Donald Sinclair (hotel owner)
Encyclopedia
Donald Sinclair was the owner of the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay
, which he had acquired after an extensive career in the Royal Navy
. He was the inspiration for the character Basil Fawlty
in Fawlty Towers
, owing to his allegedly stuffy, snobbish and eccentric treatment of his guests, which included John Cleese
and other members of the Monty Python
cast.
, who was called up in September 1939. He was serving on the Armed merchantman HMS Salopian when she was sunk by the U-boat U-98 in the North Atlantic, 400 miles south of Cape Farewell, Greenland
, on the morning of the 13 May 1941. He then joined the crew of the Landing Ship, Infantry
HMS Karanja; she was sunk by German aircraft near Bougie, Algeria
on 12 November 1942. From February 1943 until July 1945, he served on the escort carrier HMS Trumpeter
. He left the navy in April 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant commander
.
" was inspired by an incident involving several builders who had come to rebuild Sinclair's garden wall. Sinclair witnessed them having a tea break; mistakenly believing they were deliberately slacking, he went into a fit of rage. Sinclair's general dislike of labourers was also briefly depicted in the pilot episode, "A Touch of Class
", in which Basil insults O'Reilly over the phone.
Sinclair was also known for his mistreatment of foreigners as depicted in "Waldorf Salad
", which was based upon Sinclair's reaction to the "clearly American" table manners of Terry Gilliam
. The excuse of "we've had a bomb scare"—depicted in the series finale, "Basil the Rat
"—was used by Sinclair when he placed Eric Idle
's briefcase outside the hotel. Sinclair really did employ cheap labour (à la Manuel
) in the form of foreigners, many of whom allegedly suffered abusive treatment under his employment.
Cleese, who played Basil Fawlty, again played an eccentric hotel casino owner in the 2001 film Rat Race
, and in this later piece, the character was even named Donald Sinclair.
Sinclair died in England in 1981; he was survived by his two daughters and his wife. His wife died in September 2010.
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, which he had acquired after an extensive career in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He was the inspiration for the character Basil Fawlty
Basil Fawlty
Basil Fawlty is the main character of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers, played by John Cleese. The character is often thought of as an iconic British comedy character, and has been deemed unforgettable despite only a dozen half-hour episodes ever being made....
in Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
, owing to his allegedly stuffy, snobbish and eccentric treatment of his guests, which included John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
and other members of the Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
cast.
Wartime career
Sinclair was an officer in the Royal Naval ReserveRoyal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
, who was called up in September 1939. He was serving on the Armed merchantman HMS Salopian when she was sunk by the U-boat U-98 in the North Atlantic, 400 miles south of Cape Farewell, Greenland
Cape Farewell, Greenland
Cape Farewell , is a headland on the southern shore of Egger Island, Greenland. Located at it is the southernmost extent of Greenland, projecting out into the North Atlantic Ocean and the Labrador Sea on the same latitude as Stockholm and the Scottish Shetland Islands. Egger and the associated...
, on the morning of the 13 May 1941. He then joined the crew of the Landing Ship, Infantry
Landing Ship, Infantry
Landing Ship, Infantry was a British term for a type of ship used to transport infantry in amphibious warfare during the Second World War...
HMS Karanja; she was sunk by German aircraft near Bougie, Algeria
Béjaïa
Béjaïa, Vgaiet or Bejaya is a Mediterranean port city on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. Under French rule, it was formerly known under various European names, such as Budschaja in German, Bugia in Italian, and Bougie...
on 12 November 1942. From February 1943 until July 1945, he served on the escort carrier HMS Trumpeter
HMS Trumpeter (D09)
The USS Bastian was an escort aircraft carrier built by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding of Tacoma, Washington, laid down on 25 August 1942 and launched 15 December 1942...
. He left the navy in April 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
.
Sinclair-inspired satire
Several of the Fawlty Towers plot lines were partly based on real life events. The episode "The BuildersThe Builders
"The Builders" is the second episode in the first series of the BBC TV sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Basil hires Irish builder O'Reilly to do some vital work on the hotel...
" was inspired by an incident involving several builders who had come to rebuild Sinclair's garden wall. Sinclair witnessed them having a tea break; mistakenly believing they were deliberately slacking, he went into a fit of rage. Sinclair's general dislike of labourers was also briefly depicted in the pilot episode, "A Touch of Class
A Touch of Class (Fawlty Towers)
"A Touch of Class" is the pilot episode in the first series of the BBC television sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Plot:The episode introduces Basil Fawlty, the cynical, sharp-tongued owner of the hotel; his nagging wife Sybil; Manuel, the eager but hapless Spanish waiter; Major Gowen, a semi-senile and often...
", in which Basil insults O'Reilly over the phone.
Sinclair was also known for his mistreatment of foreigners as depicted in "Waldorf Salad
Waldorf Salad (Fawlty Towers)
"Waldorf Salad" is the third episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:American tourist Mr. Hamilton checks in with his wife late one evening. They want a hot meal, but Terry, the cook, has finished his shift. Hamilton bribes Basil to keep the kitchen open, but Terry leaves...
", which was based upon Sinclair's reaction to the "clearly American" table manners of Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
. The excuse of "we've had a bomb scare"—depicted in the series finale, "Basil the Rat
Basil the Rat
"Basil the Rat" is the sixth and final episode of the second season of the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers and the final episode of the programme as a whole.-Synopsis:Fawlty Towers is in threat of closure by a Health and Safety inspector...
"—was used by Sinclair when he placed Eric Idle
Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
's briefcase outside the hotel. Sinclair really did employ cheap labour (à la Manuel
Manuel (Fawlty Towers)
Manuel is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. Played by Andrew Sachs, he is an iconic character in British comedy history...
) in the form of foreigners, many of whom allegedly suffered abusive treatment under his employment.
Accuracy
Opinions are divided on how closely Sinclair resembled Basil Fawlty. Former staff and visitors have remembered actual events there that were allegedly as ludicrous as those depicted in the programmes. However, Sinclair's family are adamant that Fawlty was an inaccurate caricature of Sinclair. On the other hand, the publication of Michael Palin's diaries supported John Cleese's assessment of Sinclair - and of Sinclair's wife Beatrice as well.Cleese, who played Basil Fawlty, again played an eccentric hotel casino owner in the 2001 film Rat Race
Rat Race (film)
Rat Race is a 2001 ensemble cast comedy film directed by Jerry Zucker, written by Andy Breckman, and stars several comedians including Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Jon Lovitz, Lanei Chapman, Seth Green, Kathy Najimy, Dave Thomas, Vince Vieluf, John Cleese, Breckin Meyer,...
, and in this later piece, the character was even named Donald Sinclair.
Sinclair died in England in 1981; he was survived by his two daughters and his wife. His wife died in September 2010.