Tommy Trinder

2022-12-26T16:42:51Z

45.139.253.19:

{{Short description|English stage, screen and radio comedian}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tommy Trinder
| honorific_suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]]
| image = File:SLNSW 32827 Tommy Trinder at Great Northern.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Trinder in [[New South Wales]], 1954
| birth_name = Thomas Edward Trinder
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1909|03|24}}
| birth_place = [[Streatham]], London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1989|7|10|1909|3|24}}
| death_place = [[Chertsey]], Surrey, England
| occupation = Comedian
}}
'''Thomas Edward Trinder''' [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (24 March 1909 – 10 July 1989) was an English stage, screen and radio comedian whose catchphrase was "You lucky people!". Described by [[Cultural history|cultural historian]] [[Matthew Sweet (writer)|Matthew Sweet]] as "a cocky, front-of-cloth variety turn", he was one of the United Kingdom's foremost entertainers during the [[Second World War]].<ref name="sweet">{{cite web |last1=Sweet |first1=Matthew |title=You lucky people: remembering Tommy Trinder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/aug/18/tommy-trinder |website=The Guardian |date=18 August 2009 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref>

Known for his confident and direct style of comedy, Trinder first found recognition with his [[music hall]] revues in the late 1930s. During the war, he worked for [[Entertainments National Service Association|ENSA]] and maintained a successful film career, starring in a string of [[Ealing Studios]] films including ''[[Sailors Three]]'' (1940), ''[[Champagne Charlie (1944 film)|Champagne Charlie]]'' (1944) and ''[[Bitter Springs (film)|Bitter Springs]]'' (1950). During the 1950s, Trinder became a television star, notably as the original host for ''[[Tonight at the London Palladium|Sunday Night at the London Palladium]]'' (1955-1958). In 1959, he was elected chairman of [[Fulham FC|Fulham Football Club]], a position he maintained until 1976. He continued to perform into the 1980s.

==Biography==
===Early life (1909–1937)===
Tommy Trinder was born at 54 Wellfield Road, [[Streatham]], [[South London]], on 24 March 1909, the son of Thomas Henry Trinder, a London tram driver from [[Shilton, Oxfordshire|Shilton]], Oxfordshire, and his wife Jennie Georgina Harriet ({{nee}} Mills). The family moved to [[Fulham]] after Trinder's father was transferred to [[Hammersmith]]. As a boy, Trinder would sneak into [[Fulham FC|Fulham Football Club]]'s [[Craven Cottage]] ground when the [[River Thames|Thames]] was at low tide to watch the club play.<ref name="evening mail">{{cite journal |title=Death of Comic Veteran |journal=Sandwell Evening Mail |date=11 July 1988 |page=19 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002488/19890711/132/0013 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref>

Trinder left school early for a job as an [[courier|errand boy]]. He made his first stage appearance at the age of twelve in a talent competition at [[Sam Collins (music hall)|Collins Music Hall]]. Trinder's singing act won the contest and when collecting his award, he was approached by Will Murray who recruited him for his Casey's Court juvenile comedy show. Trinder made his first appearance with the company on 5 June 1921 in [[Oldham]].<ref name="Chance to Meet">{{cite web |title=A Chance to Meet... Tommy Trinder |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYhvgsQl8Bo |website=Youtube |publisher=ITV |access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> The company, which also featured [[Jimmy Wheeler]] at the time, toured [[music hall|music halls]] including [[Sunderland Empire Theatre]].<ref name="stage">{{cite journal |last1=Mellor |first1=Geoff |title=Trinder's the Name |journal=The Stage |date=19 August 2021 |page=6 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19710819/010/0006 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref>

