June Spencer obituary

June Spencer, who passed away at the age of 105, is most likely to be remembered for her role as Peggy Woolley (formerly Archer) in the enduring BBC radio soap opera The Archers. She portrayed this character from the show's very first episode in 1950 until August 2022.

Peggy played a crucial role as the family leader and was key to the storylines, even in her later years. Spencer often thought that although she exhibited the same strength and resolve as her alter ego, she possessed a sense of humor that Peggy did not have.

Spencer, who was already a well-known radio actor, was initially signed on for a five-episode stint on the show in May 1950. The series officially began on January 1, 1951, and in its early days, Spencer portrayed both Peggy and Rita Flynn, an assistant to an Irish baker. Frequently referred to as “an everyday story of country folk,” The Archers aimed for a very authentic sound. In a 2019 interview with the Guardian, she explained, “We were told it wasn't a drama; it was real life being overheard.”

Spencer stepped away in 1953 to focus on her family, but she made a comeback as Rita in 1956 and later as Peggy in 1962, after Thelma Rogers, who had taken over the role, left the show.

Peggy was presented as a newcomer to the town who was unfamiliar with the local culture, serving as a relatable figure for viewers who might need some aspects of rural living clarified. Her husband, Jack Archer, struggled with alcoholism and passed away in 1972. After his death, Peggy continued to run their pub, The Bull. Initially, she turned down the romantic overtures of a local entrepreneur named Jack Woolley (played by Arnold Peters), but eventually, in 1991, they got married. This occasion was significant enough to celebrate during the show's 40th anniversary.

Peggy had a conservative and somewhat traditional demeanor, yet she was a devoted wife who confronted challenges with unwavering strength. When a plotline was introduced in 2003 involving Jack dealing with dementia, Spencer took an active role in shaping it. This was particularly significant for her, as her husband, Roger Brocksom, had recently passed away from the illness, and she was eager to highlight the struggles faced by caregivers.

When Jack passed away in 2014, his slow decline over ten years was depicted with great sensitivity. The moment when Peggy bid him farewell, accompanied by Al Bowlly's song "Love Is the Sweetest Thing," created a truly poignant moment on the radio.

June was born in Sherwood, Nottingham, and was the only child of William Spencer, who worked as a salesperson for Crawford’s Biscuits, and his wife, Rosalind (nee Thorne). Her passion for performance began at the age of three when she played the King of the Land of Nod in a school play, and she said she became captivated by acting after receiving her first laugh from the audience.

Following a wonderful experience at Mountford House preparatory school, she found her time at Nottingham High School to be less enjoyable. However, she participated in after-school elocution and drama classes, which led her to earn a diploma from the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Additionally, she attended Stockwin Music College part-time starting at the age of 12 and took dance lessons. At 15, she made the decision to leave school to care for her mother, who was in declining health.

Accepting a position as a junior governess at a modest private school allowed her to pay for her acting classes. These classes eventually led to her performing as Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Sir Frank Benson’s Company at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. Additionally, she created and performed monologues as after-dinner entertainment for Masonic lodge gatherings. She published two collections of these monologues, titled June Spencer’s Monologues (1941) and Odes and Oddities (1946). Furthermore, she wrote three satirical radio shows and contributed material for the comedian Cyril Fletcher.

While working at the Nottingham City Treasurer's Office during the war, her ability to adapt and her talent for appearing younger than she was led to her first professional opportunity at just 12 years old. She starred in "Quiet Wedding" at the Nottingham repertory theatre in 1943. Over the next year, she took on a variety of roles, from playing child parts to taking on juvenile leads, and even portraying a senior character and a houseboy. After a disagreement over pay when she was cast as the lead in the theatre's Christmas production of "Alice in Wonderland," she decided to leave. Following this, she volunteered as a telephone switchboard operator, often referred to as “hello girls,” and participated in morale-boosting stage performances for the military.

In 1943, she became a member of the BBC radio repertory company in the Midlands and took part in many productions. Some of her notable roles included those in Children’s Hour shows starting in 1944, Dick Barton – Special Agent in 1948, and Bartholomew Fair in 1949, all leading up to her involvement in The Archers, which launched in 1950. While also working on the soap opera, she appeared in the radio drama Guilty Party in 1954. Although her television appearances were limited, she made a notable guest spot in its TV version in 1956. Additionally, she lent her voice to a David Rudkin piece for Thirty-Minute Theatre called Bypass in 1972 and acted in an episode of Doctors in 2000.

Spencer was frequently invited to open events and similar occasions, made a guest appearance as herself on an episode of Songs of Praise, and in 2010 she participated as a castaway on Desert Island Discs. That same year, her memoir, The Road to Ambridge, was released.

In 2012, Nottingham University honored her with an honorary degree, and in 2014, she received a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Audio Drama awards. She was named an OBE in 1991 and later a CBE in 2017, and in 2010, she was also given the Freedom of the City of London.

In 2021, Spencer was invited to Clarence House along with her fellow cast members to commemorate the 70th anniversary of The Archers, where she shared the honor of cutting the cake with Camilla, who was then the Duchess of Cornwall. She stepped back from the show the next year at the age of 103.

In 1942, she tied the knot with Brocksom, whom she had met during a vacation when they were just 17. He passed away in 2001. Their son, David, tragically died in 2006. She is survived by her daughter, Ros, and a granddaughter.