Dad's Army Appreciation Society
Encyclopedia
The Dad's Army Appreciation Society is an organisation to remember the British television show Dad's Army
. It is run by a small group of individuals and has over 1700 members.
(who played Warden Hodges), Frank Williams (who played the Vicar) and other fans. The society, in association with the Bressingham Steam and Gardens, set up the Dad's Army Collection, which was officially opened on the 14th May 2000 by Dad's Army creators Jimmy Perry
and David Croft. Also, Thetford
(where the show was filmed) has recently opened a Dad's Army Museum. In 2003 the secretary of the society, Tony Pritchard, designed a heritage trail for Dad's Army fans, in part funded through a grant from the European Union
.
As of 2009, the society had 1,700 members, having grown from approximately 300-500 members in 1997 and 1998.
items and footage. However, there is a main event in May/June when the society members meet up in Bressingham
, have the annual society dinner, and go to the Dad's Army Collection at the Bressingham Steam and Gardens.
Events have included a gathering in 1997 at The Oval
attended by a number of the original cast (including Clive Dunn
and Ian Lavender
) as well as the shows writers, Jimmy Perry
and David Croft, and a 1998 gathering at Cambridge
attended by Stephen Lowe, the son of the show's Arthur Lowe
who played Captain George Mainwaring
. More recently, a 2009 gathering was held at Whitmore Hall at which Frank Williams was able to attend and speak to the society's members, and before his death Colin Bean
(who played Private Sponge in the series) regularly turned out to events, even though he used a wheelchair at the time.
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
. It is run by a small group of individuals and has over 1700 members.
History
The society was founded in 1993 by Bill PertweeBill Pertwee
William Desmond Anthony Pertwee MBE is a British comedy actor. He is best known for playing the part of antagonist ARP Warden Hodges in the popular sitcom Dad's Army.-Early and personal life:...
(who played Warden Hodges), Frank Williams (who played the Vicar) and other fans. The society, in association with the Bressingham Steam and Gardens, set up the Dad's Army Collection, which was officially opened on the 14th May 2000 by Dad's Army creators Jimmy Perry
Jimmy Perry
Jimmy Perry OBE is an English writer, scriptwriter, producer, author and actor, most famous for devising and co-writing the BBC sitcoms Dad's Army with David Croft.-Education:...
and David Croft. Also, Thetford
Thetford
Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, covering an area of , has a population of 21,588.-History:...
(where the show was filmed) has recently opened a Dad's Army Museum. In 2003 the secretary of the society, Tony Pritchard, designed a heritage trail for Dad's Army fans, in part funded through a grant from the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
As of 2009, the society had 1,700 members, having grown from approximately 300-500 members in 1997 and 1998.
Key figures
| Position | Person |
|---|---|
| President | Bill Pertwee |
| Vice President | Frank Williams |
| Treasurer | Linda Andrews |
| Membership & Enquiries | Tony Pritchard |
| Newsletter Items & Enquiries | Paul Carpenter |
| Merchandise | Tony & Jo Tarran |
| Newspaper Cuttings Archive | Chris Leather |
| Video and Audio Library | Alan Veale |
| Local Events Coordinator | Roger Partridge |
| Invaluable Assistants | Eric & Diana Burroughes |
Events
The society holds many individual events around the country where they show and play rare Dad's ArmyDad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
items and footage. However, there is a main event in May/June when the society members meet up in Bressingham
Bressingham
Bressingham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 751 in 305 households as of the 2001 census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of South Norfolk....
, have the annual society dinner, and go to the Dad's Army Collection at the Bressingham Steam and Gardens.
Events have included a gathering in 1997 at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
attended by a number of the original cast (including Clive Dunn
Clive Dunn
Clive Robert Benjamin Dunn OBE is a retired English actor, comedian and author, best known for his role as Lance-Corporal Jack Jones in the BBC sitcom Dad's Army.-Early life:...
and Ian Lavender
Ian Lavender
Arthur Ian Lavender , better known as Ian Lavender, is an English stage, film and television actor, best known for his role as Private Frank Pike in the BBC comedy series Dad's Army.-Early life and career:...
) as well as the shows writers, Jimmy Perry
Jimmy Perry
Jimmy Perry OBE is an English writer, scriptwriter, producer, author and actor, most famous for devising and co-writing the BBC sitcoms Dad's Army with David Croft.-Education:...
and David Croft, and a 1998 gathering at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
attended by Stephen Lowe, the son of the show's Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:...
who played Captain George Mainwaring
Captain George Mainwaring
Captain George Mainwaring is the bank manager and Home Guard platoon commander portrayed by Arthur Lowe on the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army, set in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea during the Second World War...
. More recently, a 2009 gathering was held at Whitmore Hall at which Frank Williams was able to attend and speak to the society's members, and before his death Colin Bean
Colin Bean
Colin Bean was a British actor best known for his role as Private Sponge in the Second World War sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 to 1977, appearing in76 of Dad’s Army’s 80 episodes....
(who played Private Sponge in the series) regularly turned out to events, even though he used a wheelchair at the time.