It Was A Good Life

Hundreds turn out for funeral of veteran actor Richard Briers

Over 200 people including several family, friends, neighbours and a host of well-known actors attended the funeral of Richard Briers at St. Michael and All Angels Church.

Those in attendance included Kenneth Branagh, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith, Emma Thompson, Bernard Cribbins, Peter Bowles, Frank Finlay, Prunella Scales, June Whitfield and Sheila Hancock.

Speaking of his long connection with Chiswick and his popularity with local people, Father Kevin Morris, Vicar of SMAA said that Richard Briers "wasn't starry at all" and knew everyone from the pet shop owner, to the newsagent to near neighbours.

He suggested Briers would currently be 'performing at the heavenly banquet' and added; 'Forgive me if I say about him: It was a Good Life.'

Richard Briers had lived in Chiswick for forty-five years with his wife Anne. The couple had two daughters and a number of grandchildren. He was a familiar face at charity and social events and was frequently a guest of honour at the Bedford Park Festival.

Brian Murphy, who played the character of George in George and Mildred, brought applause with a reading of John Betjeman's Subaltern's Love Song; and Penelope Wilton, a former co-star from Ever Decreasing Circles, read from The Death of Sir Henry Irving.

Richard Briers, who died at his home in Chiswick last month aged 79, was known for his ability to play a wide variety of roles and appeared in successful shows including Ever Decreasing Circles and Monarch of the Glen. The Sixties comedy Marriage Lines in which he starred with his lifelong friend, actress Prunella Scales, is being re-released on DVD. He also played a number of Shakesperian roles. However it is for his role as the hapless Tom in The Good Life that he is best remembered.

He is survived by his wife Anne Davies to whom he was married for 55 years, and two daughters Lucy and Katie Briers, as well as a number of grandchildren.

His daughter Kate told the service the family had been overwhelmed with messages of condolence in the wake of her father's death and this had given them great comfort.

'It was with a feeling of awe and comfort that one man could have had such a powerful and positive affect on people - and that man was my dad", she said.

March 8, 2013