Helene Palmer
Encyclopedia
Helene Palmer was a British
actress best known for her portrayal of Ida Clough, a machinist
on the long running television series, Coronation Street
.
s during the 1960s and 1970s. She collaborated and became friends with many well-known English actors and comedians
in the clubs, including Lynne Perrie
, Pat Phoenix
, Liz Dawn, Freddie Starr
and Les Dawson
.
in 1978, portraying machinist Ida Clough. Her son, David Palmer, told the Bridlington Free Press
in 2011 that he was unsure how she came to be cast in the show, but she joined the series about the same time as Pat Phoenix, Lynne Perrie and others whom she worked with in the clubs. Palmer's character appeared opposite other high profile characters on the show, including Ivy Tilsley and Vera Duckworth
. Palmer remained a regular cast member on the show until 1988, when Ida Clough was fired by Mike Baldwin (portrayed by Johnny Briggs
for reporting him for drunk driving. Palmer's Ida Clough returned to the show in 1995 for the funeral of Ivy Tilsley, played by Lynne Perrie. Palmer made her last appearance on Cononation Street in 1998. Her other credits included Days of Hope
, Spend, Spend, Spend
and the 1979 film, Yanks
. Her last appearance as an actor was in the comedic series, Stan The Man, in which she played the wife of actor Eric Sykes
' character.
. The couple, who worked in the licensed trade in addition to her career as an entertainer, purchased a home in the village of Sewerby
in the 1970s with the intent to move there during their retirement. In 1986, they moved to the nearby seaside resort of Bridlington, where they began operating the Nags Head pub in Market Place. They ran and lived at the Nags Head until Alex retired in 1990, at which time they moved to Sewerby.
in Scarborough, North Yorkshire
, England
at the age of 82 after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband, Alex, and her son, David Palmer. Her funeral was held on January 18 at St John the Evangelist Church in Sewerby
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actress best known for her portrayal of Ida Clough, a machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
on the long running television series, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.
Entertainment career
She began her career as an entertainer in British nightclubNightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s during the 1960s and 1970s. She collaborated and became friends with many well-known English actors and comedians
Comedians
Comedians are a type of entertainer who tell jokes.Comedians can also refer to:* Comedians , a 1954 film* Comedians , a 1975 play by Trevor Griffiths* The Comedians, a 1940 concert suite by Dmitry Kabalevsky...
in the clubs, including Lynne Perrie
Lynne Perrie
Lynne Perrie was an English actress. She was born Jean Dudley in Rotherham, Yorkshire, and was the sister of comedian Duggie Brown. She was best known for her roles as Mrs. Casper in Ken Loach's 1969 film Kes, and as Ivy Tilsley in Coronation Street from 1971-1994.-Career:After Rotherham Grammar...
, Pat Phoenix
Pat Phoenix
Patricia "Pat" Frederica Phoenix was an English actress who became one of the first sex symbols of British television through her role of Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street.-Early life and career:Born in Ireland to Anna Maria Josephine Noonan and Tom Manfield, but moved to Manchester before...
, Liz Dawn, Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr is an English comedian who became famous in the early 1970s. He is also an impressionist and singer, with a chart album After the Laughter and UK Top 10 single, "It's You", in March 1974 to his credit.-Early career:Under his real name, he appeared as a teenager in the film Violent...
and Les Dawson
Les Dawson
Leslie "Les" Dawson was a popular English comedian remembered for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife.-Life and career:...
.
Acting credits
Palmer joined the cast of Coronation StreetCoronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
in 1978, portraying machinist Ida Clough. Her son, David Palmer, told the Bridlington Free Press
Bridlington Free Press
The Bridlington Free Press is owned by Johnston Press and is distributed in the Bridlington area of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. There is also an online edition available at ....
in 2011 that he was unsure how she came to be cast in the show, but she joined the series about the same time as Pat Phoenix, Lynne Perrie and others whom she worked with in the clubs. Palmer's character appeared opposite other high profile characters on the show, including Ivy Tilsley and Vera Duckworth
Vera Duckworth
Veronica "Vera" Duckworth , played by Elizabeth Dawn, is a fictional character on the British soap opera Coronation Street, first appearing in August 1974 and last appearing in episode 6,734 on 18 January 2008, where the character peacefully died in her sleep at the age of 70 from heart failure...
. Palmer remained a regular cast member on the show until 1988, when Ida Clough was fired by Mike Baldwin (portrayed by Johnny Briggs
Johnny Briggs (actor)
Johnny Briggs, MBE is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he appeared from 1976 to 2006...
for reporting him for drunk driving. Palmer's Ida Clough returned to the show in 1995 for the funeral of Ivy Tilsley, played by Lynne Perrie. Palmer made her last appearance on Cononation Street in 1998. Her other credits included Days of Hope
Days of Hope
Days of Hope is a BBC television drama serial produced in 1975. The series dealt with the lives of a working-class family from the turmoils of the First World War in 1916 to the General Strike in 1926...
, Spend, Spend, Spend
Spend, Spend, Spend (play)
Spend, Spend, Spend is an episode of the BBC's Play for Today anthology series first transmitted 15 March 1977Michael Brooke , BFI screenonline page on BBC1, recounting the life of football pools winner Viv Nicholson....
and the 1979 film, Yanks
Yanks
Yanks is a 1979 John Schlesinger film, set in World War II in the village of Dobcross, in Greater Manchester, England. Starring Richard Gere, Vanessa Redgrave, William Devane, Lisa Eichhorn, Rachel Roberts and Tony Melody....
. Her last appearance as an actor was in the comedic series, Stan The Man, in which she played the wife of actor Eric Sykes
Eric Sykes
Eric Sykes, CBE is an English radio, television and film writer, actor and director whose performing career has spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and/or performed with many other leading comedy performers and writers of the period, including Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, Peter...
' character.
Personal life
Palmer and her husband, Alex Palmer, were both originally from the West Riding of YorkshireWest Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
. The couple, who worked in the licensed trade in addition to her career as an entertainer, purchased a home in the village of Sewerby
Sewerby
Sewerby is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England approximately north east of Bridlington on the North Sea coast.Sewerby forms part of the civil parish of Bridlington....
in the 1970s with the intent to move there during their retirement. In 1986, they moved to the nearby seaside resort of Bridlington, where they began operating the Nags Head pub in Market Place. They ran and lived at the Nags Head until Alex retired in 1990, at which time they moved to Sewerby.
Death
She died on 5 January 2011, at Scarborough General HospitalScarborough General Hospital
Scarborough General Hospital is an NHS district general hospital in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It is run by the Scarborough and NE Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust....
in Scarborough, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at the age of 82 after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband, Alex, and her son, David Palmer. Her funeral was held on January 18 at St John the Evangelist Church in Sewerby
Sewerby
Sewerby is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England approximately north east of Bridlington on the North Sea coast.Sewerby forms part of the civil parish of Bridlington....
.