Del Boy comes home (From Times Series)

Del Boy comes home

8:20am Tuesday 24th November 2009

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DAVID Jason, who played Del Boy in the popular television series Only Fools and Horses returned to his old youth theatre group on Saturday.

It has been 45 years since the actor, who has since been knighted, joined the Barnet-based group as a shy young electrical engineer.

Nearly half a century on, The Incognitos amateur dramatics group hosted a black-tie dinner and he was the guest of honour.

The dinner, at the Hendon Hall Hotel in Ashley Lane, Hendon raised £8,160 as part of a campaign to raise £140,000 to build a more spacious theatre with disabled access and facilities.

And 180 members and supporters of the New Southgate-based amateur dramatics group came too.

Sir David said: “It is with tremendous pleasure that I have been reunited with my first theatre group, The Incognitos, and I have met so many actors who still share the same energy and passion that I had there at the start of my acting life.

“It's great to know that the money raised will give the theatre a better future and give access to members of the public who otherwise would have difficulty accessing the theatre. Let's hope it also encourages the local youngsters to become involved as it would be fantastic to think that there are many more years left in this very successful group.”

Sir David started his career at Incognito's youth group after being lured into acting by his headmaster.

At the time the theatre had no foyer and the toilets were outside and had to be visited by torchlight.

The conditions did not put Sir David off, however, he went on to star in many Incognito plays as well as the Barnet Festival and in shows put on by other local groups.

Acting gave Sir David confidence and was his springboard to move on to a professional career. He was “spotted” in 1963 and, after changing his name from David White to David Jason for Equity purposes, went on to his first TV role in Crossroads in 1964.

At Saturday's dinner he was reunited with former members, including Margaret Johnson, who he performed with in 1964.

Top prizes on the night included £250 John Lewis vouchers, a DVD of Series 1 – 7 of “Only Fools & Horses” personally signed by Sir David and dinner, bed and breakfast at the Hendon Hall Hotel donated by the hotel.

Do you remember David Jason from when he lived in Barnet? Contact Sarah Cosgrove on 07795 505 961.

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