Arthur English

Arthur Leslie Norman English (9 May 1919 – 16 April 1995) was an English comedian from the music hall tradition.
Arthur English as his 'Spiv' character

English was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. After serving in the army in World War II, reaching the rank of sergeant, English worked as a painter and decorator in his native town. He polished up his comedy routines at this time and eventually appeared at the Windmill Theatre in London and did much other stage work. His radio work began with the BBC series Variety Bandbox, using as always his own Aldershot accent. His usual persona was a stereotypical wartime "spiv", and he became known as "The Prince of the Wide Boys". His usual delivery was to tell a long rambling shaggy dog story at ever-increasing rapidity without losing clarity until, at top speed, he would end with the catch-phrase: "Play the music! Open the cage!" For a time he was resident comedian at the Windmill Theatre. He also appeared in The Sweeney.

He began to appear on British television in mainly comedy roles in the 1970s, and was noticeable because of his manner and appearance. He is remembered for his character of the truculent and bolshy maintenance man, Mr Harman, in Are You Being Served? which he played from 1976 to 1985, including the film version. He played an even more unsympathetic character in In Sickness and in Health, a follow-up series to Till Death Us Do Part from 1985 to 1990.

He had more likeable roles in two British children's TV series: The Ghosts of Motley Hall, which ran from 1976-1978 on ITV (produced by Granada Television), and Follyfoot, which ran from 1971-1973, also on ITV (produced by Yorkshire Television). He was in several other films and Maths Counts (1982), a British TV schools programme starring Jack Wild as English's grandson. In 1985, he appeared in an episode of the American TV series Magnum, P.I.

Following the death of his wife Ivy (who made his enormous kipper tie at the beginning of his career), late in life English married a young dancer, Teresa, that he met during one of his stage shows, and had a child with her - Clare Louise English. The late John Inman and Jack Douglas were the child's godparents. The marriage was later dissolved.

Arthur English died in 1995 due to complications from emphysema. His ashes were interred in a plot at Aldershot Crematorium.

He had been president of Aldershot Town F.C. which had been formed out of the ashes of Aldershot F.C. The new club badge depicted a rising phoenix and was designed by English.