Windsor Davies - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

Davies was born to Welsh parents, who returned to their native Nant-y-Moel when the Second World War began in 1939. Davies studied at Ogmore Grammar School and Bangor Teacher Training College. He worked as a teacher and did national service in the British Army before deciding to become an actor.

Davies' best known role was as Battery Sergeant Major Williams in the British sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–81) . Among his catchphrases was "Shut Up!", delivered as an ear drum shattering military scream. Another phrase was "Oh dear, how sad, never mind", delivered in a dry, ironic manner, and used when others around him had problems. Davies and co-star Don Estelle had a number one hit in the UK with a semi-comic version of "Whispering Grass" in 1975 . He played major roles in two later Carry On films, Behind (1975 and England (1976), in the latter as a Sergeant Major. He played the antique dealer, Oliver Smallbridge, in Never the Twain (1981-91), with Donald Sinden.

Davies played Mog in the classic Welsh film Grand Slam (1978) and played the sailor Taffy in the first of the BBC-series The Onedin Line (1971). He is also known as the voice of Sergeant Major Zero in Gerry Anderson's Terrahawks (1983-86) television series, and appeared in the Doctor Who story The Evil of the Daleks as Toby in 1967. He auditioned to be the voice of the UK's speaking clock in 1984.

Davies has performed a large amount of advertising voice-over work, and his distinctive, deep voice could be heard as New Zealand's Pink Batts house insulations and confectionery ads for Cadbury's Wispa. In the 1970s, Davies read an edition of Radio Four's Morning Story programme. He played a sergeant in the Highland Regiment in Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall (1972) with Jim Dale and Spike Milligan.