"Im pretty sure thats Cromer"

It is a sad day for Doctor Who fans, one of our greatest childhood heroes has passed away.

Nicholas Courtney 1929  - 2011.

Nicholas Courtney wasnt just known for his role in Doctor Who`s history, he was a well worked actor. However it was his portrayal as the all action Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart that we all know and love.  It is also this role that he played that is closest to my heart.

When i was a kid watching Doctor Who was a treat, and watching Jon Pertwee`s era was the biggest treat of all. The UNIT years of Doctor Who felt comfortable and the characters felt genuine...The Brigadier even more so. For a time in my childhood i believed there really was a Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart...thats how good he was! :). Nicholas Courtney played the character of the Brigadier so well that Doctor Who fans took him to their hearts.
When the `UNIT family` came to an end and Jon Pertwee Regenerated in to Tom Baker, you really did get the feeling that things were changing and it was time to say goodbye to The Brigadier and the cosey UNIT family. There were one or 2 stories where the Brigadier returned and he always added something to the story.

A year or more ago i had the pleasure of meeting Nicholas Courtney at a very small convention in South Shields Tyne&Wear. Apart from Nic Courtney also attending the convention was Colin Baker and Terry Molloy, all were on fine form....however i couldnt get away from the fact how frail Courtney looked. Regardless of this frailty Courtney still made time to talk to people and was happy to do so, it was brilliant to see the warmth fans and children had for him. I met Nic Courtney briefly but it was worth it to talk to this great man, he was about to give a talk to a group of fans on a small stage but i wasnt able to stay and watch this unfortuneately :(.

Somewhere in UNIT HQ a voice can heard echoing in the corridors, if you listen carefully you may hear it..."Sgt Benton!!".


Im signing off now, going to dig out my copies of Spearhead from space and Inferno. Two of the finest UNIT stories in my opinion and enjoy one of the greatest Doctor Who chracters of all time

The Brigadier

Wonderful chap...always

RIP Nicholas Courtney