Thora, national treasure on both stage and screen

Continuing a series on significant people  who lived in Torbay during the 20th century -  not always famous: 

Thora Hird was the last child of James (manager of The Royalty Theatre, Morecambe) and Mary - daughter of a local fisherman.
She was born on May 28, 1911, and her first  appearance on stage came when as a baby she was carried on to it by her father.  
As a child Thora could relate stories well and when her grandfather disappeared (or was it walked out) James announced the “buccaneer” would likely never return making a super added tale for Thora. 
Most of her early memories were happy although sadness came when her sister Olga was killed by a motorbike on Morecambe promenade. 
Thora would later attend Miss Nelson’s Preparatory School in Morecambe and get extra curricular music and dancing classes while working as a cashier at the local Co-op. This became a wonderful opportunity for her to observe characters and later at the local Royalty she would playact anyone. 
Her diary noted: “I’ve played all the customers I used to serve – maids, landladies, cleaners and forthright parents. In fact when I’m acting I’ll do some little thing I’ve remembered its actually that simple."
Thora was indebted to her parents 'they taught me everything I knew about the theatre', confirming her father 'never just left a room, he made an exit', and later she learned the art.  She tells of an incident where her director  father, addressing the staff in a rehearsal for The Student Prince, said: “Do you know how to spell the word comedienne Miss Hird?” Being the touch of the master but with skill. During his last evening on earth he went to his daughter’s bedroom saying 'Goodnight love - You’re a wonderful bloody actress and I’ve lived long enough to see you perform the way you did tonight' and mirroring him outspoken Flora asked 'can I have that in writing' - it was the night he exited earth. 
 Thora's debut on a London stage came in 1940 when appearing in No Medals at the Vaudeville opposite Fay Compton and Frederick Leicester. The play ran for two years yet in 1941 George Formby introduced her to Michael Bacon of Ealing studios who soon had her under contract to appear in his film Black Sheep of Whitehall starring Will Hay. 
Her diary also confirms 'in some cases I literally appeared – just around the door - that was all. But like anybody making a living I took most work which came along'. 
She  generally acted  out individuals as shown in saucy seaside postcards of the era - like the all-seeing boarding house landlady or gossiping neighbour or sharp tongued mother-in-law. She later remarked being able 'to easily get into the skin of any character' I had seen.   
 It was when appearing in The Best Laid Plans at Blackpool in 1962 she was booked to appear at Torquay the following season. She spent the season at our Pavilion Theatre with Freddie Frinton and attended many charity events including - opening the Marldon Apple Pie Fair, supporting a Fancy Dress Competition and Decorated wheeled vehicle event and a Pram and Bike event. Later she lived at Watcombe Park with her husband Jimmy who was enjoying a season as a musician, at the Princess Theatre Torquay.  
But perhaps she is most remembered for playing Edie Pegden in BBC TV’s Last of the Summer Wine alongside Compo and his neighbour Nora Batty. Thora worked with all of the famous comedians of the era and eventually was made a Dame of the British Empire and achieved a second BAFTA for Best Actress of the Year for her  appearance in Alan Bennett's monologues - Talking Heads.
Finally, having taken part in 100 films and undertaken 500 plays and made an unrecorded number of personal appearances, sadly at the age of 91 Thora suffered a stroke and then died in the actors Nursing Home at Brinsworth Hill, London, on March 15, 2003. 
IAN'S COMMENT -  An actress who often played in theatres all around Devon yet who is best remembered for her appearance in the TV series, Last of the Summer Wine.