Soap actor tells of his anger over old friend’s f inal days
FORMER Coronation Street actor Ken Morley yesterday said he would miss his ‘charming, witty’ friend ‘Lewy’ – and added that Scottish authorities should be ‘running with fear’ as they await his post-mortem results.
Mr Morley, 74, who played Reg Holdsworth in the soap from 1989 to 1995, paid tribute to former flatmate Mr Lewis but raised serious concerns over his friend’s care in the final months of his life.
Mr Morley told The Scottish Mail on Sunday that Lewy would be remembered fondly, adding: ‘Lewy was very well-liked and jolly.
‘He was quite unusual to look at – he was tall and rotund at one point. But he was always very attractive to women because he was so funny.
‘He was the first out of all of us friends to get into TV and films. He did so much, and not just Maid Marian and Brushstrokes, he travelled all over Europe acting.
‘We had great times together. I’ll miss my youth with him and having a wild time. Life was always on full tilt when I was with Lewy. And that’s why people will be so
‘Annoyed that the council had taken control of his life’
shocked that he died in such dire circumstances.’
Although the lifelong friends drifted apart when they both got married, as soon as Mr Morley heard Mr Lewis was unwell and in a home, he travelled to Edinburgh to visit him.
And while he recognised Mr Lewis was suffering with diabetes, Mr Morley was shocked to hear that his friend had received a potent medication plan – usually reserved for patients with a terminal illness.
He said: ‘Last time I saw him – just a few months back – he was lucid. He spoke very clearly and expressed his annoyance that Edinburgh council had taken control of his life. He felt he had lost control of his life and he didn’t want that – he just wanted to go home.
‘Whoever is responsible for what happened to Lewy should be running with fear.
‘I will miss him greatly. Lewy just had this inner charm that would get to people – he could relate to anyone.’