SOUTH Birmingham actor Ian Lavender, best- known for his role as ‘Private Pike’ in Dad’s Army has died at the age of 77.
Mr Lavender, who grew up in Longbridge and went to Bournville Technical College, featured in the show which spanned nine series between 1968 and 1977.
The BBC hit sitcom, written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, regularly attracted an audience of more than 18million.
It was set in the fictional town of Walmington-on-Sea on the south coast of England and centred on a group of residents who formed a Local Defence Volunteers group in the event that the Germans made it onto British soil.
He was the last surviving member of the cast.
Mr Lavender also appeared in films and other hit TV shows, including Eastenders and Casualty.
And he had guest roles in a number of other classic British sitcome, including Goodnight Sweetheart, Rising Damp and Keeping Up Appearances.
In 2018, Royal Mail launched a series of commemorative stamps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dad’s Army. Each one had a picture of the main characters on.
Mr Lavender, who was given the privilege of launching them, joked: “When you’re young you may dream of many things but one never thinks there is a possibility of being on a stamp.”
The news of Mr Lavender’s death, which happened on Friday, was confirmed by his agent.
