D Day For Clegg! 

By Gerald D Hayne


Once again the finest of our Summer Wine actors has triumphed in a role which was totally different from that for which we know him so well. 

The highly-talented Peter Sallis (aka Norman Clegg) played the leading role in an episode of the BBC1 afternoon series Doctors shown on 4^th June 2004. The play concerned a veteran of the D Day Landings who helps a girl and her mother to get their priorities right. In it he played the part of a veteran from World War 2 who was keen to go to Normandy to pay homage to his friends, both those who had fallen at the time and those who were attending to mark the 60th anniversary of the D Day Landings. His doctor strongly advised against him making the trip because of his failing health and the exchange of views between the two actors was simply magical with Peter demonstrating just how much skill he has as a truly professional actor. 

The brilliantly written play which only lasted half an hour dealt with two separate but linked aspects namely that of the veteran, Arthur Wetherill and the conflict between a mother and her daughter who wanted to become a soldier. Suffice to say that Arthur became involved with the arguments between mother and daughter and the whole matter was eventually determined to the benefit of all parties. Christopher Timothy (best known from All Creatures Great and Small – another Yorkshire based cherished tv series) played one of the doctors.

I have never watched this programme before and freely admit that I was waiting to see if Tim Henman could win his own battle in France but was transfixed when I realized that Peter was on our screens again. The part was made for him in that he played a rather more stoical character than Clegg with a clever touch of a different accent. There were, in my opinion, moments when his description of his part in the events on the D Day Landings was truly emotional and filled with pathos and helped to bring to the fore those feelings which those of us who share in the enormity of what was done for us by “so many” who lost their lives have so clearly. I regret that I did not record who the writer was but full credit to him/her also for such a clever piece of topical and poignant drama. 

Peter Sallis has been and always will be one of our finest British actors and I believe it is high time that his lifetime’s work was recognized with an honour or decoration. Because of the addition of so many other excellent actors to LOSW his role is rather less than it used to be these days for perhaps obvious reasons; look back at some of Clegg’s “musings” as written so brilliantly by Roy Clarke, however, and also at the many other roles he has played on television and in the theatre and there can be little doubt that we have been SO very fortunate in having been entertained so expertly and professionally over the years in our favourite tv comedy by a brilliant actor. Long may he and all the other actors and crew continue! 

Gerald D Hayne
June 2004

Editor's Note: Many thanks Gerald for taking the time and trouble to write this article for the website, which will be appreciated by fans everywhere.