English writer, scriptwriter, producer, author and actor
Brother-in-law of Diane Holland
He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1978 Queens Birthday Honours List for his services to comedy.
British screenwriter (and occasional actor), usually in collaboration with David Croft with whom he created the classic sitcom Dads Army (initially titled "The Fighting Tigers").
After the war, he trained as an actor at Rada, funding his studies with stints as a Redcoat at Butlins holiday camps.
When WWII broke out in 1939, he was too young for the army and volunteered for the local Home Guard. He drew on this experience to create "Dads Army" . He was called up in 1941 and sent to Burma, where he was part of a Royal Artillery Concert Party to entertain the troops.
Following his death, he left 1.3m to his wife Gilda, and 500,000 to Mary Husband , with whom he had a long-term relationship.
