DERYCK GUYLERWhen the producers of 1970s television comedies wanted an officious authority figure, the actor they often called was Deryck Guyler, who died on 7 October, 1999, aged 85.
During a career in entertainment that lasted more than 40 years, Mr Guyler performed on radio with Tommy Handley, on the classical stage with Sir John Gielgud and on the big screen with the Beatles.
But it is for the television roles of “PC Corky” in Sykes and “Norman Potter” in Please Sir! that he will be most remembered. These were self important and short-tempered characters who Mr Guyler portrayed with riotous aplomb.
He was also something of a washboard virtuoso and played the instrument on three tracks of a 1990 album by Shakin’ Stevens.
Deryck Guyler was born on 29 April, 1914, in Wallasey, Cheshire, the only child of Elsie and Samuel Guyler. He grew up in Liverpool and was educated at Liverpool College.
After leaving school he spent some time working in the family jewellery business, Green & Guyler, before leaving for theology college in Bristol to train to become an Anglican Minister.
It became apparent fairly quickly that jazz-loving MrGuyler was not cut out for a life in the church and he soon returned home and joined the Liverpool Repertory Company in 1935.
During the Second World War, Mr Guyler was called up to serve in the RAF police but was invalided out with eye trouble. He joined the Entertainment National Services Association (ENSA) which toured extensively entertaining the troops.
During this period Mr Guyler met and married his wife, Paddy, who was also working for ENSA as part of a singing act with her two sisters. A short time later, Mr Guyler converted to the Catholic faith and the couple had a second wedding ceremony.
After a period of serious acting with the BBC Drama Repertory Company he joined the hugely popular radio programme “It’s That Man Again,” in 1946. He remained a fixture on the show, voicing many characters, until 1949 when it was cancelled following the death of its star, Tommy Handley.
Mr Guyler’s television career began in 1953 when he appeared in The Eric Barker Half Hour . Regular small screen appearances followed including the Michael Bentine series, It’s a Square World in 1960.
There were appearances supporting Dick Emery and Dora Bryan before Mr Guyler really made his name as a comedy actor in the LWT series, Please Sir!, in 1968. The show ran for three years and he followed this up with eight years in Sykes Both were hugely successful shows and Deryck Guyler became a household name.
Mr Guyler remained happily married to Paddy and together they had two sons – Peter in 1943 and Chris in 1948. The Guylers retired to Brisbane in 1993 to be closer toson Chris and his three grandchildren.
Mr Guyler made frequent appearances on talk shows often performing on his beloved washboard. Aside from the Shakin’ Stevens album, he also made his own record, “You Can’t Kill an Old Desert Rat,” in 1971 and played on the Spinners’ record, “Coney Island Washboard.”
Mr Guyler was a deeply spiritual and modest man who was never more content than when reading his Bible, listening to jazz records or adding to his collection of model soldiers - he hadmore than10,000.
During the course of his career, Deryck Guyler became a much-loved national institution. He was honoured by This is Your Life in 1974.
Keep me informed of updates
