The Mothership Ronald Pickup

 

Ronald Pickup was born on 7^th June, 1940, in Blacon, Chester to parents Eric and Daisy. His father Eric was a lecturer in English and French, eventually becoming a Senior lecturer in the latter subject at the Diocesan Training College for Teachers, which later became the University of Chester. Ron, attended the King’s School in Chester before heading to Leeds University to read English. He won a scholarship to attend the Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts (RADA) from 1962 – 1964, where he met his wife Lans Traverse. 

In 2010, Pickup returned to the city of his birth to receive an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Chester. 

Once he’d graduated from RADA, Ronald stepped straight into his first on screen acting role also in 1964, in the Doctor Who story based around the French Revolution, playing the physician, in the Reign of Terror episode – The Tyrant of France. His fee was £30. Unfortunately, this episode was wiped by the BBC and is only now available to view as an animated version, complete with original soundtrack and dialogue, which was put together by a fan of the series. 

He made his theatrical debut on stage at the Phoenix Theatre in Leicester also in 1964, then spent two years at the Royal Court Theatre, before joining Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre Company at the Old Vic in London for the next seven years – from 1966 – 1973, working alongside such brilliant stars such as Sir Ian McKellan, Derek Jacobi, Maggie Smith and John Gielgud, to name but a few. 

It’s clear to see from the list of theatrical credits that Ron loved his theatre roles, and in some cases, he would return to one particular play more than once. From 1966 – 1997 he was extremely active in the theatre world, and most especially every year in the 1970s playing alongside many actors from the world of Who, and indeed Torchwood, such as John Normington, Clive Rowe, Eddie Marsan and Julian Glover to name but a few. I could name more, but it would be like listing Captain Jack’s back catalogue!!! 

His on-screen roles since Doctor Who, took him to play Don Pedro, for the television film of Much Ado About Nothing in 1967, a play in which he’d appeared in on stage more than once. In the early 70s, television programmes often covered Plays for Television, and there were many during this time, including Sunday Night Theatre, in ’73, and Play for Today in ’74. 

I remember him for one of my childhood favourite programmes during 1973 – 1982 as the Storyteller for Jackanory for 35 episodes. There was one story he read about fairground horses coming to life and making a bid for freedom. It was told over 5 nights and was a wonderful story for children. He also read A Stranger at Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston in 5 parts in 1975. The Ghost of Thomas Kempe in 5 parts in 1977. Willow’s Luck in 5 parts in 1978. The Faithless Lollybird and Other Stories by Joan Aiken in 1981 and The Revenge of Samuel Stokes for 5 parts in 1982. 

In 1983 he played Elliott alongside Sean Connery in the Bond film Never Say Never Again. Also in this year he played Friedrich Nietzsche in Wagner for four episodes. Skipping up his long list of credits, he played Frank Gladwyn for 6 episodes of Moving in 1985, and Albert Einstein for the mini series about the man in question. 

In Fortunes of War he played Prince Yakimov in 1987 for 4 episodes, and voiced Aslan for the television mini series The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for 3 episodes in 1988. He returned to voice Aslan in the next chapter Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Prince Caspian for 5 episodes in 1989. And once more in 1990 for The Silver Chair. 

In 1990 he played Brian Appleyard for 7 episodes of Not with a Bang series. Appeared in Inspector Morse in 1991 for one episode as Ian Matthews, for the episode Who Killed Harry Field? 

In 1994 he played Daniel Byrne for 4 episodes of The Rector’s Wife, before playing Douglas Beaumont in Medics for 2 episodes. Between 1995 – 1996 he played the Duke of Battersea for 6 episodes of Black Hearts in Battersea series. In 1997 he played Waldemar Fitzurse for 5 episodes of Ivanhoe. 

In 2004 he played Ernest Sorrel in the children’s drama series Feather Boy for 5 episodes. Moving up the years, and from 2002 – 2007 played Bob Falstaff and Lord Charles Byrne for 22 episodes of Holby City. In 2011 he played Jeffrey Livingstone in The Jury for 5 episodes.

Returning to children’s television dramas, played Morgan in Young Dracula for 4 episodes in 2014. 

Pickup also walked the cobbles of Coronation Street in this year playing Len Sheldon. 

In 2014 he played Orpheus in Atlantis series for 3 episodes. Played a single role in Call the Midwife for 1 episode, but it’s probably as Norman Cousins for The Best and the Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that we remember him for now from 2011 & 2015, and his performance in Darkest Hour playing Chamberlain that stick in our memories. 

Ronald Pickup was still working as an actor, even in his 80s, (as many actors do). and still played roles in both television and film, including Summer of Rockets in 2019 as Walter for 4 episodes, completed filming of End of Term playing Damian Self alongside Doctor Who star Peter Davison, and played The Gambler in Schadenfreude which is currently in post production. 

After a long illness, Ronald Pickup sadly died on 24^th February 2021. He had brought such life to his characters. He had one of those voices, not unlike Burton, or Hopkins, or Jarvis that you could listen to forever and a day. The way he captured the story about the fairground horses is something I still remember, to this day. Rest in Peace Ronald.