Thirty years ago today, the great comic actor Michael Bates lost his battle with cancer at the age of 57. Who remembers him. In the first two series of Last of the Summer Wine he was the main star, his name was first in the credits. He brilliantly played Cyril Blamaire in it. He then even more brilliantly played Indian bearer Rangi Ram in It Aint Half Hot Mum. He was chosen for the part because he was born in India and spoke Urdu before he spoke English, so in the cases of blacking up, this wasn't a really bad charactorture, this was a piece of brilliant acting. He also played the Chief Guard in 'A Clockwork Orange' Who remembers this brilliant comic actor?
