It has been announced that actor, stage director, and dramatist Ron Pember has sadly died at the age of 87.
An respected actor of the stage and screen, who was best known for his supporting roles in shows including iconic British sitcom Only Fools and Horses, BBC drama Secret Army, and much-loved BBC comedy Red Dwarf, the death of the Essex-born actor Pember was announced on social media yesterday by his grandson, Paul Pember.
Born in Plaistow in 1934, Pember enjoyed a career stretching over thirty years, where he was a character actor in British television productions in the 1970s-1980s – usually in bit-parts, or as a support playing a worldly-wise everyman.
In a tweet confirming his sad passing, Pember’s grandson said: “The sadness now is the happiness then.
After making his TV debut in the early 1960s, as mentioned, one of Pember’s most recognisable roles was when he appeared in an episode of Only Fools and Horses in the 1980s, portraying Baz – the unenthusiastic Chairman of the Tenants’ Association.
He also stared as Belgian Resistance fighter Alain Muny in BBC drama Secret Army, which he played from 1977 to 1979.
Other parts Pember played included TV series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, legal drama Crown Court, The Dick Emery Show, and The Two Ronnies.
When it comes to his career on stage, Pember was known for co-writing the stage musical entitled Jack the Ripper (1974), about the Victorian murder spree in London in the late 1880s, which is still regularly produced by amateur theatre groups and companies around the globe to this day.
He also acted with the National Theatre Company from 1965 to 1968, as well as acting and directing plays at the Mermaid Theatre in London.
Since the announcement of Pember’s passing, tributes have come flooding in on social media.
RIP Ron Pember. A terrific character actor, stage director and dramatist who made a memorable appearance in Series II’s Better Than Life.
The official Twitter account for Only Fools And Horses reposted the tribute and celebrated Ron’s life and incredible acting skills, adding: “We are saddened to hear of the news of the death of Ron Pember who played Baz in the series 3 episode, Homesick. Our thoughts and warm wishes go to his family and friends.”
Actor Danny John-Jules, who played the Cat in Red Dwarf, also paid tribute to Pember: “Just heard the sad news that Ron Pember has passed away. He was such a gentleman with us upstarts when he appeared on Red Dwarf He just rammed his tongue firmly into his cheek and joined the party – What a legend. RIP.”
Just heard the sad news that Ron Pember has passed away. (Tuesday) He was such a gentleman with us upstarts when he appeared on #RedDwarf He just rammed his tongue firmly into his cheek and joined the party! What a legend. RIP pic.twitter.com/8smNqbbUKW
The official Red Dwarf account also said: “RIP Ron Pember. A terrific character actor, stage director and dramatist who made a memorable appearance in Series II’s Better Than Life.”
Music theatre label Stage Door Records has too paid tribute on Twitter, writing: “We’re so very sad to learn that actor and composer Ron Pember has passed away.
“It was such a joy to work with Ron and his wife Yvonne on the debut CD release of Ron’s musical ‘Jack the Ripper’, and we’ll always cherish those wonderful meetings we had together for the album.”
We're so very sad to learn that actor and composer Ron Pember has passed away.
It was such a joy to work with Ron and his wife Yvonne on the debut CD release of Ron's musical 'Jack the Ripper', and we'll always cherish those wonderful meetings we had together for the album. pic.twitter.com/sedOSYpt0e
Urgent appeal issued following serious road traffic collision involving motorcyclist on M60
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious road traffic collision on the M60.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are appealing for information and dash-cam footage, as well as urging witnesses to come forward, after a motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries during a collision on the M60 this past Saturday (12 July).
Shortly after 1:40pm, police were called a report of a collision involving a motorbike on the anti-clockwise side of the motorway, between junctions 25 and 24.
When patrols responded and arrived on the scene, they found a man in his 50s – believed to be the motorcyclist – with life-threatening injuries, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment in an air ambulance, with his family being informed in the process.
An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious road traffic collision involving motorcyclist on the M60 / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The M60 was closed in one direction, between Bredbury and Denton, following the crash from around 2:30pm onwards, and all traffic was diverted while investigations were ongoing.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is in the process of conducting enquiries, and at this time, it isn’t believed that any other vehicle was involved in this incident.
This is why police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who has dash-cam footage, to get in on contact.
Police have also thanked the members of the public who stopped by the roadside to give the man initial first aid before emergency services arrived.
Police issue update on Oasis arrests and fence-jumpers
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police have shared an update on the arrests made at the opening two nights of Oasis Live ’25.
More than 100,000 people have flocked up to Heaton Park on Friday and Saturday evening for the first two of five Oasis reunion shows.
And largely, things have gone without a hitch, with only 15 arrests made so far.
The majority of these are arrests on suspicion of fraud, with five men and a woman in three separate incidents attempting to access the Oasis gig with fake accreditation.
Another man was arrests on suspicion of assaulting a member of security staff.
Two more men were arrested on suspicion of assault – a section 18 inside the Oasis gig at Heaton Park, and another for a section 47 outside.
Police have also said that ‘a number of people’ have attempted to access the gigs without tickets, with a perimeter gate breached on Saturday night, but ‘failed to do so’.
Five drones which breached airspace restrictions were seized on Friday.
A Section 34 Dispersal Order, which gives officers the power to direct individuals to leave a specified area and not return for 48 hours, has been in place for each night of the Oasis concerts so far.
This will be re-assessed before each concert this week, with the Gallagher brothers back at Heaton Park on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
GMP around Manchester ahead of the Oasis reunion shows. Credit: GMP
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said: “We have been planning for these events for several months, working with partners and the organisers to make sure everyone can enjoy the concerts safely. To that end, I’m pleased to say that the first two Oasis homecoming events have been a success.
“What has been especially pleasing is how more than 100,000 people have enjoyed these iconic events safely and without trouble.
“We will have a highly visible presence in and around Heaton Park, and across the city, to ensure the next three events continue to pass safely.
“A number of people without tickets attempted to gain entry through a perimeter gate on Saturday night but failed to do so.
Credit: The Manc GroupCredit: Tiktok benwalkerofficialPolice say ‘just 15’ arrests made at Oasis so far
“We continue to support the event organisers and the local authority with their plans preventing any unauthorised access to the arena site.
“While arrests have thankfully been minimal, we have had to take some suspects to custody, including one after an alleged assault on a steward on Saturday night. We will not tolerate any abuse of anyone doing their job.
“On Friday night we also dealt with a number of breaches of airspace restrictions involving drones where our officers seized five drones and spoke to two other pilots.
“We continue to have airspace restrictions in place on the nights of the concerts and anyone found breaching the one-and-a-half-mile restriction zone could face prosecution.”
Emily Sergeant -
11th March 2022 
