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Sally-Jane Spencer

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Sally-Jane Spencer
Spencer as Linda Patterson in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin in 1976
Born
Sally Jane Spencer

(1948-07-10) 10 July 1948 (age 76)
Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England
Other names
  • Sally Jane Freshwater
  • Sally Jane Pitts
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active1952–present
Television
Spouses
Timothy Freshwater
​
​
(m. 1971, divorced)​
Anthony Pitts
​
(m. 1980)​
Children2
FatherNorman Spencer

Sally Jane Pitts (née Spencer, formally Freshwater; born 10 July 1948), known professionally as Sally-Jane Spencer, is an English actress and model. With a career spanning over seven decades, she is best known for portraying Linda Patterson (née Perrin) in the BBC One sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–1979) and its sequel The Legacy of Reginald Perrin (1996).

Early life

[edit]

Sally Jane Spencer was born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England on 10 July 1948,[1] as the younger child to Norman Leslie Spencer (1914–2024),[2][3][4] an actor, director, production manager, producer, screenwriter, and supercentenarian, and his wife, Barbara Violet Edith (née Sheppard; 1912–1998).[5][6] She has an elder sister, Susan Lesley "Sue" McIntyre[7] (née Spencer; born 1944).[8][9][10]

Career

[edit]

Spencer made her debut as an actress in 1952, at the age of four,[11] with the uncredited role of Sally in the aviation drama film The Sound Barrier. Her father, Norman, was the associate producer on the film,[12] which was shot at Shepperton Studios when she was three-and-a-half years old. She already had experience in commercial photography.[13] Spencer made her credited debut with the role of a florist in the black comedy film The Anniversary (1968).[14]

Spencer portrayed Margot Kerr in the BBC One soap opera The Newcomers from 1967 to 1968.[15][16]

Spencer portrayed Linda Patterson (née Perrin) – the daughter of Reginald Iolanthe "Reggie" Perrin (Leonard Rossiter), a middle-aged middle manager suffering a nervous breakdown, and his wife, Elizabeth Perrin (Pauline Yates) – in the BBC One sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin from 1976 to 1979. She reprised her role in 1996 for the sequel The Legacy of Reginald Perrin.[17][16]

Spencer appeared in an episode of the BBC One documentary Comedy Connections in 2004.[18]

Personal life

[edit]

Spencer married her first husband, Timothy George Freshwater (born October 1944),[19][20] a Chalfont St Peter solicitor, at St Mary's Church, Denham on 1 May 1971,[21] when she was 23 and he was 27.[22] The ceremony was performed by Rev. Ernest Corr. She was given away by her father, Norman. The best man was Christopher Goodchild. Their guests included; Tessa Wyatt, Prentiss Hilton, Jess Conrad, Michael Redfern, and Wendy Richard. Her niece, Amanda McIntyre, then-aged four, was a bridesmaid, along with Conrad's daughter, Sacha, then-aged five. Her nephew, Timothy Spencer, was also an attendant. The reception was held at the Grange Hotel, Farnham Common. They spent a touring honeymoon in France before returning to reside in Islington.[21]

Spencer married her second husband, Anthony B Pitts, in Fulham, Greater London in 1980, when she was 32.[23] They have two children together; Emily Jane Pitts (born 1981)[24] and Timothy John A Pitts (born 1983),[25][26] a chief investment officer.[9][10] She resides in Denham, Buckinghamshire.[27]

Spencer with her father Norman (aged 106), 2020

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1952 The Sound Barrier Sally Uncredited
1966 The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery Schoolgirl Uncredited
1967–1968 The Newcomers Margot Kerr 58 episodes
1968 The Anniversary Florist
1969 Department S Young Girl in Car Episode: "The Man From 'X'"
1969 Crossroads Motel Caroline Boone Episode: "Episode #1.1182"
1976 Angels Jane Lucy Episode: "Home Sweet Home"
1976–1979 The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Linda Patterson 16 episodes
1976 The New Avengers Mother Episode: "To Catch a Rat"
1977 The Other One Lesley Episode: "Episode #1.3"
1978 Maggie and Her Jennifer Episode: "The Other Woman"
1979 Star Turn Herself Episode: "Episode #5.5"
1996 The Legacy of Reginald Perrin Linda Perrin 7 episodes
2004 Comedy Connections Herself, Linda Patterson Episode: "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin"

Source: [28]

References

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  1. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: JUL 1948 6a 353 AMERSHAM — Sally J Spencer
  2. ^ "Recent deaths". European Supercentenarian Organisation. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ Shoard, Catherine (6 September 2024). "Norman Spencer, David Lean's collaborator and UK's second oldest man, dies aged 110". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  4. ^ Gilbey, Ryan (18 September 2024). "Norman Spencer obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  5. ^ Barnes, Mike (5 September 2024). "Norman Spencer, David Lean Collaborator and 'Vanishing Point' Producer, Dies at 110". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  6. ^ Mendez, Malia (5 September 2024). "Norman Spencer, David Lean collaborator and 'Vanishing Point' producer, dies at 110". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  7. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: JUL 1964 6a 1057 ETON — Susan L Spencer = Peter D B McIntyre
  8. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: JUL 1944 3a 2159 AMERSHAM — Susan L Spencer
  9. ^ a b Obituaries, Telegraph (11 September 2024). "Norman Spencer, stalwart David Lean collaborator who left his mark on classic 1940s British films". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b Times, The (6 October 2024). "Norman Spencer obituary: film producer and David Lean's right-hand man". The Times. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Sally Jane Spencer". BFI. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  12. ^ "The Sound Barrier". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Buckinghamshire Advertiser, page 1". Newspapers.com. 10 October 1952. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Sally-Jane Spencer". blu-ray. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Newcomers, The (1965-69) Credits". BFI. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Sally-Jane Spencer". BBC. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Sally-Jane Spencer". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Sally-Jane Spencer". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  19. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: OCT 1944 3a 2020 AMERSHAM — Timothy G Freshwater
  20. ^ "Timothy George FRESHWATER". gov.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Bucks Examiner, page 4". Newspapers.com. 7 May 1971. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  22. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: APR 1971 6a 1184 ETON — Sally Jane Spencer = Timothy Freshwater
  23. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: APR 1980 12 0676 FULHAM — Sally-Jane Freshwater = Anthony B Pitts
  24. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: APR 1981 14 1388 MERTON — Emily Jane Pitts
  25. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: JUL 1983 14 1396 MERTON — Timothy John A Pitts
  26. ^ "Timothy PITTS". gov.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Daily Mirror, page 23". Newspapers.com. 1 May 1969. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Sally-Jane Spencer". IMDb. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
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