A MUCH-loved actor who starred in one of great British films of all-time was celebrated in a close family service at St Mary’s Church, Bramshott, after passing away at the age of 89.

The life of Welsh actor Richard “Dickie” Davies, best known for his iconic performance as Private 593 Jones in the 1964 classic Zulu, alongside Michael Caine and Stanley Baker, was celebrated by his wife Jill, daughter Nerissa, son Glen, and their families.

As well as his dramatic role in the epic tale about the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift, he was known to millions as Mr Price, the sarcastic, long-suffering and world-weary Welsh science teacher in the ITV comedy series Please Sir! about life in a modern secondary school.

Dickie and his second wife, the actress Jill Britton, moved to Conford more than 15 years ago, where they soon became involved in staging productions at the village hall.

One of their most memorable performances was a reading of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, made famous after the couple had starred alongside Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in the 1972 film version, raising more than £1,000 for the village hall, which they consequently took on tour through East Hampshire and Surrey.

The play was Jill’s and Dickie’s favourite and he played the role of Mr Pritchard again in the West End production at the Mayfair Theatre in 1978.

The couple initiated regular Hog the Limelight productions for Conford as well as performances by the Rude Mechanicals, which were all very successful.

The son of a railway guard Richard was born Dennis Wilfred Davies on January 25, 1926, in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan.

At the age of 14, he briefly worked in the mines before leaving to pursue his career as an actor.

After the war, he made his West End debut in Little Lambs Eat Ivy at the Ambassadors Theatre, in 1947, before touring Europe and South Africa with the Old Vic.

He then appeared in Henry V in Guildford and made his first appearance in film in The Lavender Hill Mob, in 1951.

An accomplished theatre actor, Dickie moved into television in the 1960s and made appearances in classic programmes such as Coronation Street, Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt, Fawlty Towers (The Kipper and the Corpse), Yes Minister, Dr Who and One Foot in the Grave alongside Richard Wilson’s Victor Meldrew.

In recent years, Richard suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and was looked after by staff at Silver Birches Care Home in Rake, enjoying many outings to The Deer’s Hut pub, at Griggs Green, where he was always welcome.

Dickie, who passed away on October 8, leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Jill, and their children Glen, Nerissa and Colin, his son by his first marriage to Beryl Armstrong.

A memorial service will be held at St Pauls in Covent Garden – the actor’s church – on December 18, at 2.30pm.