“We’re all doomed!”……..well, not quite.
Mark Harris, Business Development Manager at Grierson & Graham in Dumfries, was going through some old photographs at their Honda Dealership on the Annan Road when he came across this great old image. Mark kindly sent it into DGWGO earlier today and we thought we would share it with you.
It shows Dumfries born Shakespearean actor John Laurie (although best remembered to many of us for his role as Private James Frazer in Dad’s Army) collecting his new car, in the late 1970s, from the former Academy Street location of Grierson & Graham.
John was born in Dumfries in 1897 and was a pupil at Dumfries Academy. He was in the First World War (served with the Honourable Artillery Company) and also in the home guard during the Second World War.
He trained to become an actor in London and first took to the stage in 1921.
John Laurie played many Shakespearean parts, including in Hamlet, Richard III, and Macbeth at the Old Vic. He starred in many British series of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s including Doctor Finlay’s Casebook and The Avengers.
Here is John Laurie’s page on Wikipedia where you can learn more about his work and also a link to his listing on the Internet Movie Database
In his role as Private Fraser in Dad’s Army he told several stories about his journeys through the South Seas. Here is one of those classic scenes – you have to watch it to the end.
and of course – here is a wee YouTube clip including that famous line – We’re Doomed!
Again, thanks so much to Mark of Grierson and Graham in Dumfries for sending us the image. We love receiving older pics of the region and thought it was worth putting together a wee post.
DP
