Goodbye, sarge
Stars pay tribute to It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’s Windsor Davies
ON telly he was the scariest soldier in the jungle, but last night Windsor Davies was hailed as a “charming, gentle human being”, following his death aged 88.
A platoon of stars lined up to pay tribute to the sit-com legend, who played Battery Sergeant Major “Shut Up” Williams in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
George Layton, who starred as bombardier “Solly” Solomons, said Windsor was nothing like his fearsome, snarling character.
George, 75, admitted: “He was the star of the show.
“He had so much energy and his performances were just amazing. I always worried about his voice because he did so much shouting.
CUDDLY
“But he was absolutely nothing like his character. In real life he was a big cuddly teddy bear, a very kind man who came with a real warmth.
“He loved laughing at other people’s jokes but was never one to show off himself. Windsor was very modest and just delightful.
“He was generous to a fault and just a good mate.”
He died peacefully on Thursday, just four months after he lost his wife of 62 years, Eluned.
Daughter Jane, one of his five children, said yesterday: “They leave a large and very close family who will all remember them with love, laughter and gratitude.” Windsor bellowed his way into the public’s affection on It Ain’t Half Hot Mum between 1974 and 1981, with his catchphrases “shut up” and “lovely boy”.
He described the show, which saw him stationed in the Indian jungle with a band of entertainers, as “my saviour,” adding that it “saved me from being a great actor”.
Fellow co-star Melvyn Hayes, 84, who played dragloving Bombardier ‘Gloria’ Beaumont, described him as “one of the good guys”.
GENTLE
He said: “I considered him my best friend, even though we hadn’t been in contact for many years.
“To work with him was a pleasure, a sheer delight because he was so generous in his work.
“You couldn’t buy him a drink because you’d go into a public house and they’d say ‘Windsor has put some money behind the counter for you’. He was nothing like the character he played – he was a charming, quietly spoken, gentle human being.”
Windsor is also fondly remembered for the No1 record he shared with co-star Don Estelle, novelty track Whispering Grass. It held the top spot for three weeks in 1975 and became one of the UK’S biggest duets of all time, selling more than a million copies. Windsor, who had retired to the south of France, was born in Canning Town, East London, but moved to his Welsh father’s home village of Nant-y-moel when the Second World War broke out. He worked as an electrical miner, completed National Service in Egypt and Libya between 1950 and 1952 and trained as a teacher before becoming an actor. He starred in a host of TV series, including Ring Out An Alibi, The New Statesman, Terrahawks and Never The Twain, alongside Donald Sinden. And as well as stage appearances, he had roles in more than 20 films, including two Carry Ons – Carry On
England and Carry On Behind. And he also lent his “impeccable comic timing” to the Sooty And Sweep Show in the Nineties.
His most recent credited appearance was in an episode of My Family in 2004.
Blackadder star Sir Tony Robinson paid tribute on Twitter by quoting from his hit, Whispering Grass.
Producer Jonathan Sothcott wrote: “Oh no! RIP that wonderful comedy actor Windsor Davies: unforgettable in 70s sitcom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and the lead in two of the later Carry Ons.
“Impeccable comic timing. Just his voice made me smile. Thanks for all the laughs.”
And Downton Abbey actor Paul Putner, 52, who worked with him in a 1991 West End play, described him as “one of the most generous, lovely blokes you could ever wish to meet”.
He added: “Gave me great encouragement. RIP.”
Take Me Out presenter Paddy Mcguinness, 45, tweeted: “Sad to hear that one of my faves from my childhood tele viewing years has passed away. Fond memories of watching It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and Never The Twain.”
And ‘Allo ‘Allo and Emmerdale star Vicki Michelle, 68, shared a picture of herself with Windsor and tweeted he was one of her “favourite people”.
She added: “A genuinely lovely generous man. Such fond memories of working with him. Had a huge presence and a huge heart. Will be missed by all who knew him.”
Sergeant-major Williams would have responded to the news with his mocking catchphrase: “Oh dear, how sad, never mind”.
But the comedy world is quieter without him – and he will be sorely missed by an army of fans.
nicola.small@sundaymirror.co.uk
In real life he was a big cuddly teddy bear, a kind man with real warmth
AIN’T HALF HOT MUM CO-STAR
GEORGE LAYTON