Robert Mawdesley, Actor

Robert Mawdesley (c. 1900 – 30 September 1953), resident of Far Oakridge, was an actor, best remembered as the voice of the first Walter Gabriel in the long-running radio programme The Archers, which has been running as a daily serial on BBC Radio since 1 January 1951.

Mawdesley was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk, where he was a keen actor in school plays. Although he had a part in Basil Dean's movie Loyalties (1933), almost all of his work was on stage until he joined The Archers in 1951.
Mawdesley's character in the programme, Walter Gabriel, was an Ambridge smallholder who provided most of the comic relief with the catch-phrase "My old pal, my old beauty" and other comments.

Photograph :

May 29th, 1950 - BBC Midlands Home Service broadcasts a new pilot programme, The Archers of Ambridge.

The producer Godfrey Baseley had previously worked mainly on agricultural programmes. He hoped that farmers would listen for the stories, but along the way pick up messages that would help them feed a Britain still subject to food rationing.

The cast are Daniel Archer (Harry Oakes), Doris Archer (Nan Mariott Watson), Philip Archer (Norman Painting), Christine Archer (Pamela Mant), Jack Archer (Denis Folwell), Peggy Archer (June Spencer) and Walter Gabriel (Robert Mawdesley).