Trivia

Great uncle of Daisy Ridley.

He got the idea for his most famous play, The Ghost Train, when he was at a deserted Mangotsfield Station, on the outskirts of Bristol, waiting hours for his connection to Bath. The station buildings have since largely disappeared, though it's possible to see the remains via the Bristol to Bath railway path, which has replaced the railway line.

He was the oldest cast member of Dad's Army (1968). He was 72 when it began and 81 when it ended.

Played "Doughy" Hood, the baker during the 1960s in the long running BBC radio series, "The Archers".

Like his Dad's Army (1968) character Private Charles Godfrey, he served in the Home Guard during World War II.

Wounded 3 times in WW1, twice on the Somme an once at Arras which ended his cricket and rugby playing.

In 1944 he escaped serious injury when his cottage in Caterham was hit by a VI Flying Bomb.

He was a lance corporal in WWI.

Son: writer Nicolas Ridley.

He needed many operations to his bayonet wounded arm,.

Son of William Robert (1871-1931) and Rosa Caroline (née Morrish) Ridley (1870-1956).

Wrote the comedy thriller Ghost Train in 1925 which was first produced in Brighton and flopped but put on at St Martins in the West End where it ran for 650 performances, Since then it has been filmed 3 times, the second version with jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtnedge and the third with Arthur Askey. He has a soft spot for it because it was during a war time production that he met his wife.

He's written 30 other plays.

1921 he was a resident member of Birmingham Repertory with Noel Coward.

Married Althea Parker.

He wrote 27 plays including Ghost Train.

Had to decide whether to be a school master or an actor.

Played outside half in rugby for Bath and Bristol University.

He was vice president of Bath Rugby Club.

Born in Bath where he was a member of Bath University Drama Club.

He loves cricket and used to play in charity games.

In WW1 he was a lance corporal in the Somerset Light Infantry where in hand to hand fighting he was bayoneted twice. Doctors operated on him 17 times to save his left arm.

In WWII he served as a Major and then in the Home Guard.