Nigel Davenport (1928-2013)

Actor, Nigel Davenport died of pneumonia on 25th October 2013, aged 85.  Nigel was best known for appearing in films like A Man for All Seasons,  Chariots of Fire, Greystoke, Zulu Dawn but he also appeared in a couple of Pebble Mill drama series. He appeared in the series Trainer as the character, James Brant, and also as Sir Edward Frere in  Howards’ Way.

Here is the publicity brochure for Trainer, which features Nigel Davenport. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.

Trainer MH Trainer 2 MH Trainer 3 MH Trainer 4 MH Trainer 5 MH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook group:

Carole Haysom: ‘I worked with Nigel on both Howards’ Way and Trainer. He had a wicked sense of humour and a true gentleman. A top notch actor who didn’t take himself too seriously. I didn’t realise he’d died, unfortunately some news doesn’t filter through here in Dubai.’

Trainer – photos by Les Podraza

Photos by Les Podraza, no reproduction without permission.

Trainer was a drama series produced in 1991-2 by BBC London, but hosted by Pebble Mill.  The scene crew included Les Podraza.  The series was directed by Jeremy Summers, produced by Gerard Glaister and written by Christopher Green.  The series starred Susannah York, David McCallum, Mark Greenstreet , Nigel Davenport and Patrick Ryecroft.  The cast also included: Des McAleer, Nicola King, Kenneth Farrington, Sarah Atkinson, Floyd Bevan, Stephen Greif, and Tracy Louise Ward.

After the end of Howard’s Way, the BBC needed a big drama series for the Sunday evening schedule, and therefore commissioned Trainer, a drama following the life of trainer Mike Hardy (Mark Greenstreet) in his constant battle against his employer and stable owner James Brant (Edward Davenport) and other members of the racing fraternity residing somewhere in the Lambourn Downs.

Les with David McCallum