Although Eric Longworth had many character roles on stage and screen during his long career, he is best known for playing the part of Claude Gordon, the Town Clerk of Walmington-On-Sea in the wonderful television sit-com Dad’s Army. Although Eric only featured in a few of the episodes (between 1972 and 1977), he still had enough time to become a ’bureaucratic thorn’ in Captain Mainwaring’s side.
One particular episode spawned a line that would become something of a catchphrase for Eric. Walmington residents were to stage a carnival to raise money to buy a Spitfire fighter aircraft, with a real, live Lady Godiva as the star attraction. Mrs Fox (Pamela Cundell) was chosen to play the part, but most at the committee meeting were shocked to hear of such a disgusting thing. Co-writer (along with David Croft) Jimmy Perry explained: „Everyone is horrified until Mr Gordon explains that Mrs Fox will not actually be nude, but will be covered, top to toe, in ’fleshings’ – a type of body-stocking”. Eric really milked the term, pronouncing it in the way only Eric could: „f-l-e-sh-ings”. During his regular appearances at Dad’s Army Appreciation Society events, Eric would deliver a message from Walmington in character as Claude Gordon, and would always find a way to weave ’fleshings’ into that message!
Eric was born in Shaw, Lancashire in 1918, and from childhood had always wanted to be an actor. This dream had to be put on hold when his father died and Eric became a salesman for a local printing company to provide money for his family. During this time, however, part of the dream was salvaged as Eric was in amateur dramatics with the Crompton Stage Society.
After serving in the army during the Second World War, Eric became an assistant stage manager with Oldham Coliseum repertory company in 1946. He first appeared as a soldier in ’The Circle of Chalk’. He was the manager of the theatre from 1951 to 1957, before running the Guildford Theatre from 1957 to 1963. Then fate decreed that his theatre was destroyed by fire, pushing him towards full-time acting.
Although many of his TV roles were small, there were an impressive number of them. He tended to play officials and professional people, such as doctors, policemen, and politicians, in many of the leading series, including No Hiding Place (1963), Z Cars (1963,1965), The Saint (1967), The Forsyte Saga (1967), Softly Softly (1971). Eric also played a rare leading role in the drama-documentary Who Killed Julia Wallace? (1975), and two different characters in the long-running soap opera Coronation Street.
Fortunately, Eric lived long enough to celebrate his 90th birthday, and to play a full part in the 40th anniversary celebrations of Dad’s Army. This charming and elegant man will be greatly missed by colleagues and fans alike.
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Although Eric Longworth had many character roles on stage and screen during his long career, he is best known for playing the part of Claude Gordon, the Town Clerk of Walmington-On-Sea in the wonderful television sit-com Dad’s Army. Although Eric only featured in a few of the episodes (between 1972 and 1977), he still had enough time to become a ’bureaucratic thorn’ in Captain Mainwaring’s side.
One particular episode spawned a line that would become something of a catchphrase for Eric. Walmington residents were to stage a carnival to raise money to buy a Spitfire fighter aircraft, with a real, live Lady Godiva as the star attraction. Mrs Fox (Pamela Cundell) was chosen to play the part, but most at the committee meeting were shocked to hear of such a disgusting thing. Co-writer (along with David Croft) Jimmy Perry explained: „Everyone is horrified until Mr Gordon explains that Mrs Fox will not actually be nude, but will be covered, top to toe, in ’fleshings’ – a type of body-stocking”
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