John
Comer (1st March 1924 to 11th February 1984)
I’ve been to Blackpool’s Carleton
cemetery a few times. Its four miles from the centre of Blackpool and lots of
actors and comedians have ended up there as bones or ashes. I thought I’d
sought out all the graves on my list but others keep coming up. I didn’t mind
driving there again for northern actor John Comer who appeared in various popular
dramas. He was mainly known as café owner Sid in Last Of The Summer Wine but appeared in fifteen films.
John was born in Stretford, one of five children.
After school he worked as a miner and then as an apprentice at train-makers Metropolitan-Vickers.
Repetitive work wasn’t for him though and he started performing comedy routines
around local clubs and pubs in his late teens. He formed a double act with his
brother Tony and by aged 33 was performing a regular slot at the Manchester
Apollo. They performed in an ITV talent show and won work at Butlin's holiday camps. A year later they won first prize
in the Butlins's National Talent Contest (winning
£1,000 – a lot in 1959.) Soon they were starring in films and dramas however
John brothers decided to leave show-business. Thankfully John didn’t want to
play safe and pursued a career on screen. Good move as through the seventies
and eighties he found regular work in household productions like Coronation Street, Emmerdale Farm, All Creatures Great
and Small, Bless This House and
more.
John was hardly ever out of work. He bore one of
those regular faces that finds itself at home in Northern dramas. Of the
fifteen films some were classics like Battle
of Britain, Villain, and The Lovers. Sadly he contracted
throat cancer while appearing as a regular in Last of the Summer Wine. It was ruining his voice and in the
Christmas episode his lines had to be dubbed by another actor. Aged 59 he died
in a hospice in Blackpool (later his wife Mollie donated a whopping £245,000 to
them.)
Here I am at Carleton Crematorium where the
service was held. I strolled down to the Memorial Gardens and then to Rose Bed Number
18 where John’s ashes were sprinkled. The funeral was in 1984 so I’m not sure
how many kilograms of ashes have joined the soil since then – the roses were
growing well. I had something to eat back in the motorhome and had a second stroll
around the cemetery. I found the “Squelch” headstone. In my 28 years I’ve have
never heard of someone called Squelch before – Squelch – have you?
At the crematorium where John’s
service was held. I’ve been here a few times…
To the Memorial Gardens…
When I visit this cemetery I always
say hello to comedian Norman Evans…
Me back in the motorhome. I often
have my dinner in cemeteries…
