William Mervyn Pickwoad (3 January 1912 – 6 August 1976) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of the bishop in the clerical comedy All Gas and Gaiters, the old gentleman in The Railway Children and Inspector Charles Rose in The Odd Man and its sequels.

Life and career Mervyn was born in Nairobi, British East Africa, but educated in Britain at Forest School, Snaresbrook, before embarking on a stage career, spending five years in provincial theatre. He made his West End debut in The Guinea Pig at the Criterion Theatre in 1946,Wearing, 2014, The London Stage 1940–1949, p. 222 before parts in plays such as Lend Me Robin at the Embassy Theatre, the comedy Ring Round the Moon, The Mortimer Touch, A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde at the Savoy Theatre in 1953Wearing, 2014, The London Stage 1950–1959, p.214 and Charley's Aunt.

Mervyn's later stage roles included those of O'Trigger in The Rivals, Lord Greenham in the comedy Aren't We All? and Sir Patrick Cullen in The Doctor's Dilemma. Although he was admired in the theatre, it was with television that he became really well known. One of his first major small screen roles was Sir Hector in the 1962 series Saki. Four years later, he played the Bishop of St. Ogg's in the comedy series All Gas and Gaiters. It was, at that time, breaking with tradition, allowing a laugh at the expense of the established church.

He also played the police chief inspector Charles Rose in the Granada TV series The Odd Man and its spin-offs It's Dark Outside and Mr Rose. He played the Hon. Mr. Justice Campbell in the Granada TV series Crown Court.

He was a chief inspector in the 1949 Ealing Studios film The Blue Lamp with a young Dirk Bogarde). He then appeared in a 1960 episode of the spin-off series, Dixon of Dock Green, called "The Hot Seat". He was in the 1966 Doctor Who story The War Machines and several Carry On films in the late 1960s, and also appeared as Mr. Whitty in the Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) episode "A Disturbing Case" in 1969.

Usually cast as a wealthy upper class gentleman, he also appeared in The Railway Children (1970), as the children's train passenger friend, and The Ruling Class (1972). Around the same time, he appeared as Sir Hector Drummond, Bt., in the British TV series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, in an episode entitled "The Superfluous Finger" (1973).

Personal life Mervyn was married to Anne Margaret Payne-Cook, a theatre designer and architect who survived him with their three sons – Michael Pickwoad, who in 2010 became the production designer on Doctor Who, Richard, television director and aerial cameraman and Nicholas (Pickwoad), expert on bookbinding. Mervyn's granddaughter Amy Pickwoad became an art director and standby art director for Doctor Who.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1947 The Loves of Joanna Godden Huxtable The Mark of Cain Mr Bonnington Uncredited 1949 That Dangerous Age Nicky Stop Press Girl Cinema Manager Uncredited 1950 The Blue Lamp Chief Inspector Hammond Uncredited Four Men in Prison Prison Governor short 1954 Conflict of Wings Mr Wentworth 1956 Tons of Trouble Roberts (M15) The Long Arm Manager of Festival Hall 1957 The Admirable Crichton Guest at Ball Uncredited Barnacle Bill Captain The Long Arm Manager of Festival Hall Released as The Third Key in the USA 1958 Carve Her Name with Pride Colonel Buckmaster 1959 The 39 Steps Angry Train Passenger Uncredited Upstairs and Downstairs Kingsley1960 A Touch of Larceny Capt. Balfour Uncredited The Battle of the Sexes Detective's friend Circus of Horrors Doctor Morley 1961 No Love for Johnnie Postmaster-General Uncredited Watch It, Sailor! Ship's Captain Uncredited Invasion Quartet Naval Officer 1963 Tamahine Lord Birchester1964 Hot Enough for June Passenger on plane Uncredited and released as Agent 8¾ in the USA Murder Ahoy! Commander Breeze-Connington 1965 Operation Crossbow Dutch Technical Examiner Up Jumped a Swagman Mr Hawkes Fenhoulet 1967 Deadlier Than the Male Chairman of the Phoenician Board The Jokers Uncle Edwards Follow That Camel Sir Cyril Ponsonby1968 Hammerhead Walter Perrin Salt and Pepper Prime Minister Star! General Uncredited Hot Millions Sir Charles Wilson Uncredited1969 The Best House in London Uncredited Carry On Again Doctor Lord Paragon1970 Incense for the Damned Marc Honeydew Atlantic Wall L'évêque AnglaisThe Railway Children Old Gentleman credited as Mr William Mervyn 1971 Carry On Henry Physician 1972 The Ruling Class Sir Charles Gurney Up the Front Lord Twithampton 1976 The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones Squire Alworthy

Television Year Title Role Notes 1959CharlesworthCharles Begbie Hancock's Half HourCouncil official 1960 ITV Television Playhouse Mr Challen The Long Way Home French police sergeant The Four Just Men Under Secretary Yorky Mr Playford On Trial Sergeant Ballatine/President of the Court Biggles Alan Harding Dixon of Dock Green Bruce Treadgold Persuasion Admiral Croft 1961 No Hiding Place Ivor Naunton/Colonel Frew 1962 Oliver Twist Mr Grimwig Saki Sir Hector 8 episodes Bulldog Breed Company director Maigret Doctor It Happened Like This Sir George Wilby 1963 The Odd Man Chief Inspector Rose The Sentimental Agent Colonel Wilde 1964 Silas Marner Squire Cass Diary of a Young Man Bott The Massingham Affair Mr Jessopp 1965 The Flying Swan Alexander Curtis Heiress of Garth Squire Griffin TV mini-series Court Martial Chief Inspector Haigh 1966 The Liars Sir Gerald Doctor Who: The War Machines Sir Charles Summer BBC Play of the Month Sir Hector Rose 1966–1971 All Gas and Gaiters Bishop Cuthbert Hever 1967 Gideon's Way Mr Pater 1968–1970 Thirty-Minute Theatre Sir Eric Brown/Father 1969 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Whitty 1970 The Mating Machine Major Whitestone 1971–1972 Tottering Towers Duke of Tottering 1972–1984 Crown Court The Hon. Mr Justice Campbell 1973 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Sir Hector Drummond 1976 The Ghosts of Motley Hall Mr Bayling 1977 Raffles Osborne

Theatre Year Title Theatre Notes 1946 The Guinea Pig Criterion Theatre 1947–1948 The Blind Goddess Apollo Theatre, London 1948 Lend Me Robin Embassy Theatre 1952 The Mortimer Touch Duke of York's Theatre 1952–1953 Pagan in the Parlour Theatre Royal, Bath 1953 A Woman of No Importance Savoy Theatre 1954 Charley's Aunt New Theatre and Strand Theatre 1954–1955 Witness for the Prosecution Bristol Hippodrome 1955 Mrs Willie Globe Theatre, London 1956 The Rivals Saville Theatre 1957 The Iron Duchess Fortune Theatre 1972 The Doctor's Dilemma

References

Bibliography TV Unforgettables – Over 250 Legends of the Small Screen Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1940 – 1949: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1950 – 1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield

External links

William Mervyn at BFI William Mervyn at Rotten Tomatoes