DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather

Section 1 : Main Characters : Verger Maurice Yeatman

CHARACTER Verger Yeatman

PLAYED BY Edward Sinclair

FULL NAME Maurice Yeatman (called Henry in ‘War Dance’)

NICKNAME None

ADDRESS Not confirmed but could have been Ivy Cottages, as Mrs Yeatman answered the door once at that location, and slapped when he asked to see her underwear.

TELEPHONE NUMBER Not currently known.

DATE & PLACE of BIRTH No details known, was probably about 55 in 1940 (therefore born around 1885).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION About 5’7” in height, of medium build, black hair, going on grey, wore glasses and always had a sour faced expression, smiling only very rarely.

HOME GUARD RANK Briefly served as Private, having joined the local Home Guard along with the Vicar, whilst Captain Mainwaring was in hospital. On finding out he was not in favour of the idea the Verger left shortly after along with the Vicar in a huff after Captain Mainwaring criticised them on how they dealt with an incident involving Hodges’ cheeky nephew, Hamish.

CIVILIAN/DAYTIME JOB Verger at St Aldhelm’s Church. Had previously been employed there as Caretaker.

WORK ADDRESS St Aldhelm’s Church, Mortimer Road, Walmington-on-Sea

WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER Walmington-on-Sea 333, (Vicar’s office in Church Hall)

EDUCATED AT No details known

QUALIFICATIONS None known 1 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather

KNOWN FAMILY/RELATIONS Married to Anthea, (occasionally called Tracy or Beryl),vwho was about as sour faced as him. No known children. Had a twin brother.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES The Vicar. Chief Warden Hodges. Captain Square.

KNOWN ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS Probably too scared of wife to risk an affair, but did take Mrs Fox out for an afternoon on the Warden’s motorbike supposedly to collect bluebells, much to L/Cpl Jones’s annoyance.

PREVIOUS MILITARY CAREER No details known

DECORATIONS Had one medal with green and white ribbon which he sometimes wore with his Sea Scout Leaders uniform. Medal is not yet identified.

PREVIOUS BACKGROUND No details currently held

FAVOURITE PHRASES “The Vicar must be informed.”

AILMENTS None identified.

PETS None known

HOBBIES/SPORTS Leader of Walmington Sea Scouts. Writing - left light on in Hall when writing his memoirs. Captain Mainwaring was blamed in Court but the Verger eventually confessed despite threats by Chief Warden Hodges.

VEHICLES OWNED Not not known if could drive, but could ride a motor cycle.

CHARACTERISTICS Very loyal to the Vicar. Always referred to him as His Reverence. Did not like his hall being used by the Home Guard. Tendency to be officious.

ECCENTRICITIES Wore a typical Verger’s ‘uniform’ of long Cassock, black belt (usually with a duster hanging from it) and a brown bonnet. Often spoke up for the Vicar until he was asked to be quiet. Had an obsession about confetti being used in the church buildings. Very quick to report to the Vicar all goings-on. Did not seem happy about the Vicar’s alcohol intake.

2 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather

FURTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION The Verger was the Vicar’s eyes and ears as to what was going on in his Hall, the Verger supposedly dusting or doing some other menial task during parades or lectures, but all the time absorbing little bits of information. A lot of the goings-on were also passed to Chief Warden Hodges, and between the three of them they could set about undermining the Home Guard’s efforts. The Verger also assisted Captain Square of the Eastgate platoon at times, spying for him against the Walmington platoon during exercises. He did help the Walmington platoon on one occasion but things did not go according to plan. His attitude was best summed up when, on the Wardens having to move into the Hall due their HQ being bombed, he told Hodges that “It’s been all tribulation with Mainwaring.” Despite the Vicar asking on a couple of occasions, it was never established why he took the church collection to the Pub or home to count it. He also had the Church stirrup pump in the hallway at home, a fact Hodges was not slow in threatening to use against him. L/Cpl Jones always accused him of being a troublemaker, he was not far wrong. Was treasurer of the local Orphanage. Once claimed to Captain Square that Mainwaring’s lot treated him like dirt. Showed he had a violent streak by hitting an IRA suspect who was under arrest in Captain Mainwaring’s office, over the head with a bottle.

POST WAR No details held or available at this time.

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