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Local Heroes

Remembering Richard Beckinsale

What connections did Richard Beckinsale have to Gedling and Carlton? It is often mentioned that the much loved comedy actor from the 1970s either grew up in the area, or at least lived here. Beckinsale’s Wikipedia entry also records his place of birth as Carlton.

What is the truth? We posted on our Facebook page, in order to find out.

But first, let’s remind ourselves of why Richard Beckinsale is still talked about so fondly.

Beckinsale left school at 15 with ambitions to become a professional actor but was too young to go to drama school. He spent a year working in numerous jobs, including spells as an upholsterer’s apprentice, a pipe inspector, and an assistant in a grocery business. At 16, he studied drama teaching at Clarendon College in Nottingham. His talents were then recognised with a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he won a prize for comedy.

After a period in theatre, he made his television debut in 1969 as a police officer in Coronation Street, in which he had to arrest veteran character Ena Sharples.

He went on to gain a starring role as Geoffrey in the sitcom The Lovers (1970–71), opposite fellow newcomer Paula Wilcox.

It was his roles in Porridge and Rising Damp (from 1974 to 1977) that made him a household name.

In Porridge, he played Lenny Godber,the naive and like-able prison cellmate of Norman Fletcher, played by Ronnie Barker.

Beckinsale and Barker in Porridge : Credit BBC

In Rising Damp, he again played a naive character of a medical student Alan Moore, lodging in the house of Rigsby, played by Leonard Rossiter

In the final episode of Porridge, his character Godber was released from his prison sentence. This opened up the opportunity to continue the in screen chemistry between Beckinsale and Barker with a new sitcom Going Straight (1978), a spin-off of Porridge in which the two criminal characters are seen on the outside rebuilding their lives.

Richard died aged 31 in 1979, after suffering a heart attack. His daughters from two marriages, Samantha and Kate have both gone on to successful acting careers.

When we posted on Facebook, several people commented that their parents went to school with him at Carlton le Willows or lived near him. Memories and stories can get distorted. Fortunately Richard’s sister Judy identified herself on the post’s thread. Judy was able to clarify things for us:

Richard grew up in Chilwell and went to College House School and Alderman White. His first 5 years were in Stapleford on Pinfold Lane. He never actually lived in Carlton but visited often because mum and dad lived there as so did I (I am his sister) xxxx

Judy Beckinsale

We asked: Was he born/registered born in Carlton then?

Judy: No he was born in Highbury Hospital and at that time we lived at Pinfold Lane Stapleford until 1953 when we moved to Woodland Grove in Chilwell.

This prompted other people’s memories. Nikki Tyson joined the conversation with Judy

Nikki: I lived on your street as a kid/teenager and have a memory of seeing Richard there. Orlando Drive 😁

Judy: Yes we lived there and he visited often number 50!

Nikki Tyson I seem to remember him in a white range rover. We were at 27.

Judy: Yes he had that when he died and actually was there just one week before he died

Nikki: I was only a kid and didnt really understand, he was a man off the telly. But as I grew up I realised he was a true Nottingham legend 😊

Then Matt Hudson added this to the thread

“He was amazing actor. Loved him in Porridge and you must be so proud of him.”

We all are. Nottingham is proud of him.

In 2013, a blue plaque in Beckinsale’s memory was unveiled at his former school, College House Junior School in Chilwell. Kate Beckinsale, Judy Loe, David Walliams, and Michael Sheen attended the ceremony

Beeston journalist Matt Turpin was there and reported the event for his Beestonian magazine. He recalls that he initially mistook Michael Sheen for the waiter.

Matt also provides us with these images from a book, published after his death. With Love by Richard Beckinsale is a collection of his poems. Here’s an image of him and another that explains his love of being an actor.

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