Bert Parnaby (born "James Bertram Parnaby" on 4th March 1924 in Guisborough, Yorkshire; died 30th July 1992 in Cambridge) appeared on Coronation Street in March 1986 as Mr Pollitt, head of the council's refuse department who passed binman Curly Watts over for promotion.
A former schoolteacher, he worked at Manchester Grammar school where he was acknowledged as an influence by the historian Michael Wood. He eventually gave up the profession to become a full-time actor.
His other credits included roles in My Cousin Rachel, The Black Adder, Cockles, Do It, By the Sword Divided, Black Silk, First Among Equals, The Bretts, Campaign, All Creatures Great and Small, Last of the Summer Wine, Casualty and Lovejoy, along with the films Prick Up Your Ears, The Dressmaker and Reunion.
On stage, he appeared in productions of The Winter's Tale, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Titus Andronicus, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, All's Well That Ends Well and Our Friends in the North for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Comedians at the Young Vic Theatre.
His radio work went back to the 1960s and was heard in productions of Black Ivory, Deadline for Danger, A Bolt From The Blue, Demolition Trail, The White Company, The Waiting Game, The Song of Roland, The Monday Play, And End and a Beginning and Saturday-Night Theatre.