Peter Coke - After Paul Temple ...
This isn't about radio, but I thought some readers might be interested.
A much longer article (from which the following information is taken)
appeared in the Daily Telegraph magazine, 16 Dec 06
Peter Coke was the best "Paul Temple", known to
millions of listeners in the fifties and sixties, and fondly remembered
today. He is still working hard today, aged 93, but not as an actor.
His consuming interest is shells.
He makes them into beautiful decorative objects, from huge baroque frames to single
flowers. Works are produced to commission and he has a gallery and
workshop in Norfolk. Peter thinks
that he gets more visitors wanting to hear his voice than are interested
in his handiwork.
There is a permanent collection of his work in Sheringham museum. He has well-known clients
on his list, including royalty, aristocrats and pop stars.
He is having an exhibition at the Sloane Club late in December 06. The larger
pieces cost thousands of pounds; the smallest around £50.
Peter Coke trained at Rada and was famous for his part in "Paul Temple".
In the fifties he also opened an antique shop.
He wrote 12 plays including "Breath of Spring", which ran in the West End and
then Broadway.
Antiques provided the inspiration to work with shells. He has travelled the world
for 25 years collecting them. He has collected shells everywhere - for example: Phuket,
West Indies, South Africa ....
His exhibition is at the Sloane Club 19-21 Dec, 11am-7pm, 52 Lower Sloane St. London
SW1. Tel 01263-861411.
