It is Christmas. As children sing carols and snowflakes tumble out of the night sky, we focus on a funeral parlour whose front window is regaled by the memorable sign: A Merry Xmas To All Our Customers.
And with that, another episode of 'In Loving Memory' was underway. This popular show was created and written by Dick Sharples, and centred round a Northern funeral parlour, owned by Jeremiah Unsworth. The pilot - made by Thames - starred Edward 'Mr.Grimsdale!' Chapman as 'Unsworth', Marjorie Rhodes as wife 'Ivy', and Harold Goodwin as their accident-prone nephew 'Billy'. It went out in late 1969, but the series proper did not materialise for another ten years - made by Yorkshire Television - and was recast. Freddie Jones replaced Chapman, Thora Hird took Rhodes' place, with Christopher 'Upstairs, Downstairs' Beeny cast in the Goodwin role. It was set in 1929 as it was when motor vehicles started to replace horse-drawn hearses. Jeremiah drove off in a hearse whose brakes Billy happened to be fixing. They failed, and he was killed, leaving Ivy and Billy in control of the family business. She was a lot kinder to him than his uncle had been.
The show had a lovely period flavour, and good central performances, particularly Hird. I used to laugh whenever Ivy answered the phone and put on a posh voice when talking to prospective clients, and - rather like Albert Steptoe - could feign an illness whenever her nephew discussed his future. Avis Bunnage played 'Amy Jenkinson', Ivy's friend, in the first three seasons, while Colin Farrell ( no, not THAT Colin Farrell. The one who dug up a cricket pitch looking for treasure in 'Porridge' ) was 'Ernie Hadfield', Billy's pal, who had a propensity to laugh at funerals. And there was plenty to laugh at in this show. It did, however, upset some viewers who saw nothing amusing about the sight of coffins falling out of hearses and sliding into rivers.
Elisabeth Sladen ( 'Sarah Jane Smith' from 'Dr.Who' ) was in one episode, while the great Liz Smith was in another. Richard Wilson guested twice.
Billy's complicated love life provided a major source of comedy. In one episode, Billy was all set to make love to the local bike 'Daisy Plummer' ( Lori Wells from 'Get Some In' ) when Auntie Ivy came home unexpectedly early. She caught him stark naked in the larder, with her best jelly mold covering his privates. He married 'Mary Braithwaite' ( Sherrie Hewson ) eventually, and she moved into the parlour for the last two seasons. A running gag had their bed creaking loudly each time they got into it, resulting in Ivy putting lots of bromide in Billy's tea.
'Memory' had a good run - 36 episodes ( not counting the pilot ) and a Christmas Special - and is now out on D.V.D. It is a charming show in the mold of early 'Last Of The Summer Wine', and the theme tune is wonderfully English ( also used in the children's series 'Vision On' ). Rather like the 'Steptoe' theme, it has you smiling even before the episode has properly begun.
And with that, another episode of 'In Loving Memory' was underway. This popular show was created and written by Dick Sharples, and centred round a Northern funeral parlour, owned by Jeremiah Unsworth. The pilot - made by Thames - starred Edward 'Mr.Grimsdale!' Chapman as 'Unsworth', Marjorie Rhodes as wife 'Ivy', and Harold Goodwin as their accident-prone nephew 'Billy'. It went out in late 1969, but the series proper did not materialise for another ten years - made by Yorkshire Television - and was recast. Freddie Jones replaced Chapman, Thora Hird took Rhodes' place, with Christopher 'Upstairs, Downstairs' Beeny cast in the Goodwin role. It was set in 1929 as it was when motor vehicles started to replace horse-drawn hearses. Jeremiah drove off in a hearse whose brakes Billy happened to be fixing. They failed, and he was killed, leaving Ivy and Billy in control of the family business. She was a lot kinder to him than his uncle had been.
The show had a lovely period flavour, and good central performances, particularly Hird. I used to laugh whenever Ivy answered the phone and put on a posh voice when talking to prospective clients, and - rather like Albert Steptoe - could feign an illness whenever her nephew discussed his future. Avis Bunnage played 'Amy Jenkinson', Ivy's friend, in the first three seasons, while Colin Farrell ( no, not THAT Colin Farrell. The one who dug up a cricket pitch looking for treasure in 'Porridge' ) was 'Ernie Hadfield', Billy's pal, who had a propensity to laugh at funerals. And there was plenty to laugh at in this show. It did, however, upset some viewers who saw nothing amusing about the sight of coffins falling out of hearses and sliding into rivers.
Elisabeth Sladen ( 'Sarah Jane Smith' from 'Dr.Who' ) was in one episode, while the great Liz Smith was in another. Richard Wilson guested twice.
Billy's complicated love life provided a major source of comedy. In one episode, Billy was all set to make love to the local bike 'Daisy Plummer' ( Lori Wells from 'Get Some In' ) when Auntie Ivy came home unexpectedly early. She caught him stark naked in the larder, with her best jelly mold covering his privates. He married 'Mary Braithwaite' ( Sherrie Hewson ) eventually, and she moved into the parlour for the last two seasons. A running gag had their bed creaking loudly each time they got into it, resulting in Ivy putting lots of bromide in Billy's tea.
'Memory' had a good run - 36 episodes ( not counting the pilot ) and a Christmas Special - and is now out on D.V.D. It is a charming show in the mold of early 'Last Of The Summer Wine', and the theme tune is wonderfully English ( also used in the children's series 'Vision On' ). Rather like the 'Steptoe' theme, it has you smiling even before the episode has properly begun.