PETER BARKWORTHPerhaps best known for playing bank manager Mark Telford in the 1979 BBC television series ‘Telford’s Change’, actor Peter Barkworth died on 21 October, 2006, just 10 days after suffering a stroke. He was 77.The much-loved Kent-born actor won two BAFTA awards during an illustrious career that spanned almost four decades.Besides ‘Telford’s Change’, he also made a series of appearances in cult series ‘The Avengers’ and Doctor Who serial, ‘The Ice Warriors’, as well as the groundbreaking 1965 boardroom drama ‘The Power Game’. He also wrote ‘For All Occasions: A Selection of Poems, Prose and Party Pieces’ and the acclaimed ‘About Acting’.The Sunday Times described him as: “An actor of the utmost skill and refinement whose physical control and spiritual awareness has always had a jewel-like gleam and precision.”Born in Kent on 14 January, 1929, Peter Wynn Barkworth grew up in Cheshire. He was educated at Stockport School where, despite his headmaster’s wish for him to go to university, he set his heart on a career in acting and, in 1946, won a scholarship to RADA.He spent the next few years in repertory in Sheffield and Folkestone and made his film debut in 1951’s ‘A Touch of Larceny’. Eventually he went on to teach acting techniques back at RADA during the 1960s.Meanwhile, a string of television and film opportunities also surfaced, including ‘Professional Foul’, ‘Manhunt’ and even the cult series ‘The Avengers’.1971 saw Mr Barkworth appear onstage in numerous plays in the West End, perhaps most notably as Edward VIII in ‘Crown Matrimonial’ at the Haymarket Theatre in 1972. It would be a role which he would later come to reprise on television.Undoubtab ly his most famous role came in 1979 with ‘Telford’s Change’, a hit BBC series watched every week by an incredible average of seven million viewers and co-starring Hannah Gordon and Keith Barron.Besides appearing in film such as ‘International Velvet’, ‘Patton’ and ‘Where Eagles Dare’, the 1980s also saw Mr Barkworth return to RADA once again to serve as a member of the Council for 16 years. However, his film and television work continued with roles in the hit 1981 drama ‘Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years’, as well as serials ‘The Price’ and ‘Late Starter.’ Interestingly, both these two series and ‘Telford’s Change’ were based on original ideas of Mr Barkworth’s own.His final film, ‘Wilde’, alongside Stephen Fry, hit screens in 1997. He subsequently retired from acting and finally died at the Royal Free Hospital in London of bronchopneumonia 10 days after suffering a stroke.Even today, his legacy lives on with his book ‘About Acting’ still highly recommended for both students and professionals alike.In the years following his retirement, Mr Barkworth enjoyed keeping up with current affairs and, with a love for travelling, reportedly went around the world twice.While teaching at RADA, one of his most famous students was Anthony Hopkins.
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