Thur 9 April
It is with sadness that we have to report the death of long time DAAS supporter Ronnie Grainge.
Ronnie attended many events over the years with Frank Williams, his civil partner, and always had an interesting Dad's Army related story to tell.
Ronnie was part of the touring cast of the Dad's Army Stage Show during 1975 & 76 but not appear in the TV or film versions of the show.
Without his support and care, Frank would not have been able to attend many of our (and other) events, for which we are forever grateful.
It was a pleasure to have known him.
New Release
Jones’s Van ‘The Journey’
A new 66 page book charting the history of the iconic vehicle from its manufacture in Dagenham through its life in London before and after the war to its time as the platoon’s vehicle in Dad’s Army. The book gives more information about its other film and TV appearances as well as its post show history before residing in the Patrick Motor Museum for 20 years and then finally making its way ‘home’ to Walmington-on-Sea in Thetford.
The book is priced at £10 and can be purchased from the Dad’s Army Museum shop.
A Comedy Event Not To Be Missed!
Friday 15 May
at the Carnegie Rooms, Thetford
JEFFREY HOLLAND & SUSIE BRANN are reunited to celebrate the laughter legacy of Master of Situation Comedy David Croft. With special guest SU POLLARD appearing virtually.
Jeffrey, Susie and Su have recently been back together to record a brand new audio series, 'James & Ivy', a spin-off for their beloved downstairs staff and upstairs toffs from 'You Rang, M'Lord?', David Croft's final collaboration with Jimmy Perry.
This unforgettable and uplifting salute to some of our best-loved show will include hilarious memories and unforgettable anecdotes from such comedy classics as 'Hi-De-Hi!, Allo 'Allo, Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, and Oh Doctor Beeching!
So join Jeffrey Holland and Susie Brann, in conversation with Britain’s Comedy Historian Robert Ross, for a joy-filled wander down memory lane in salute to some of our finest SitComs. Happiness Guaranteed.
There will be a Meet and Greet after the show.
Tickets
General Admission £28
Concessions £25
DAAS Members get a discount via the DAAS Members Merchandise page.
James and Ivy
You Rang, M'Lord?, the hit upstairs-downstairs television comedy from David Croft and Jimmy Perry, is to be followed up with a sequel, more than 30 years after it ended.
Original series director Roy Gould and fellow producer/director Robin Carr have penned six episodes of a new audio sitcom, James And Ivy, tracing the continued adventures of James Twelvetrees (Jeffrey Holland) and Ivy Teasdale (Su Pollard), the footman and maid at the centre of the popular comedy.
Announced by Gould during a session hosted by historian Robert Ross at a Dad's Army convention in Thetford in May, the comedy was recorded in June. Producers hope it will be ready for release via as-yet unnamed digital channels in "five or six months". So maybe in time for Christmas!
You Rang, M'Lord? debuted on BBC One in 1988 and ran for four hugely popular series. Set in the late 1920s, it followed the goings-on in the London home of increasingly cash-strapped Lord Meldrum, including ongoing trysts, escapades and adventures of both the staff below stairs and the Meldrum family above.
It sfeatured many of the Croft and Perry actors in various roles throughout the series, which garnered a huge folling in Hungary.
Following the conclusion of the series in 1993, Gould gained permission from Croft and Perry to "have a go" at writing a sequel to their creation. Sadly, the project was turned down by the BBC, so it is being made independently.
With Pollard and Holland resuming their roles to star in the series, it will also reunite them with Perry Benson as Henry Livingstone, Susie Brann as Poppy Meldrum, and John D. Collins as Jerry.
Actress Judy Buxton and a range of further guest stars are also due to appear.
Further information about the release of the series has yet to be revealed.
