Why Alastair Sim, the mad ‘headmistress’ of St. Trinian’s, refused to become a real-life Sir
HE is widely regarded as one of Britain’s finest comic actors.
During a career spanning more than four decades, Alastair Sim featured in more than 50 films – from A Christmas Carol to the hilarious St Trinian’s series.
But his family have revealed he was so humble about success that he refused a knighthood because he did not want to be called ‘Sir’.
The revelation comes as one of his best-loved films has been digitally restored to allow a new generation to appreciate his genius.
Born in Edinburgh in 1900, Sim taught elocution and starred in a number of Shakespearean plays in London’s West End before his cinema career began in 1935.
He was offered the knighthood in 1970 by Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
But he had already been awarded a CBE years earlier and he declined the greater honour of the OBE. His daughter Merlith McKendrick, 79, explained: ‘My father had a lovely humour and was a very funny man, but he didn’t want the title that came with being knighted.
‘The CBE was a great honour. I remember going to Buckingham Palace with him when he got it. The Queen gave it to him and I went in with him to see it being presented.
‘I think he was pleased about being given the CBE, but he didn’t talk about it. He didn’t make a thing of it. He didn’t accept a knighthood because he felt that if people started calling him Sir Alastair they would treat him differently and he didn’t want that.’
Sim’s many films include Alfred Hitchcock’s 1950 thriller Stage Fright, An Inspector Calls (1954) and The Green Man (1956). In 1948, he was elected Rector of the University of Edinburgh, a post he held until 1951, the year in which he played the lead role in Scrooge.
Though an accomplished dramatic actor, he became best known for comically sinister roles and especially his part in the farcical The Belles of St Trinian’s, in which he played – in drag – headmistress Millicent (later Amelia) Fritton.
His final screen role was as The Earl in the 1976 remake of Rogue Male opposite Peter O’Toole.
He remained so down to earth, according to his granddaughter Rona McKendrick, that she only discovered how famous he was in 1976 when his death was announced on the radio.
She said: ‘He died when I was seven. I was surprised that they were announcing my grandfather’s death. My mother explained it to me that he was quite well known. We used to watch Scrooge every Christmas, but I thought everyone’s grandfather played Scrooge. I hadn’t realised it was just mine.’
On May 18, Studio Canal will reissue The Green Man in DVD, Blu-ray and digital formats. Actor Stephen Fry has called The Green Man ‘the perfect example of a great British comedy’.