Celebrity Ockley

Ockley has been home to a number of well known residents, including:

Molly Sugden

Mary Isobel Sugden (21 July 1922 – 1 July 2009), known professionally as Mollie Sugden was an English actress. She was best known for being an original cast member in the British sitcom Are You Being Served? (1972–1985) as senior saleswoman Mrs. Slocombe and appeared reprising the character in the AYBS spin-off Grace & Favour (1992–1993).

She is also well known for playing Nellie Harvey in Coronation Street (1965–1976), Mrs Hutchinson in The Liver Birds (1971–1996), Ida Willis in That's My Boy (1981–1986) and Nora Powers in My Husband and I (1987–1988). (source: Wikipedia)

She lived for many years at The Tuns, on the Green, with her husband William Moore

William Moore

William Aaron Moore (19 April 1916 – 24 April 2000) was an English character actor. He was best known for his role as long-suffering Sydney Lumsden in the popular 1980s comedy series Sorry! (in which he became known for the catchphrase "Language, Timothy!")He also appeared in numerous other television programmes, including Coronation Street as Cyril Turpin, Betty Turpin’s husband from 1969–1970. The character put in two more appearances in 1972, then died off-screen in 1974. Moore was married to actress Mollie Sugden from 29 March 1958 until his death. Moore starred with Sugden in My Husband and I.Moore died on 24 April 2000 in London, five days after his 84th birthday. (source: wikipedia).

William (Bill Moore) provided the voice over to the original “Ockley Video)

He lived for many years at The Tuns, on the Green, with his wife, Molly Sugden.

Bob Larbey

Bob began his writing career in radio and made his television debut with a film adaptation, ‘Mrs Silly’ starring Maggie Smith, which proved a huge popular success.

With his partner John Esmonde he has written many comedy series for television, including ‘Please Sir’, ‘The Fenn Street Gang’, ‘Get Some In’, ‘The Good Life’, ‘The Other One’, ‘Feet First’, ‘Just Liz’, ‘Don't Rock the Boat’, ‘Now and Then’, ‘Ever Decreasing Circles’ and ‘Double First’.

His solo work for television includes ‘On the Up’, ‘My Good Friend’ and ‘As Time Goes By’, but Bob is probably best known for the highly acclaimed series ‘A Fine Romance’ starring Judi Dench and Michael Williams, for which he won both the Broadcasting Press Guild Award and the Pye Award for Best Comedy of 1982.

Bob’s work for stage includes ‘Building Blocks’ (in which the central character was allegedly based on a well-known local builder) and ‘A Month of Sundays’, for which he won the London Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy of 1986.

With John he wrote ‘Hiccups’, which was first performed at the Thorndike Theatre in 1980 but was revived to appreciative reviews by ODS at the Dorking Halls in 1988. For this production Bob provided additional material, including two entirely new characters, and directed it himself with Trisha’s assistance.

Specially for ODS, Bob has written and directed two plays, ‘Half an Idea’ and ‘A Small Affair’. Most recently, in November 2001, the Society performed Bob’s play ‘Sand Castles’, a comedy of beach hut politics based on an idea by Trisha, originally written to a commission from BT for a millennium project. (source: Ockley Dramatic Society)

Bob loved for many years in Weare Street with his wife Trish, an active ODS member.

Oliver Reed

Oliver Reed was born on February 13, 1938 in Wimbledon, London, England. He was an actor, known for Gladiator (2000), Oliver! (1968) and The Brood (1979). He was married to Josephine Burge and Kate Byrne. He died on May 2, 1999 in Valletta, Malta.

Trade Mark : Outspoken views a trademark especially his opinions of his co-stars or women in general. Refined, hushed baritone voice. Often sported a thick handle-bar moustache. Ocean blue eyes. Penchant for heavy drinking.

Narrowly missed out on playing superspy James Bond because of his love of alcohol and fighting. A new biography of the star uncovered a letter from Bond mastermind Albert R. Broccoli outlining how close he came to replacing Sean Connery in the role. Broccoli wrote, "With Reed we would have had a far greater problem to destroy his image and re-mold him as James Bond. We just didn't have the time or money to do that." According to Cliff Goodwin, author of the book "Evil Spirits", "Oliver was probably within a sliver of being cast as Bond." He adds, "But by 1968 his affairs were public and he was already drinking and fighting - as far away from the refined Bond image as you could get.". (source: IMDb)

In the 1970s, he owned Broome Hall and was also landlord of the Cricketers’ Arms, Ockley. He later downsized to Pinkhurst Farm, later owned by Jim Davidson.

Jim Davidson

James Cameron Davidson OBE (born 13 December 1953) is an English stand-up comedian, actor, singer and TV presenter. He hosted the television shows Big Break and The Generation Game. He also developed adult pantomime shows such as Boobs in the Wood and Sinderella. (source Wikipedia)

In the 1990s he lived locally at Pinkhurst farm with his then wife Tracey.

For several years, he sponsored the Jim Davidson Charity Golf Day at Gatton Manor.

(photo credit: British Classic Comedy)