After a few years with Casey's Court, Trinder then joined a dancing act called Phil Rees' Stable Lads. At the age of 14, he performed with them at [[Folies Bergère]], [[Paris]].<ref name="stage"/> By 1926, the 17-year-old Trinder was the star of [[Archie Pitt]]'s travelling variety comedy shows, often appearing at the Queen's Theatre, [[Poplar, London]].<ref name="stage"/> Trinder also performed in [[Concert party (entertainment)|concert parties]] and [[working men's club|working men's clubs]].<ref name="BFI">{{cite web |last1=Oliver |first1=John |title=Tommy Trinder (1909-1989) |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/460230/index.html |website=BFI Screenonline |access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> He married Violet Trinder (''[[née]]'' Bailey) in 1932.<ref name=Vincent2008>{{cite book |last=Vincent |first=Gregory K. |title=A history of Du Cane Court: land, architecture, people and politics |publisher=Woodbine |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-9541675-1-6}}</ref> By the mid-1930s, Trinder was appearing in variety shows across the United Kingdom with an act titled "The Load of Nonsense".<ref name="nonsense1">{{cite journal |title=TOMMY TRINDER The Load of Nonsense |journal=Hampshire Telegraph |date=25 October 1935 |page=4 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001973/19351025/075/0004 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="nonsense2">{{cite journal |title=TOMMY TRINDER Returns with another Load of Nonsense. |journal=Hampshire Telegraph |date=15 January 1937 |page=4 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001973/19370115/086/0004 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>

===Stardom and Ealing Studios (1937–1950)===
[[File:Tommy Trinder and Jean Colin.jpg|thumb|left| 230px|Trinder with [[Jean Colin]] during the making of ''Communal Kitchen: Eating Out With Tommy Trinder'' for the [[Ministry of Information (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Information]] in 1941]]
Trinder began to achieve national recognition in 1937 with the touring revues ''Tune In'' and ''In Town Tonight''.<ref name="towntonight">{{cite journal |title=Tommy Trinder "In Town To-night" |journal=The Stage |date=11 November 1937 |page=7 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19371111/027/0007 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> Trinder's stage persona was confident and cheeky with what historian [[Matthew Sweet (writer)|Matthew Sweet]] has described as a "transcendental self-belief" typified by his "you lucky people!" catchphrase.<ref name="sweet"/> His act was fast-talking and direct, with topical allusions and [[ad libitum|ad libs]].<ref name="kelly">{{cite journal |last1=Kelly |first1=Veronica |title='You Lucky People!' Tommy Trinder on Stage and Film as a Public Vector of Post-War Anglo-Australian Projects of Land, Food and Peop |url=https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/JASAL/article/viewFile/14289/13140 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> Trinder would often begin his act with "The name's Trinder. That's T-R-I-N-D-E-R, pronounced Chumley", a dig at the [[Upper class|upper classes]].<ref name=Vincent2008/> In December 1938, Trinder was spotlighted in an end-of-year review in ''[[The Era (newspaper)|The Era]]'', who said "Tommy Trinder has established himself firmly in his own special niche, as we knew he would. But it is not a niche easy of attainment. To abolish deliberately the proscenium, to get down among the audience, treat individual members of it with easy familiarity, pinch their cigarettes and chocolates and to be loved for doing it... well, I have seen other artists try something like it, and their reward has been the frozen face and the indignant murmur. Tommy Trinder is a truly great artist".<ref name="Thanks for the memory">{{cite journal |last1=Beswick Goodgame |first1=L. |title=Thanks for the memory |journal=The Era |date=30 December 1938 |page=13 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000053/19381230/117/0013 |access-date=3 October 2021}}</ref> In July 1939, Trinder starred alongside [[Arthur Askey]] in [[Jack Hylton]]'s stage version of the [[BBC]]'s radio comedy series ''[[Band Waggon]]'' at the [[London Palladium]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Who's Where in Variety |journal=The Era |date=13 July 1939 |page=9 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000053/19390713/087/0009 |access-date=3 October 2021}}</ref> That same year, he and Violet moved into [[Du Cane Court]], an [[Art Deco]] [[Tower block|apartment block]] on Balham High Road, [[Balham, London|Balham]], South London.<ref name=Vincent2008/> According to biographer Patrick Newley, Violet grew to dislike Trinder so much that she refused to laugh at his jokes.<ref name="sweet"/> After the couple split, Trinder married Gwyn (Toni) Lancelyn Green and moved to a large private estate, [[Burwood Park]] in [[Hersham]], [[Surrey]].

