Doris Archer swapped Ambridge for life on Torquay seafront

Shining the spotlight on significant people who lived in 20th century Torbay - not always famous - by Ian Handford, president of Torbay Civic Society. Number 7 - Miss Gwendoline Berryman (Doris Archer)

Born at Burley Road, Penn Fields, Wolverhampton, in December 1906, Gwendoline M Berryman would eventually rise in notoriety on radio to be one of the nation's most-loved stars as Doris Archer in BBC's The Archers.

Gwen would initially train to be a singer with the Royal Academy of Music before in the 1930s being an understudy and taking part in her first film.

But illness intervened and Gwen withdrew from entertainment to open a baby linen shop in Wolverhampton, later admitting: “I knew absolutely nothing about it” or its uncertain future.

But having joined a repertory company in the city, she remained there 14 years.

Later, she would confide: “It is rather funny when I look back, in those days I was doing comedy and longing to do a sweet mother for a change, now I’m a sweet mother longing to do comedy.”

She even shared the limelight with the actor of stage and screen Kenneth More in a 26-week run The Forsyth Saga. The next career move came after receiving a letter from BBC who had heard her voice.

Followers of The Archers will understand why that audition was successful. The BBC found later they could never understudy 'Doris', the recording voice was unique.

Gwen had heard in 1951 the Corporation wanted to produce a programme to assist farmers coming back from the Second World War. Having bought land or a farm, BBC executives realised there was a need for a light-hearted advice programme for these amateur agricultural entrepreneurs.

She later remarked: “Although the programme was written strictly with this in mind, everything was checked with an expert. The idea was that Dan the farmer did things right and other people, mainly Walter Gabriel, did them the wrong way and so he told how to do it properly. Yet if we made a small slip, the next day we had no less than 4,000 letters from listeners pointing this out.”

Gwen was always amazed at her popularity and once said: “Fortunately, they seemed to want me to stay and my one hope is that when the time comes they wont’ kill me off – I don’t think I want to hear my own funeral.”

Doris lasted 29 years before finally being written out of the programme. The years had involved weekly trips to Birmingham TV Centre until, eventually, Miss Berryman moved to Torquay, yet continued to return to Brum each week.

Eventually, rheumatoid arthritis struck and in becoming hard to bare, Gwen said: “Getting a bit sick of Doris” and “I think I like her better when she is a bit nasty and not quite so twee.”

Having fallen at Paddington, it was in South Africa in 1962 her next disaster occurred. While undertaking a conducted tour of a game reserve with her family, the ranger ordered a quick retreat - a rhino was charging - which resulted in Gwen twisting her ankle.

When the ankle was x-rayed, her suspicions were confirmed. Earlier 'twinges' were psoriatic arthritis, a disease involving knee and ankle.

Now forced to use a walking trolley and with no lift at the BBC, two floors became hard to negotiate and a wheelchair became a step too far and she offered her resignation. It was refused although, fortunately, BBC Radio were about to move to Pebble Mill.

Having family in Devon, Miss Berryman moved into Seaway Court, Torquay, in 1974, continuing to return to Birmingham weekly.

She now learned Italian and joined the Soroptimists and, from 1974, even helped an advice service in 'Arthritis Weekly'. She wrote to 'advise people to live where they can see things happening from their windows - keeping cheerful – and not saying I can’t go out'.

At Glebe Cottage, Ambridge, Doris died in October 1980 and after 29 years on radio, Miss Berryman died peacefully at Torbay Hospital on December 20, 1983.

The copy of an article about Gwen Berryman can be obtained by sending two first class stamps and a small stamped addressed envelope to Torbay Civic Society, Suite 4, The Business Centre, 1 Palace Avenue, Paignton TQ3 3HA

IAN'S COMMENT. This amazing lady helped establish the BBC's longest-running radio show ever - yet chose our town for retirement. Next week - Edwin John Beer