Eric Morecambe

As well as being a keen birdwatcher Eric was also a keen amateur photographer and together with Gordon Beningfield and myself, would often spend hours walking around the countryside near Harpenden taking photographs while Gordon made many of the sketches which would later grace the pages of some of the many books he illustrated.

Eric's TV persona wasn't too different to his local one. He would sometimes be seen wearing his spectacles upside down and because he was a genuinely funny person, laughs ensued wherever he trod. He was a frequent visitor to Thorn The Tobacconist in the High Street for pipe supplies. His daughter, Gail, and I were at St George's School at the same time and come Saturday lunchtime (we used to do Saturdays until 1970-something) there would be Eric in a silver blue Jensen Interceptor waiting to whisk Gail home.

Eric and his wife parked their Rolls or maybe a Bentley near the old Barclays Bank building on the High Street. I was about 16 or 17 ( now 67 ) and we lived in Rothamsted Avenue (No 22). He got out, did a "Morecambe" jiggle dance all around the car to let his wife out. It was very funny, but you had to be there, as they say. Lovely bloke.

I've a photo of myself standing by his statue in Morecambe. "Up the Hatters!"

My mother Freda Wyborn came to know Eric through his support for local charities. He was said to be one of those performers who could never switch off. It could be difficult at times to do your shopping on one of the days that he had been sent to collect the groceries. Upon his arrival, Bentleys the grocers would turn into a Morecombe & Wise show, and serious business would be suspended.

The Harpenden Corps of Drums were lucky enough to have Eric Morcambe as their Honorary President from the late 1970s until his death.

Eric Morecombe (Bartholomew) and his wife were customers in my father's shop, C Smith, Shoe repairs at 3 Station Road (see the last photo on the page about the Munt family, ed). In 1961 I began serving in the shop on Saturdays and often served either Eric or his wife as they brought their shoes to be repaired by my Dad. He looked no different to his stage persona when I served him. A funny man.

I live near Blackpool and I enjoy finding out about various places connected with it; there is a lot of talk about Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise with the new statue in Blackpool. I have managed to track down others in the area including Jim Bowen and his Bullseye which we regularly watch.

So what brings me to Harpenden?

Well, I wasn't aware of the connection Harpenden has with Eric Morecambe's family, and as I visit that way (Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, etc) I will be searching for more information as it is not just who they are but the landmarks and memories the areas hold which I am sure I will find interesting too. I shall be in the area again in the near future so I now have a new factor for when I visit the area.

I shall be using this website to build my knowledge of Eric to get a better understanding of him. I am glad I have found a reliable source and shall be looking into it as it will give me the knowledge I need about both Morecambe and Wise. Out of everyone I have spoken to, nobody has pointed me to Harpenden.

I shall also be finding out more about Ernie too but for the moment Eric takes priority.

Together with my husband we arranged a day of fun at The Wilbury Hotel Letchworth for the Muscular Distrophy charity for which so many customers collected. Eric Morecombe with his wife Joan came along to collect the cheque on behalf of the charity - what a lovely man. Our pleasure to have met him and Joan. The year was 1976.

I remember in 1980 when I was 9 years old going to see the opening ceremony of FineFare in Southdown for which Eric Morecambe was cutting the ribbon. I went by myself and felt totally privileged to be in the front and seeing him up close but also struck by how tall he was. 

A correction regarding the presentation of the oil painting, the name of the artist is Anthony Roe (full name George Anthony Roe, my father). It was a very pleasant surprise to see this photograph.

Ed. many thanks for pointing out this error - we have made the correction to the caption below the photograph. The caption is correct in Eric Brandreth's book.