By the time of the [[Second World War]], Trinder was one of Britain's foremost entertainers and regularly appeared in his own shows at the London Palladium.<ref name="bfi">{{cite web |title=BFI to celebrate career of Tommy Trinder |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/101/bfi_to_celebrate_career_of_tommy_trinder/ |website=British Comedy Guide |date=7 July 2009 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> He performed for British armed forces personnel as part of ENSA ([[Entertainments National Service Association]]) and would joke it stood for Every Night Something Atrocious.<ref name="Chance to Meet"/> Trinder would later dub its successor CSE ([[BFBS Live Events|Combined Services Entertainment]]) "Chaos Supersedes ENSA".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shephard |first1=Roy |title=Programme Guide |journal=Belfast Telegraph |date=27 August 1980 |page=8 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19800827/087/0008 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> In 1941, he appeared in ''Eating Out with Tommy Trinder'', a [[public information film]] promoting wartime [[British Restaurant|British Restaurants]].<ref name="eating out">{{cite web |title=Eating out with Tommy Trinder (1941) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b69e3dd0c |website=Bfi |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref>

Trinder was known for his self-promotion and claimed that, had he not entered showbusiness, he would have worked in publicity.<ref name="amble">{{cite journal |title=Trinder says "I'll just amble on..." |journal=Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail |date=25 September 1951 |page=2 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000378/19510925/020/0002 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> When appearing in [[George Black (producer)|George Black]]'s musical revue ''Happy and Glorious'' in 1944, he arranged for large posters to be displayed across London bearing the slogan "If it's laughter you're after, Trinder's the name". One of the posters, in the East End of London, was in [[Yiddish]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Freedland |first1=Michael |title=Book Review: The London Palladium: The Story of the Theatre and Its Stars |url=https://www.thejc.com/culture/books/book-review-the-london-palladium-the-story-of-the-theatre-and-its-stars-by-chris-woodward-1.8892 |website=The Jewish Chronicle |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="Towers">{{cite book |last1=Towers |first1=Harry Alan |title=Mr. Towers of London: A Life in Show Business |date=2013 |publisher=BearManor Media |isbn=978-1-59393-235-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwKDDwAAQBAJ&dq=tommy+trinder+yiddish&pg=PT17 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> ''[[The Stage]]'' has described Trinder as one of the first artists to recognise the importance of advertising.<ref name="stage obit">{{cite journal |title=Tommy Trinder |journal=The Stage |date=27 July 1989 |page=25 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001934/19480629/070/0003 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref>

Trinder began a film career in 1938, making his film debut in [[Welwyn Studios]]' ''[[Save a Little Sunshine]]''. He starred alongside [[Pat Kirkwood (actress)|Pat Kirkwood]], who later described him as "rude and insulting and downright nasty".<ref name="sweet"/> Trinder was soon signed up to [[Michael Balcon]]'s [[Ealing Studios]] when it became clear that [[George Formby]] was about to be wooed away.<ref name="sweet"/> His first work for the company was the comedy ''[[Sailors Three]]'' (1940), about three British sailors (Trinder, [[Claude Hulbert]] and [[Michael Wilding (actor)|Michael Wilding]]) who accidentally find themselves aboard a German [[pocket battleship]].<ref name="screenonline1">{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/811645/index.html |title=BFI Screenonline: Sailors Three (1940) |publisher=Screenonline.org.uk |access-date=2014-02-22}}</ref> It was Trinder's most successful comedy film<ref name="screenonline1"/> and one of its featured songs "All Over The Place" (words by [[Frank Eyton]]; music by [[Noel Gay]]) was among the most popular of the war.<ref>Based on sheet music sales.</ref> In 1944, Trinder starred in the [[musical film]] ''[[Champagne Charlie (1944 film)|Champagne Charlie]]'', playing the 19th-century music hall performer [[George Leybourne]] opposite [[Stanley Holloway]] as his peer [[Alfred Vance]]. That same year saw Trinder appear in ''[[Fiddlers Three (1944 film)|Fiddlers Three]]'', a loose sequel to ''Sailors Three''. He also took straight acting parts, playing an army driver in charge of a gang of French refugee children in ''[[The Foreman Went to France]]'' (1942) and a [[Auxiliary Fire Service|AFS]] [[Firefighter|fireman]] in ''[[The Bells Go Down]]'' (1943). ''[[Bitter Springs (film)|Bitter Springs]]'' (1950) has been described as Trinder's last significant film and features the comedian as a failing travelling conjuror who makes a new life as a stockman in the [[Australian Outback]].<ref name="sweet"/>

