Donald Hewlett

Early life

Hewlett was born into a wealthy family; his father Thomas Hewlett owned the Anchor Chemical Company which is based in Clayton, Manchester and is now a subsidiary of Air Products.

Hewlett was educated at Clifton College in Bristol followed by St John's College, Cambridge where he was part of the Footlights Revue. During World War II he served in the Royal Navy as a meteorologist and was stationed for several years in Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands where he was a founder member of the Kirkwall Arts Club. He was later posted to Singapore.

Career

Following his demob, Hewlett trained at RADA and gained his first professional acting job in repertory theatre at the Oxford Playhouse where he worked alongside Ronnie Barker. His first film acting role was the part of Lincoln Green in Orders are Orders (1954).

His television appearances included The Ronnie Corbett Show, The Ronnie Barker Playhouse, The Saint, The Avengers, The Dick Emery Show and the Doctor Who story The Claws of Axos (1971). However, he gained his most prominent role in the Croft and Perry sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–81) as Colonel Charles Reynolds. He was cast with fellow actor Michael Knowles in another David Croft sitcom, the sci-fi parody Come Back Mrs. Noah (1977–78), and later with the successful You Rang, M'Lord? (1988–93) as George, Lord Meldrum. Other roles included 'Winkworth' in Morris Minor's Marvellous Motors in 1989 and The Adventures of Brigadier Wellington-Bull. His last TV appearance was in The Upper Hand in 1995.

Hewlett also appeared in the episode Hello Sailor from the classic sitcom Happy Ever After in 1977 which starred Terry Scott and June Whitfield

Hewlett made a number of film appearances including Spike Milligan's Adolf Hitler - My Part in His Downfall, A Touch of Class, Carry On Behind and The First Great Train Robbery.

Hewlett's previous marriages, to Christine Pollon and Diana Greenwood, ended in divorce. He had two sons and a daughter by Greenwood. Having previously lived for several years in Whitstable, Kent, he lived in Fulham, SW London, with his third wife Therese McMurray-Hewlett, by whom he had a son and daughter.

His daughter, Siobhan Hewlett, is an actress, best known for her role in Irina Palm.

Death

Hewlett died on 4th June 2011 after suffering a brief bout from pneumonia at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in West London aged 90. He is survived by his wife Thérèse McMurray and his five children.