Gwen Berryman

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image Gwendoline Margaret Berryman (22 November 1906 – 20 December 1983) was an English singer, actress and businesswoman. She was best known as the voice of Doris Archer in the BBC Radio 4 soap opera The Archers.

Early life

Gwendoline Margaret Berryman was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England on 22 November 1906,[1] as the elder child to Richard Edward Berryman,[2][3] a boot and shoe retailer,[4] and his wife,[5] Louisa Elizabeth (née Clark).[6][7] She had a younger brother, Richard Trevor Berryman.[8][9][10]

Berryman attended Wolverhampton Girls' High School. She left at the age of 16 having just managed to pass the School Certificate.[11]

Career

Berryman began her professional career in radio on 8 July 1925.[12] She made her debut as a singer in 1926, at the age of 19, when she appeared in a BBC broadcast from the Birmingham School of Music, where she was training. She performed in several operas, and played the piano and the cello in the orchestra.[13] She later studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where she gained many awards, including the Westmorland Scholarship,[14] the Isabel Jay Gold Medal and the Acton Bond Diction Prize.[15][16] She also gained her Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM)[17] and the Certificate of Merit with Distinction.[11]

Berryman made her acting debut in Derby Day at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, London, in 1932, before returning to the Midlands to run a dress shop.[18] She joined the Wolverhampton Repertory Theatre in 1937. She returned to performing during the Second World War, appearing in concert parties to entertain the forces stationed in the Midlands.[19]

Berryman took over the role of Doris Evelyn Rebecca Archer (née Forrest; born 1 December 1897) in the BBC Light Programme radio soap opera The Archers on 1 January 1951. Doris was voiced by Nan Marriott-Watson for the pilot episode on 29 May 1950.[20][21][22][23] She voiced Doris for 29 years until her character was killed off on 27 October 1980. Doris died at the age of 82, from a heart attack at Glebe Cottage.[24] On 14 July 2011, an 11-page script—which belonged to Berryman—from the first episode was put up for sale at a Sotheby's auction, having been valued at £3,500.[25] It sold for £6,875.[26][27]

Berryman authored a cookbook, Doris Archer's Farm Cookery Book (Template:ISBN), which was published by Museum Press in 1958.[28][29][30]

Berryman was the castaway on 1 January 1972 episode of the BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs. She was interviewed by Roy Plomley. Her chosen music included the Horn Concerto No. 1 by Mozart, with her favourite being the Trumpet Voluntry by Jeremiah Clarke; her chosen book was a cookery book, and her luxury writing materials.[31][32]

Berryman was the subject of the ITV biographical television documentary This Is Your Life. She was surprised by Eamonn Andrews during a specially arranged rehearsal of The Archers at the BBC Broadcasting House, which she believed was being filmed for Canadian television. The episode was broadcast on 25 February 1976.[33]

Berryman retired in 1980, due to ill health.[34] Her her autobiography, The Life and Death of Doris Archer (Template:ISBN), was published by Methuen Publishing in 1981.[35]

Personal life

Berryman did not cope well with fame. According to William Smethurst, she "started to slip over the edge" in the late 1950s. She had her personal writing paper printed with the fictional address of "Brookfield Farm, Ambridge", when, in reality, she lived in a large detached house in Wolverhampton.[33] She also stopped calling fellow actors by their real names. According to June Spencer, "Gwen Berryman believed implicitly that she was Doris Archer".[36][37]

File:Blue Plaque Goldthorn Hill Road. - geograph.org.uk - 865721.jpg
A blue plaque outside Berryman's former home
File:Elizabeth Avenue,Junction with Goldthorn Hill Road. - geograph.org.uk - 865713.jpg
123 Goldthorn Hill, Wolverhampton. Berryman's former home, 2008

Berryman had been engaged to a doctor, who died tragically, in her youth.[38] She enjoyed embroidery.[39]

Berryman moved to Torquay,[40] Devon to be closer to her family[41] upon her retirement.[34] She lived at 12 Seaway Court,[42] before moving to Seven Hill Nursing Home.[43][44] Her younger brother, Richard, married Joan Kathleen Bundy (born Jean Kathleen Bundy; 1917–2006)[45][46] in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, in 1940;[47] her brother and sister-in-law had a son together, Christopher John Berryman (born 1943).[48]

Berryman suffered from a range of health issues throughout her life, including rheumatoid arthritis.[34] She had a special chair in The Archers green room because of her arthritis, which she said started when she was chased by a rhinoceros on safari in South Africa.[38] She suffered two strokes, the first in 1980, which left her without her voice and partially paralysed, and the second in 1983, weeks before her death.[24][49] She was too ill to listen to Doris's death on The Archers.[44]

Berryman was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1981 New Year Honours on 30 December 1980[50][51] for her services to radio drama.[33] She collected her honour, in a wheelchair, on 18 February 1981, at Buckingham Palace.[52]