===Tours and television (1950–1960)===
After the war, Trinder concentrated mainly on his stage act.<ref name="bfi"/> He attempted to break America, making his stateside debut on a [[New York City|New York]] bill with [[Frank Sinatra]] in the spring of 1950. Advertised as "the English [[Bob Hope]]", Trinder found the American audience "not as friendly towards English artists as English audiences are to American" and never returned.<ref name="sweet"/> In 1952, Trinder embarked on a successful tour of Australia scheduled to last three months.<ref name="entertainment">{{cite journal |title=World of Entertainment |journal=Birmingham Daily Post |date=22 October 1954 |volume=14 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000619/19541022/247/0014 |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> Upon his arrival in [[Sydney]], he described himself as "just a pommy trying to make good".<ref name="kelly"/> Trinder ultimately stayed in the country for almost two years.<ref name="entertainment"/> Whilst there, he raised £150,000 for charities and was consequently made life governor of 19 hospitals. Upon his return to Britain in June 1954, he observed great changes in the types of entertainers heading variety bills.<ref name="governor">{{cite journal |title=Tommy Trinder is now governor of 19 hospitals |journal=Bradford Observer |date=25 September 1954 |page=4 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003150/19540925/078/0004 |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> He began to work in television, describing the medium as "a powerful, but legitimate, rival to the theatre".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Melling |first1=John Kennedy |title=Tommy Trinder's views on present day Variety |journal=The Stage |date=20 February 1958 |page=3 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19580220/027/0003 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref>

In 1955, Trinder became the original compere for the [[Associated Television|ATV]] television programme ''[[Sunday Night at the London Palladium]]''. A live [[variety show]] featuring the [[game show]] segment ''[[Beat the Clock]]'', the programme regularly attracted an estimated twelve million viewers.<ref name="stage obit"/><ref name="mccann">{{cite web |last1=McCann |first1=Graham |title=This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us: Comedy Rivalries |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/comedy-rivalries/ |website=British Comedy Guide |date=17 October 2021 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> As he had in his stage act, Trinder often included pointed topical gags in the programme, a feature that sometimes proved controversial. Among Trinder's targets were fellow entertainers [[Bob Monkhouse]], [[Liberace]] and Frank Sinatra.<ref name="beckett">{{cite book |last1=Beckett |first1=Francis |title=1956: The Year That Changed Britain |date=13 Oct 2015 |publisher=Biteback Publishing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lBoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=tommy+trinder+palladium&pg=PT3 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="billboard">{{cite journal |title=London Letter |journal=The Billboard |date=25 November 1944 |page=4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lBoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=tommy+trinder+palladium&pg=PT3 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> Explaining his position in 1956, he commented "It is expected of me to make jokes about current topical items of interest. I gag about [[Norah, Lady Docker|Lady Docker]] and [[Diana Dors]]. If I happen to be in the news, I gag about myself."<ref name="hampshire">{{cite journal |title=The Best in Years |journal=Hampshire Telegraph |date=29 June 1956 |page=7 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001973/19560629/082/0007 |access-date=30 December 2021}}</ref> Having offended the managing director of ATV, [[Val Parnell]], and his deputy, [[Lew Grade]], on multiple occasions, Trinder was dropped and replaced by [[Bruce Forsyth]] in 1958.<ref name="sweet"/><ref name="mccann"/>

