Web Page No 2576

27th April 2019

Wilfred Pickles (1904-1978)

 1st Picture. Wilfred Pickles

2nd Picture. Wilfred Pickles and Mabel

 3rd Picture. Have a Go with factory workers 1947

4^th Picture. Caught for This is Your Life 1971

  

Wilfred Pickles was an actor and radio presenter, was born in Halifax on 13^th October 1904 and it seemed that he was forever on the radio when we were young.

He was a proud Yorkshireman, and having been selected by the BBC as an announcer for its North Region radio service, went on to be an occasional newsreader on the National service during World War II. He was the first newsreader to speak in a distinct regional accent rather than the usual "BBC English" of the period, and caused some comment with his farewell catchphrase "... and to all in the North, good neet".

He very soon became a radio celebrity, and at the same time he also pursued an acting career in West End theatre. He was awarded the OBE for services to broadcasting in 1950.

His most significant work and the programme that most people remember him for was as host of the BBC Radio show ‘Have A Go’, which ran for 21 years from 1946 to 1967. This was one of the most popular shows ever broadcast - at its peak in the 1950s it attracted an audience of over 20 million. Wilfred and his wife Mabel, took the programme to church, village or community halls all over the country, "bringing the people to the people". During the programme Wilfred Pickles interviewed ordinary people, who were encouraged to tell heart-warming stories and share their experiences, and who were invited to answer quiz questions for money prizes.

The programme was one of the most popular shows ever broadcast on either radio or television. On this show he was renowned for such catchphrases as "How do, how are yer?", "Are yer courting?" and "Give him the money, Mabel", delivered in Wilfred Pickles' inimitable style. His wife Mabel appeared on the show with him.

Mabel also appeared with Wilfred Pickles in his first TV sitcom, ‘Caxton's Tales’, which was shown in 1958. Wilfred Pickles was cast as a jobbing printer who owned his own small business, aided by a young assistant, Willie, and by Miss Brearley, who wrote verses for the greetings cards that Caxton printed. Caxton's wife Mabel was played by Mabel Pickles.

Wilfred Pickles also starred - with Irene Handl - in another TV sitcom, For the Love of Ada, broadcast by Thames Television in 1970-71. Ne also appeared in Dr. Finlay’s Casebook.

He appeared in several films, most notably in the 1963 film Billy Liar, in which he played the father of Billy Fisher (played by Tom Courtenay).

He was the guest castaway on BBC Radio's Desert Island Discs on 2nd January 1953; his chosen book was The Oxford Book of English Verse  and his luxury a yellow waistcoat.

In 1955, he opened the Wilfred Pickles' School for Spastics at Tixover Grange, Rutland Also in 1955, he and wife Mabel celebrated their silver wedding anniversary by returning to the Sacred Heart Church in Southport, when they gave money for a statue of Saint Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart, which still stands in the church. They recorded an edition of Have a Go from the church hall (now demolished), and later performed a version of the show in the adjacent school for the children.

He died in Brighton on 27th March 1978, aged 73, and is buried with his wife Mabel in Southern Cemetery, Manchester.

Wilfred Pickles was the uncle of judge James Pickles and actress Christina Pickles, and great-uncle of actress Carolyn Pickles and the "Portman & Pickles" public house in Market Street, Halifax, is named after him and film actor Eric Portman.

Peter

gsseditor@gmail.com

Stay in touch

You Write:

News and Views:

On this day 27^th  April 1960-1965

On 27/04/1960 the number one single was Do you Mind - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 27/04/1961 the number one single was Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Bootsie & Snudge (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 27/04/1962 the number one single was Wonderful Land - The Shadows and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 27/04/1963 the number one single was How Do You Do It? - Gerry & the Pacemakers and the number one album was Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & the Shadows. The top rated TV show was Labour Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 27/04/1964 the number one single was A World Without Love - Peter & Gordon and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 27/04/1965 the number one single was Ticket to Ride - The Beatles and the number one album was Rolling Stones Number 2 - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.