Waverley tribute to actor Timothy West who's died aged 90
He was a star of stage and screen and was married to Prunella Scales for more than 60 years
Last updated 13th Nov 2024
Actor Timothy West, well known for his roles on TV and theatre as well as his marriage to Prunella Scales, has died aged 90.
His family said he died peacefully in his sleep aged 90 “with his friends and family at the end”.
West, who was was married to fellow actress Prunella Scales for more than 60 years, starred in television shows such as comedy drama Brass, sitcom Not Going Out and soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders.
In a statement, his children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph said: “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90-years old.
“Tim was with friends and family at the end.
“He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.”
West was also married to actor Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961, and they had a daughter, Juliet West.
Boat-loving couple
Tim and Prunella married in 1963, and have two sons, actor Samuel West, and Joseph West.
In more recent years they appeared in the documentary series Great Canal Journeys between 2014 and 2021, which saw them travelling on narrowboats together.
They were among the most dedicated supporters of the Glasgow-based PS Waverley since it was saved from scrap 50 years ago, helping financially to keep the world's last ocean-going paddle steamer sailing, and travelling on her regularly.
General Manager, Paul Semple, told Clyde 1 News: "They would travel right around the UK to get to Waverley and to travel on her. They would always make a point of coming to the Clyde, seeing the ship on the south coast, the Bristol Channel and on the Thames.
"I spoke to Tim when he was onboard in June. We treated him as a friend when he travelled with Prunella, they were just so enthusiastic about the ship.
"They were happy to be photographed on board and engage with passengers and crew. It's a sad loss for us that he'll no longer be able to sail on the ship."
From Corrie and Eastenders to King Lear
In Brass he played ruthless self-made businessman Bradley Hardacre from 1982 to 1984 before returning for a third series in 1990, while in Not Going Out he played Geoffrey, the father of Lucy Adams, played by Sally Bretton.
In Coronation Street he appeared in seven episodes in 2013 as Eric Babbage, while in EastEnders he played Stan Carter from 2014 to 2015.
During his career West also played former British prime minister Winston Churchill three times, in From Churchill and the Generals (1979), The Last Bastion (1984), and Hiroshima (1995).
In 2019, the Bradford-born actor played Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes, a recreation of three missing episodes of the BBC comedy Dad’s Army.
He was also a regular performer of Shakespeare, playing Lear in 2016 and 2002.
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