Jenny Agutter on Bernard Cribbins: ‘He was a very special person to be around’

Bernard Cribbins made firm friends for life when he co-starred as the kindly station porter, Mr Perks, in Lionel Jeffries’ The Railway Children (1970). One such friend was Jenny Agutter, then 17 years old, in one of her earliest film roles. The news of his death is devastating for Agutter. “It’s been a shock,” she admits, “because he seemed like someone who would just go on and on and on and on and on forever. So, so, many people will be sad to lose him.

“There are few people that are such all-rounders, who could do so much as he did. For me, I was so very lucky to work with him when I did. He was just a constant delight, and hugely generous. Such an entertainer. He would sing songs and make jokes every day on that set, and keep me and Sally [Thomsett] and Gary [Warren] enthralled. This was why children and adults alike were fascinated by him. As Mr Perks, he was very touching, but also very, very funny.”

When The Railway Children came out, Agutter was right on the cusp of adult fame – she would next star in Walkabout for Nicolas Roeg, and would soon win an Emmy for a TV adaptation of Paul Gallico’s The Snow Goose. Cribbins, who had already got noticed in a couple of Carry Ons, would become one of the best-known voices in every English living room, when he narrated The Wombles (1973-75), as well as doing more reading stints on Jackanory than any other actor.

Agutter maintained a close relationship with him over the phone. “The fact is, he was always there for other people. Which is why I say he was so generous. It wasn’t about him. It was about everybody else – giving to people, making you enjoy your work, or your life, or whatever was going on. He was always a joy – a very special person to be around. And he was a great communicator. He would call me every year on my birthday – and I will really, really miss that call this year.”

And, here other friends of Cribbins share their fond memories...

Elaine Paige 

“Funny, genuine, charismatic, and so warm, Bernard and I shared a friendship that meant a great deal to me, a friendship that we kept going for over 33 years. We first met in the 1989 West End revival of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes at the Prince Edward Theatre. He played public enemy number one; Moonface Martin, a part he was perfect for.

One of the numbers we performed together was Friendship – he was a stickler for getting things spot on, so we rehearsed and rehearsed, over and over again, until it was just so slick. We really batted off each other. He always knew where the laughs would be – few actors know their onions in terms of comic timing better than Bernard.

On our first night he took me by surprise by presenting me with three carp for my garden pond! He named them Reno after my character, Moonface after his, and Billy Crocker after John Barrowman’s. What an original first night gift! We also shared a passion for shooting clay. Bernard was a great shot! He first encouraged me to shoot back in 2001 at The Game Fair at Shuttleworth Park in Bedfordshire. Funnily enough that was 21 years ago this weekend. Getting together to blast a few clays for lots of different charities continued throughout our friendship.

We also both supported The Children’s Trust and I remember Bernard telling me that his fondness for fishing led him to take a group of children on a fishing trip. It was such a mission to get his charges who were in wheelchairs onto the boat, but Bernard made it happen and he gave them an experience that they’d never forget.

His hugely varied career was still going great guns - he was working on Doctor Who right up to the end because he just wanted to be out there, doing what he loved. I'm so sad that he’s gone. He was like a kindly uncle, always with a smile on his face and a quick quip, and so fabulously talented. He truly brightened life, for me and for many.”

Sally Thomsett 

“He was my favourite actor in the whole world and I loved and adored him, we constantly played tricks on each other, he had a wicked sense of humour, he lit up every room he entered, he’ll be sorely missed by myself & his millions of fans, there will never be another Mr Perks.”

Helen Lederer 

“My first day on set with Bernard Cribbins, was sitting on a beer barrel in Staithes North Yorkshire waiting for the rain to stop. We were filming Old Jacks Boat for the BBC – I played a busy-body Miss Bow Line Hitch on a tricycle and Bernard was the very amicable boat owner who told riveting tales. Off set his stories were even more colourful since he’s been in almost every iconic film, play, TV series of this century.

He knew the Beatles, Peter Sellars, Sophia Lauren, Russell T Davies … he didn’t seem to have an age. But his love of the work and active memory made him a walking encyclopaedia of comedy, opinions, and observations. His sharp brain and kindness to others made him a national treasure.”