Death

Berryman died at Torbay Hospital in Torbay on 20 December 1983. She was 77.[53][34][54] She had been admitted to hospital a week prior after suffering with gangrene in her leg.[49] Her funeral service took place at Torquay Crematorium on 30 December 1983, at 2:00 pm.[41][44] She left an estate valued at £103,702 gross (£103,103 net). She left £5,000 equally between the grandchildren of her late friend, Nancy A Marriott, £100 to "my hairdresser", Ester Horswill, and the remainder of her property mostly to relatives.[43][42]

Credits

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue Production
1932 Derby Day Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
1937 Tovarich Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company
1940 When We Are Married Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company
1941 And So To Bed Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company
1942 Bunty Pulls the Strings Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company
1942 Matron Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company
1943 Lot's Wife Sarah (Lot's sister-in-law) Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Derek Salberg's Repertory Company
1943 The Corn is Green Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company
1944 Jane Eyre Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company
1946 The Enchanted Cottage Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company
1946 Night of January 16th Mrs John Hutchins Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Derek Salberg's Repertory Company
1948 Trespass Mrs Henting Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Repertory Company

Source: [19]

Radio

Year Title Role Station Notes
1948 The Old Wives' Tale Mrs Baines BBC Home Service 5 episodes
1949 The Rise and Decline of Johnny Godwin Amelia Fraction BBC Home Service 1 episode
1949 My Brother Jonathan Mrs Gaige BBC Home Service 2 episodes
1949 The Card Mrs Codleyn BBC Home Service 4 episodes
1951–1980 The Archers Doris Archer BBC Light Programme, BBC Home Service, BBC Network Three, BBC Radio 4 1,358+ episodes
1951 Mom Aggie Randle BBC Home Service 1 episode
1951 The Human Body Mother BBC Home Service 2 episodes
1953–1957, 1959–1960 Children's Hour Various BBC Home Service 12 episodes
1957 Appeal: Southbourne Home for Elderly People Herself BBC Home Service 1 episode
1961 Chase a Phantom Miss Walker BBC Home Service 2 episodes
1961 Week's Good Cause Herself BBC Home Service 1 episode
1962 The Bishopton Letter Mrs Merrydew, Mrs Woolf BBC Home Service 5 episodes
1962 Jennings at School Mrs Thorpe BBC Home Service 1 episode
1962 The National Gardens Scheme Herself BBC Home Service 1 episode
1962, 1964 Norman and Henry Bones Mrs Duke, Mrs Hibberd, Mrs Richmond BBC Home Service 3 episodes
1963 For The Young Polly and Oliver Persued Betsy Perkins BBC Home Service 2 episodes
1963 Five-Fifteen Herself BBC Home Service 2 episodes
1965 Mid-Week Theatre: Bank Holiday BBC Light Programme 1 episode
1966 Gwen Berryman. ' Doris Archer,' talks about her life and career to Gerald Nethercot Herself BBC Home Service 1 episode
1967 Afternoon Theatre Bank Holiday BBC Home Service 1 episode
1967 Saturday-Night Theatre Lay Sister BBC Radio 4 1 episode
1969 Week's Good Cause Herself BBC Radio 4 1 episode
1969 Home This Afternoon Herself BBC Radio 4 1 episode
1970 Afternoon Theatre The Return Lay Sister BBC Radio 4 1 episode
1972 Desert Island Discs Herself BBC Radio 4 1 episode
1972 Coastal forecast Herself BBC Radio 4 1 episode
1972 Midweek Theatre Mary Tidbury BBC Radio 4 1 episode
1979 Week's Good Cause Herself BBC Radio 4 1 episode
1979 Does He Take Sugar? Herself BBC Radio 4 1 episode

Source: [20]

References

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  1. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915: OCT 1906 6b 562 WOLVERHAMPTON — Gwendoline M Berryman
  2. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915: JAN 1881 6c 156 DUDLEY — Richard Edward Berryman
  3. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916–2007: APR 1955 (aged 74) 9b 875 WOLVERHAMPTON — Richard E Berryman
  4. ↑ 1911 England Census
  5. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837–1915: APR 1904 6b 1059 WOLVERHAMPTON — Richard Edward Berryman = Louisa Elizabeth Clark
  6. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915: OCT 1884 1a 115 KENSINGTON — Louisa Elizabeth Clark
  7. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916–2007: OCT 1952 (aged 68) 9b 837 WOLVERHAMPTON — Louisa E Berryman
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915: OCT 1915 6b 920 WOLVERHAMPTON — Richard T Berryman
  10. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916–2007: JUL 2002 (aged 86) C44A 4221C 240 TORBAY — Richard Trevor Berryman
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ a b England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995: 1 FEB 1984 BIRMINGHAM — Gwendoline Margaret Berryman
  44. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007: JUL 1917 6b 1011 WALSALL — Jean K Bundy
  46. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916–2007: DEC 2096 (aged 89) B98A 422/1B 058 TORBAY — Joan Kathleen Berryman
  47. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916–2005: OCT 1940 6b 2256 WEDNESBURY — Richard T Berryman = Joan K Bundy
  48. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007: JUL 1943 6b 1248 WEDNESBURY — Christopher J Berryman
  49. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916–2007: OCT 1983 (aged 76) 21 2262 TORBAY — Gwendoline Margaret Berryman
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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