In 1955, Trinder lent his catchphrase to his first film in five years, [[Adelphi Films]]' ''[[You Lucky People!]]''. He mounted a successful tour of [[South Africa]] in 1957.<ref name="echo">{{cite journal |title=You Lucky People |journal=Liverpool Echo |date=7 March 1958 |page=24 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19580307/625/0024 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> In May 1959, he was the subject of the 100th edition of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]].<ref name="This Is Your Life">{{cite journal |title=This Is Your Life reaches 100th version |journal=Shields Daily News |date=11 May 1959 |page=5 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002077/19590511/042/0005 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> He moved to the [[BBC]] to host his own television series, ''Trinder Box'', in 1959.<ref name="trinder box">{{cite journal |title=Trinder Box |journal=Shields Daily News |date=20 June 1959 |page=5 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002077/19590620/047/0005 |access-date=3 January 2022}}</ref> The programme was short-lived, as was a 1960 comedy quiz show ''It's Only Money''.<ref name="quiz show">{{cite journal |title=Tommy Trinder in new quiz show |journal=The Stage |date=23 June 1960 |page=10 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19600623/095/0010 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> Trinder never fully warmed to the medium of television, believing that the amount of daily rehearsal sapped performances of their spontaneity.<ref name="BFI"/> By the 1960s, Trinder's television appearances were limited to guest spots on programmes such as the BBC's long-running [[music hall]] programme ''[[The Good Old Days (UK TV series)|The Good Old Days]]''.

===Fulham FC (1960–1976)===
Trinder was a lifelong supporter of [[Fulham FC|Fulham Football Club]]. By 1948, he was a director at the club<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Denton |first1=Bruce |title=Corking Magic, This! |journal=The People |date=25 January 1948 |page=6 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000729/19480125/100/0006 |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Silver Rose Bowl Went to Blackburn R.S. Coach |journal=Lancashire Evening Post |date=12 December 1955 |page=7 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000712/19551212/170/0007 |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> and from 1959 until 1976, he was chairman of the club. In this position, Trinder championed the midfielder [[Johnny Haynes]]. Confident that football's £20 [[maximum wage]] would remain in place, Trinder told Haynes that he would pay him £100 a week if he could.<ref name="biteback">{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Jon |title=Tommy Trinder may have been a comedian – but the Fulham chairman was not as daft as he looked |url=https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/posts/tommy-trinder-may-have-been-a-comedian-but-the-fulham-chairman-was-not-as-daft-as-he-looked |website=Biteback Publishing |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> He repeated this to the press, telling them "If he asks for it, who am I to deny it to the best player in the world?".<ref name="haynes">{{cite journal |last1=McGhee |first1=Frank |title=So Different Now Haynes Is Here |journal=Daily Mirror |date=15 April 1961 |page=16 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19610415/166/0016 |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> The wage cap was lifted in 1961 and Trinder kept his word.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fanning |first1=Dion |title=Craving the Holy Grail |journal=Sunday Independent |date=7 January 2001 |page=34 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002324/20010107/369/0034 |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hawkins |first1=Si |title=Football... You're Having A Laugh |journal=British Comedy Guide |date=18 September 2017 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/links_between_comedy_and_football/ |access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> The rise kept Haynes from signing with [[A.C. Milan]] and he remained with Fulham until 1970. The ''[[Daily Mail]]'' sports columnist [[J. L. Manning]] described Trinder's move as "a bold, brave and sensible application of soccer’s New Deal".<ref name="biteback"/> During his chairmanship, Trinder continued to perform in provincial theatres, pantomime and holiday camps<ref name="mccann"/> and jokes about Fulham became a regular part of his act.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Swan |first1=Eddie |title=Southern Lights |journal=The Stage |date=23 March 1972 |page=10 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19720323/089/0010 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> He also continued to make occasional film appearances.

