The death of talented actor Richard Briers last week, best known for his role as Tom Good in ‘The Good Life’, once voted the 9th best British best sitcom was sadly heard by fans across the Britain. Perhaps among the saddest were the residents of Surbiton, where the show itself was set.
The beloved programme, where Tom, along with his wife Barbara, lived ‘The Good Life’ on the allotment in their garden, was popular for its simple idea of suburban bliss in ‘Sunny Surbiton’. Viewers loved watching the couple, their kindly but conventional neighbours Jerry and Margo, and the Good’s collection of animals, including Lenin the cockerel.
Although set in Surbiton, the filming was located in the London suburb of Northwood, though the houses uses were of similar 1930’s style to those well known by residents of Surbiton.
Briers went to Rokeby Prep School in Kingston, and later the Ridgeway School in Wimbledon, but left with no qualifications at 16. Not an aspiring start to such a long running career, his first job was a clerical work in London, a far cry from the gardens of the suburbs that he would later become so well known for.
Today you can visit http://thegoodlifesurbiton.co.uk/ the home of a newspaper dedicated to spreading the news of the community of Surbiton. The most recent issue concerns the regular Farmer’s Market of Maple Road, just as the Good’s in ‘The Good Life’ would sell their surplus crops to hapless Surbiton residents.
Surbiton was really brought onto the map by the show, and a lasting legacy is of the show is visible to me every time I look through my bedroom window. For my own parents, long-time residents of Surbiton and inspired by the show, have created their own allotment. Though not self sufficient they are incredibly happy tending their vegetables, happiness that Richard Briers himself had throughout his life. He will be sadly missed, but they say when you miss someone, toast them with a glass of peapod burgundy and... Wait, no...
