Reg Varney R.I.P.

[MessClub]

I just vaguely remember On The Buses as a nipper but seen the repeats. Lots of slapstick humour in it like girls falling in mud etc...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reg_Varney

[easy_as_]

I noticed on the news clip of the brief item last night, they showed the opening title sequence for a black and white episode . . . . Reg driving a bus up a hill towards the camera, front view on . . . . .

. . . a number 11 for those that want to know ( I think ) . . . anyway, the destination was . . . .

. . . Cemetery Gates !!!!!!


Musical Note 1 :-

Given Morrissey's various influences, I would not be the slightest bit surprised to find that that title sequence inspired the last track on side one of The Queen Is Dead. The name of the track . . . .

. . . Cemetery Gates !!!!!!!

Musical Note 2 :-

I have a recording of possibly one of many comedy records he made. Rather saucy and a very 60's-70's', none too subtle or pc type humour it is too.
It is a truly awful song called ' Come And Tickle My Fancy ' .
It makes Benny Hill look like Noel Coward. No snobbery intended of course !

Anyway, RIP in the big depot in the sky !

[BillShipton]

The Cemetary Gates was the famous turn-round point in on the buses where Stan and Jack would have a 'bit of slap and tickle' with the clippies (despite being at least 50 when the girls were early 20s).

So other trivia facts:
The last series of On the Buses was written by Bob Grant and Stephen Lewis who played Jack and Blakey
The buses in the TV series were (I think) Bristol Lodeckers cos full size double deckers wouldn't fit in under the lights.
They were green but red in the films cos foreigners were thought to believe all buses in the UK are red.
I am old enough to remember Reg's children's series The Valiant Varneys. Lots of slapstick in that, I recall.

I'll shut up now. Good to see Anna Karen is still working...

[dirtydids]

Not 100% sure i am correct here but i have the feeling at least some of the series was filmed at the old,long since demolished Eastern National Bus Depot at Wood Green in North London.
This was in the days when only 2 routes ran from there the 250 and 151 both going to Southend but by different routes.

[Etonman]

Sad news.
Didn't realise he was 92....guess you expect comedians and actors to live for ever and always stay at the same age as you remember them in their films or TV shows.

[Hayley]

I know, I know it's sad he's snuffed it but I always hated the way his greasy hair flopped in front of his face.

Nice clippy uniforms though!

[morepies]

'I'll get you Butler... Cor, Blimey, leave it out like!'

Never met Reg Varney, sadly, but did meet Stephen Lewis after he appeared in a Shakespeare play we studied at school.

A flavour of what everyone's on about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySbjaTEj72E

[Richard]

Phew! I thought for a moment this was going to turn into a 'vintage buses thread'

[Phantom]

Additional trivia - Reg Varney was the first person ever to use an ATM (cash point machine)

[andy250]

Additional trivia - Reg Varney was the first person ever to use an ATM (cash point machine)

Thats is proper mad Phantom!!!

How did you know that??

regards

Andy

[mr angry]

You are correct Mr Shipton, they were Bristol Lodekkas with ECW bodies, the reason was that the producers approached london Transport initially but they werent interested so they went to Eastern Counties instead, who as part of the Tilling group used them.

Bus thread over!

[driversoft]

Additional trivia - Reg Varney was the first person ever to use an ATM (cash point machine)

Thats is proper mad Phantom!!!

How did you know that??

regards

Andy

Reg was the celebrity who 'opened' the very first cash machine in the UK, and nominally made the first public withdrawal, somewhere in London as I recall.

[BillShipton]

I'd forgotten about the cashpoint business but it was in all the papers today. Glad I was right about the buses! I won't mention them again Mustn't upset Old Uncle Richard

[dirtydids]

I Mustn't upset Old Uncle Richard

pmsl

dids

[andy250]

I'd forgotten about the cashpoint business but it was in all the papers today. Glad I was right about the buses! I won't mention them again Mustn't upset Old Uncle Richard

I bet Rich use to deliver his supplies on them.

regards

Andy