fred, both of which reached the UK singles chart top 10.
Arguably one of the roles he is most famous for was as station porter Albert Perks in The Railway Children, released in 1970.
The film adaptation of E Nesbit’s book chronicles the adventures of three children forced to move from London to Yorkshire after their father is imprisoned for being falsely accused of selling state secrets.
The film also starred a young Jenny Agutter and famously featured the tear-jerking moment at the film’s climax when Agutter’s character cries “daddy, my daddy” as they are reunited on a train platform. Mr Cribbins played the station porter Albert Perks.
In 2011 he received an OBE for services to drama for his long career. Speaking at the investiture ceremony, he said providing the voices of characters such as Uncle Bulgaria, Tobermory and Orinoco was simple because of how The Wombles was written.
“The structure of the writing was such that you knew exactly where everybody was socially in that household,” he said.
He went on to regularly appear in the Doctor Who TV series as Wilfred Mott, the grandfather of the Doctor’s companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate.
In October 2021, Cribbins’ wife of 66 years, Gillian, died. They married in 1955.
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