Tony Hancock
Tony Hancock
12th May 1924 - 25th June 1968
Tony was born in Hall Green, Birmingham in 1924. His parents bought a laundry in Winton Bournemouth in 1927 and moved to the town.
In 1928 his parents, Jack and Lily, became licencees of The Railway Hotel in Holdenhurst Road and his father also became known locally as a comedian and semi-professional stage entertainer.
During the early 1930's Tony attended the Durlston Court Preparatory School in Swanage and in 1934 his parents left the Railway Hotel and moved to this hotel which was, in those days, called The Swanmore Hotel and Lodge. His Father immediately renamed the hotel The Durlston Court, after Tony's school, and under the Hancock management, the place became a successful theatrical hotel, popular with artists from the many summer shows in Bournemouth.
The hotel was Tony's home until he began his National Service in 1942.
Sadly, in 1943, the hotel was requisitioned by the British Army and the family moved from Bournemouth to Worcestershire.
During the late 1940's and early 50's Tony gradually increased his radio appearances on such programmes such as Variety Bandbox and Workers Playtime, but it was his regular performances on Educating Archie and Forces All Star Bill that made him well known to the public.
His own show, Hancock's Half Hour began on the BBC Radio Light Programme on 2nd November 1954. The first series of 16 episodes was followed by another 5 series. In between there were 2 series for commercial television and 7 series for BBC TV ending in June 1961. The majority of these programmes have been preserved by the BBC and are still enjoyed by old and young to this day.
Together with his scriptwriters Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and his regular team of Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams, also known as the 'Carry On Team', Tony Hancock will always be remembered as one of Britain's greatest comedians.
In 1928 his parents, Jack and Lily, became licencees of The Railway Hotel in Holdenhurst Road and his father also became known locally as a comedian and semi-professional stage entertainer.
During the early 1930's Tony attended the Durlston Court Preparatory School in Swanage and in 1934 his parents left the Railway Hotel and moved to this hotel which was, in those days, called The Swanmore Hotel and Lodge. His Father immediately renamed the hotel The Durlston Court, after Tony's school, and under the Hancock management, the place became a successful theatrical hotel, popular with artists from the many summer shows in Bournemouth.
The hotel was Tony's home until he began his National Service in 1942.
Sadly, in 1943, the hotel was requisitioned by the British Army and the family moved from Bournemouth to Worcestershire.
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During the late 1940's and early 50's Tony gradually increased his radio appearances on such programmes such as Variety Bandbox and Workers Playtime, but it was his regular performances on Educating Archie and Forces All Star Bill that made him well known to the public.
His own show, Hancock's Half Hour began on the BBC Radio Light Programme on 2nd November 1954. The first series of 16 episodes was followed by another 5 series. In between there were 2 series for commercial television and 7 series for BBC TV ending in June 1961. The majority of these programmes have been preserved by the BBC and are still enjoyed by old and young to this day.
Together with his scriptwriters Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and his regular team of Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams, also known as the 'Carry On Team', Tony Hancock will always be remembered as one of Britain's greatest comedians.
For more information on the life of this great comedian,
please choose a link below
The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society
Railway Cuttings
Tony HancockWebsite
Hancocks Half Hour
