Tom Mennard

Tom Mennard was born in 1918 in Leeds and his first job after leaving school was as a bus driver in Brighton. After working in amatuer theatre, he was spotted by singer Donald Peers who recommended him to the BBC and he starred on the radio in the series Local Tales. He also worked at the Windmill Theatre in London where he met future Coronation Street co-stars Jill Summers and Bill Waddington. He also appeared on television in the 1950s in the Arthur Askey series Before Your Very Eyes. Later television programmes in which he appeared included Dad’s Army, Foxy Lady, Sounding Brass, Oh, Happy Band! and Open All Hours.

He first appeared in the Street in 1985 as pensioner Sam Tindall in September 1985 and continued in the part until May 1989, having driven up from his Dorset home for the weekly rehearsals and recordings. A frequent companion on these travels was his Lhasa Apso dog, Dougal, who was eventually written into the programme as Sam’s own dog. He died from cancer in Salisbury Hospital on 2nd November 1989, six months after his last appearance on the programme.