The 'Carry on' actor and The Great Escape... and more!

[Futtocks]

This is all rather tremendous news, thanks to some recently declassified documents. Peter Butterworth, who played characters like Brother Belcher in Carry on up the Khyber, had a part in the two legendary escapes from Stalag Luft 3.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68209738

After the war, as an actor, he was turned down for a part in The Wooden Horse for not looking sufficiently like a POW.

Edited February 6 by Futtocks

[Vambo]

Every now and then I read/see some news that actually inspires me rather than depresses me and this is definitely in the former category.

Thanks for posting this. 

What a life he lived and by the sounds of it he helped and inspired many other lives.

[graveyard johnny]

and married to impressionist Janet Brown famous for her Thatcher take off in the 80s - now there's a couple I  bet had some right laughs together

[Red Willow]

I saw that too. That generation did so many things and many never spoke about them.

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

On 06/02/2024 at 18:34, Futtocks said:

This is all rather tremendous news, thanks to some recently declassified documents. Peter Butterworth, who played characters like Brother Belcher in Carry on up the Khyber, had a part in the two legendary escapes from Stalag Luft 3.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68209738

After the war, as an actor, he was turned down for a part in The Wooden Horse for not looking sufficiently like a POW.

Think I might just wander down to the National Archives and have a look at this exhibition when I'm down in London for the Challenge Cup Final 

[Futtocks]

4 hours ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said:

Think I might just wander down to the National Archives and have a look at this exhibition when I'm down in London for the Challenge Cup Final 

I've never visit there. But if the weather's nice, you could make a good day out of it with the Archives and Kew Gardens being so close together, possibly punctuated by lunch at a riverside pub.

[unapologetic pedant]

On 06/02/2024 at 18:34, Futtocks said:

This is all rather tremendous news, thanks to some recently declassified documents. Peter Butterworth, who played characters like Brother Belcher in Carry on up the Khyber, had a part in the two legendary escapes from Stalag Luft 3.

Wasn't it Brother Belcher involved in this exchange -

"I save fallen women"

"Save me the one with the big earrings"

[DavidM]

25 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Wasn't it Brother Belcher involved in this exchange -

"I save fallen women"

"Save me the one with the big earrings"

Oh yes . I always loved Peter Butterworth , he was my favourite when he was in Carry On . Brother Belcher , Bidet just brilliant