Trinder performed before the [[British royal family]] in six [[Royal Variety Performance]]s between 1945 and 1980.<ref name="variety">{{cite web |title=1959, Manchester Palace |url=https://www.royalvarietycharity.org/royal-variety-performance/archive/detail/1959-manchester-palace |website=The Royal Variety Chariety |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> From 1937 onwards, he was a proud and active member of the exclusive entertainment fraternity, the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]].<ref name="evening mail"/> He served three non-consecutive terms as its "King Rat" in 1955, 1963 and 1965.<ref name="King Rat 54">{{cite journal |title=Tommy Trinder New King Rat |journal=The Stage |date=2 December 1954 |page=1 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001179/19541202/011/0001 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="King Rat 63">{{cite journal |title=Tommy Trinder is King Rat for 1963 |journal=The Stage |date=29 November 1962 |page=3 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19621129/031/0003 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="King Rat 65">{{cite journal |title=Variety Club Tribute to Water Rats |journal=The Stage |date=8 April 1965 |page=5 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19650408/053/0005 |access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref>
In 1956, Trinder was President of the [[Lord's Taverners]] cricketing charity.<ref>{{cite web |title=International |url=https://lordstavernersact.org.au/about-us/international/ |website=Lord's Taverners ACT |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> Trinder celebrated 50 years in showbusiness in 1971.<ref name="stage"/> In 1975, he was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]] for services to charity.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Forces sweetheart becomes Dame Vera |journal=Belfast Telegraph |date=14 June 1975 |page=8 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19750614/126/0008 |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>

===Final years and death (1976–1989)===
In later years, Trinder performed in pantomime, appeared in holiday camps and worked as a [[Opening act|warm-up act]] for [[ITV Tyne Tees|Tyne Tees Television]] in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]].<ref name="mccann"/> He often made bitter allusions to [[Lew Grade|Lew]] and [[Leslie Grade]] and his reaction to new trends in his sphere was "isn’t the [[alternative comedy|'alternative' to comedy]] just straight acting?".<ref name="sweet"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bletchly |first1=Rachael |title=Roy Hudd |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/roy-hudd-shows-incredible-weight-16549167 |website=Mirror |date=20 June 2019 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> One notable latter-day television appearance was in a 1979 edition of ''The Old Boy Network'' ([[BBC Two|BBC2]]), with Trinder performing his act at [[Great Yarmouth]]'s Windmill Theatre and presenting a condensed history of his life and career.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Tommy Trinder CBE |journal=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=28 September 1979 |page=2 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19790928/019/0002 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> In 1982, Trinder was reported to be earning only £17 a week in a summer season in [[Jersey]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hutchins |first1=Chris |title=Chris Hutchins Confidential |journal=Sunday Mirror |date=18 July 1982 |page=13 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19820718/110/0013 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> The following year, he was hospitalised after collapsing whilst appearing in the pantomime ''[[Aladdin|Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp]]'' and was said to have been experiencing exhaustion.<ref name="reading">{{cite journal |title=Tommy Trinder collapses on stage |journal=Reading Evening Post |date=9 April 1985 |page=1 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19850409/012/0001 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> Trinder collapsed on stage again during a show in [[Rotherham]] in April 1985 and during a [[Burton upon Trent|Burton-on-Trent]] show in January 1986.<ref name="reading"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kirkland |first1=Olive |title=Time for a break |journal=The Mirror |date=6 January 1986 |page=18 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19860106/134/0018 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref>

After a stroke, Trinder used a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. He continued to work, appearing on television in the [[game show]] ''The Parlour Game''.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Parlour Game |journal=Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=13 July 1988 |issue=4 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19880713/085/0004 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> He made his last television appearance in February 1989, recalling his contemporary [[Max Miller (comedian)|Max Miller]] in the BBC ''[[40 Minutes]]'' documentary ''I Like The Girls Who Do''.<ref name="BFI"/> The same year, he came out of stage retirement to make a final appearance at the London Palladium in a variety show celebrating the founding of BBC local radio.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Newley |first1=Patrick |title=Taking Trinder back to the top of the bill |journal=The Stage |date=15 December 2005 |page=12 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001637/20051215/305/0012 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Patrick |title=Patrick Newley |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/jul/14/obituary-patrick-newley |website=The Guardian |date=14 July 2009 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> An exhibition of photographs and ephemera was held at [[Streatham Library]] in March 1989 to mark Trinder's 80th birthday.<ref name="Trip along">{{cite journal |title=Trip along with Trinder |journal=The Stage |date=16 March 1989 |page=3 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19890316/026/0003 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> He died at [[St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey]] on 10 July 1989. Among the tributes, [[Ernie Wise]] described Trinder as "one of the best [[ad libitum|ad lib]] comedians we have ever produced - he was in the same class as Max Miller".<ref name="evening mail"/> The BBC repeated Trinder's edition of ''The Old Boy Network'' on 25 July.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bond |first1=Sarah |title=BBC-2 |journal=Daily Mirror |date=25 July 1989 |page=16 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19890725/097/0016 |access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref>

