Mr. Anton Rodgers

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late actor Anton Rodgers by organisations in the area.

Mr Rodgers, who lived in Whitchurch-on-Thames in South Oxfordshire and was best known for his roles in TV hits May To December and Fresh Fields, died on Saturday aged 74.

The actor and director, who was born in Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, had been the patron of theatre group the Shinfield Players, based in Whitley Wood Lane, since 1994.

Since moving to the area, Mr Rodgers had taken an interest in community events in West Berkshire, notably the Watermill theatre near Newbury and the Goring Mill gallery in the village.

He had also become a popular figure in Pangbourne, where he had developed links with the village’s Help The Aged branch.

In November 1999 Mr Rodgers popped into the charity shop in Reading Road to celebrate its fifth anniversary with volunteers and managers.

Charity retail general manager Trina Finney paid tribute to a “wonderful and friendly” man who took interest in the shop and would donate items for it to sell.

She told the Evening Post: “I vividly remember Anton helping us celebrate the fifth anniversary of our shop in Pangbourne.

“He was such a wonderful, warm and friendly man who took great interest in the work that the charity was doing and would regularly donate items for us to sell.

“He was incredibly approachable, easy to talk to and showed a genuine interest and admiration for the work the volunteers were doing.

“There was no bravado during his visit, just an honest commitment to the local community.”

Mrs Finney added: “I was grateful to the support he gave the local Help The Aged shops and saddened to hear of his passing. He will be sorely missed.”

Mr Rodgers leaves a wife, actress Elizabeth Garvie, and three sons, as well as a son and daughter from a previous marriage.