‘Right away, Mr Perks!’
THE Keighley & Worth Valley Railway has paid tribute to actor Bernard Cribbins, one of the stars of the 1970 big screen movie version of Edith A Nesbit’s classic The Railway Children, who died aged 93 on July 27. Bernard’s acting career spanned seven decades and also included Carry On films, Doctor Who, and narration of The Wombles.
On July 30, the railway placed a wreath on the smokebox door of its USATC S160 2-8-0 No. 5820 Big Jim in his honour. In The Railway Children, Bernard starred as porter Mr Perks.
Graham Mitchell, was a newlyqualified volunteer guard on the line at the time of the filming, playing the guard on the Old Gentleman’s Train, He later became the line’s chairman, and described Bernard as a “national treasure.”
He said: “It was an honour and a privilege to have worked with him on Oakworth station. He was a man of great warmth and charm whose quips and ad-libs in that film have been repeated and enjoyed many, many times by several generations of KWVR volunteers.”
Bernard returned to the railway in the 1980s to present a half-hour Great Days Out programme for the BBC, in which he rode in the Old Gentleman’s carriage.
In a statement, his agent, Gavin Barker Associates, said: “Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question.
“He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”
Bernard lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year.