==Legacy==
A biography by Patrick Newley, ''You Lucky People! – The Tommy Trinder Story'', was published by Third Age Press in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=You Lucky People! The Tommy Trinder Story |url=https://www.thirdagepress.co.uk/shop/books/you-lucky-people-the-tommy-trinder-story/ |website=Third Age Press |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> Trinder was placed 83rd in [[Channel 4]]'s [[100 Greatest (TV series)|The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/100_greatest_stand_ups/episodes/1/1/ |website=Comedy |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> In 2010, comedian [[Ross Noble]] campaigned for people to vote for Trinder in an online poll for an updated version of the list, saying "Tommy Trinder was a top act and it would be funny to have an act from the 50s top the list. Last time I was ahead of [[Lenny Bruce]] so it's bollocks anyway". The campaign received support from fellow comics [[Tim Minchin]], [[Alan Davies]], [[Jason Manford]] and ''[[Viz (comic)|Viz]]'' co-founder [[Simon Donald]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Jerome |title=Web campaign plans to put Forties comedian back on top |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/web-campaign-plans-to-put-forties-comedian-back-on-top-1876192.html |website=Independent |date=22 January 2010 |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> Trinder ultimately placed 44th in the 2010 list.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/100_greatest_stand_ups/episodes/1/2/ |website=Comedy |access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> In August 2009, [[BFI Southbank]] celebrated Trinder's centenary with a season of his film work.<ref name="bfi"/>

==Filmography==
*1938 – ''[[Save a Little Sunshine]]''
*1938 – ''[[Almost a Honeymoon (1938 film)|Almost a Honeymoon]]''
*1939 – ''[[She Couldn't Say No (1939 film)|She Couldn't Say No]]''
*1940 – ''[[Laugh It Off (1940 film)|Laugh It Off]]''
*1940 – ''[[Sailors Three]]'' (US: ''Three Cockeyed Sailors'')
*1942 – ''[[The Foreman Went to France]]''
*1943 – ''[[The Bells Go Down]]''
*1944 – ''[[Champagne Charlie (1944 film)|Champagne Charlie]]''
*1944 – ''[[Fiddlers Three (1944 film)|Fiddlers Three]]'' (US: ''While Nero Fiddled'')
*1950 – ''[[Bitter Springs (film)|Bitter Springs]]''
*1955 – ''[[You Lucky People!]]''
*1959 – ''[[Make Mine a Million]]''
*1963 – ''[[The Damned (1963 film)|The Damned]]'' (US: ''These are the Damned'')
*1964 – ''[[The Beauty Jungle]]'' (US: ''Contest Girl'')
*1969 – ''Under the Table You Must Go'' (documentary)
*1974 – ''[[Barry McKenzie Holds His Own]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Tommy Trinder}}
*{{IMDb name|0872938}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031542/http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9510446 Biography at biography.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101225041048/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/actors/Tommy-Trinder Britmovie biography]
*[http://www.trinder.org/Tommy.Trinder.Story.htm The Tommy Trinder Story autobiographical pamphlet]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trinder, Tommy}}
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:Freemasons of the United Grand Lodge of England]]
[[Category:People from Streatham]]
[[Category:People from Fulham]]
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Fulham F.C. directors and chairmen]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]

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Tommy Trinder